A little new info. Dr. B noted that there was a 'hot' lymph node in the CT taken in May that's not hot anymore, so chemo has done some good. He says that while the chemo isn't having a lot of effect on the millions of cancer cells in the tumor, but it does look like it's doing its job of killing off the thousands of cells that may show up elsewhere. He was also pleased that it the tumor hadn't grown.
They'll do the targeting CT sometime next week, the same way they did back in May. They'll try to expedite the analysis, and then present a treatment plan. It sounds like they're looking to do about 6000 cGy of radiation. If they can get clear paths, they'll do more radiation for three weeks. Otherwise, they'll do lower levels for five or six weeks. He says they'll do it as quickly as is safe, so they can get dp back into chemo again.
dp is still hurting -- the pain in her right side requires a pretty steady regimen of cocktails of ibuprofen, tylenol and tramadol or oxycodone, but none of the doctors are freaking out about it, and seem comfortable attributing it to the last surgery.
Now we learn more about radiation treatment care -- dp picked up some new pamphlets at the hospital, so we've got more reading to do.
The rosebud is from the Knock Out rose out by the road.
Make nice!
7 comments:
I'm like Diana in that my first instinct is to try to "tough it out" as soon as possible. But nobody's ever cut holes in my chest wall, so I can't speak from experience on that issue. DonnaMarie says you've got to stay ahead of the pain. Take something before you do whatever you think might trigger the pain, like gardening, and definitely take something before going to bed. She tells her patients that if the pain wakes you up you're probably not going to get much more sleep that night.
i am so into that cancer-free lymph node. *still grinning from when i saw kevin earlier*
love you, sleep well.
Me too! Glad to hear some good news this Friday morning.
Me three! And nice to see you here again dd!
Back to the pictures for cafepress subject, the hibiscus close-up has to be on the list.
I concur with DonnaMarie and know that when you are in pain it screws up everything else, less sleep, more emotional, more susceptible to depression. If the pain meds are part of what you have to do to take care of dp, I say take them. xx00 Katie
I've never been able to just tough it out. Kidney stones, bad back -- give me the painkillers, and fast. That's a short-term solution for me though, as the things that cause me to gobble down painkillers have been short-lived.
Enough about me and my love for painkillers.
We LOVE cold lymph nodes!!! Now I'm dancin'!!!
BTW, thanks for doing this. I really like being able to keep up with the news, especially good news.
...but, DonnaMarie, when I take something before, I lose my energy/desire to do whatever it is that so needed doing. ...or, duhhhh, is that the idea? *thwaps self*
*looks at the stack of books*
But I'm thinking you and Katie are right. Lack of sleep alone is enough to drive one nutsy. And it's not like I need something to make me _more_ emotional. *scheesch*
Since I feel like I need to keep moving so all of those muscles don't heal in a limited fashion, I'll consider taking meds before hand.
Sleeves, it's exactly the ...unpredictable... length of time that has me concerned and trying every now and again to get off the meds.
Also try not to take them before a massage...
'Cold nodes' The thought gives a menopausal woman pause...*laughs* ...and, we love to see you dancin'!
Thanks for the feedback!
Make nice!!
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