Sunday we just hung out and hid out, and this morning, we headed back to the U to meet with Dr. S, our new radiation oncologist. You may recall that we met with him back before surgery -- he said that radiotherapy was the standard post-surgical treatment for this kind of tumor, and left us to ponder the choice of focused-beam or whole brain radiation. Well, after looking at the CT and MRI, there wasn't much choice. The tumor was very close to the brainstem and the cavity left is fairly irregular, so he's thinking that focused-beam isn't really an option. We signed off on 15 treatments of whole-brain radiotherapy. The did the aiming scan this morning and they'll start the first treatment on Wednesday. Happy birthday, dp...
The good part about this treatment is that is has the greatest chance of preventing additional tumors. The bad part is that is has the most side effects. In the short run, dp will lose all her hair. There could be nausea, headaches, and the ever-popular fatigue. In the long run, she could lose part of her hearing, and some of her short-term memory.
Here's today's show and tell. The image on the left is the tumor before surgery, and the left shows the cavity where the tumor was removed. The tumor is the blob just right of the center of the brain. The brainstem is the darker spot just above it.
Nancy got in on time around noon -- JR picked her up at the airport and she took care of dp while I went to work and got some shopping done. When I got home, I took on the ice on the driveway again. It's heavy work, but I'm definitely winning.
10 comments:
Dear Diana and Kevin,
Our thoughts and prayers are continuing as you begin this next phase of treatment. You really didn't have much of a choice. It's unfortunate that it had to start on Diana's birthday. Give my cousin a hug for me, Kevin. Hugs to you for being such a loving & caring husband.
Carol and Fred
Well, given today's storm, your announcement that you are "winning" against the ice may be premature. It's currently raining steadily and freezing rapidly up here in Cedar Rapids. Hope it's not the same for you.
Thanks for the update. My secret thought was that whole brain was probably the way to go, but it was just an intuition.
I'm glad Nancy is back. She'll be a welcome assist, I know.
Dear Diana and Kevin,
May this day be pleasant, sunny and pain-free.
Happy Birthday !!!
Special thoughts and prayers are sent your way today.
Carol and Fred
Happy Birthday DP! I have had you in my heart and have followed this blog closely. I love you! I miss you. Hang in there! Perry
Happy Birthday dp! Card is in the mail..a true test for the US Post Office in this weather. I hope you can enjoy most of the day! Love, Katie
I definitely wussed out yesterday, so the tally is Ice -1, Sleeves -0. I'm glad that folks were able to do what was necessary. Dede's home, Nancy's flight made it safely up and down.
Perhaps things in the wider world were not as iced over as they looked from my limited perspective of "walking" back and forth to my car, which constituted the entire process of wussing out (my car was encased in ice, and I thought it would have been nice to ride a Zamboni there and back). I am SO ashamed!
An eventful, prayerful day, Lauren, DP. My heart and my thoughts are with you.
Today I celebrate the birth of our friend Diana.
Peace.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DP!
I LOVE YOU!
HANNAH
We toast you and celebrate you Diana Gay. Happy Birthday!
Be well....peace and love,
Sara
Happy Birthday dp! We are sending you love and good wishes.
Love,
Colleen, Doug, Lauren and Patrick
Hey Diana,
Happy Birthday! Hey everybody! Happy holidays and such! I've been lurking some, enough to day dream about cuttin my hair off anyway! I'll come back more often once i come up out the academic rabbit hole at the end of semester.
-Best,
Rodney
Post a Comment