Thursday, August 26, 2010

For the last several weeks I have been working on my pain levels, trying to get the pain under control. I went to the doctor this week and we discussed my pain and if we needed to try something else besides the Tylenol 3 W/Codeine. The doctor added a pain patch (Fentanyl ) that I put on my arm and wear for 72 hours. This should help level out the pain from having spikes of pain through out the day.

Right now I am not going to do any more chemo until after my next PET scan, which I have scheduled for Oct. 1st. After this next scan we will decide how to proceed with treatment. It is really nice to not have to do chemo for now. I am already feeling better and am even getting some hair back on my Bald head.

Please keep praying for us as God leads us through this journey. I thank Him for each day that I am here and look forward to when He calls me home to be with Him.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

God bless you for your constant prayers for Linda and I we really appreciate it.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

New update 8-4-2010

I went to get my test results from last Friday's PET/CT scan yesterday and to see both doctors (Oncologist and Radiologist). My test results were pretty good over all. There has been very little growth in any of the tumors, although one had increased by 2cm. Here is what the report says under the heading of Conclusion:
1. "There continues to be abnormal uptake within the left parotid (behind the left ear lobe) the gland the mass. Multiple bilateral lung masses, and lateral segment hepatic (the liver) lobe lesions consistent with the metastatic disease. The size of the lesions has slightly increased in size or are stable. (In other words there is not enough growth to measure exactly)
2. No new areas of abnormal uptake are identified.
3. There are multiple diffuse metastatic lung lesions which have slightly increased in size when compared to the previous study. (April 2ND was the last study). The lesions do not today show significant PET uptake which is likely due to the size of the lesions being less than 1 cm.

Over all we were pretty pleased that things seem to be stable for now.

After talking to Dr. Fiorentino about all the pain that I have been having he thought that instead of doing chemo treatments we should work on getting the pain under control. So he wrote me a prescription for some pain meds. He wanted to see me back in three weeks to see how things are going. So far the pain meds haven't done much good so we may have to try something else until we find the right one to use. So that's it for now. No chemo and back to see him in three weeks.

Thank you for praying for Linda and I. It was nerve racking yesterday while waiting to see the doctors, but I know that the Lord is in control and He knows best. I want to follow Him above all else in my life. I love Him and He is my Lord and Savior.

God Bless you all and please continue to pray for us.

Doug