Watching a videofluoroscopic swallow study done (VFSS).

My swallow study on Tuesday allowed doctors to analyze my swallowing. The videofluoroscopic swallow study done (VFSS). The procedure included putting barium in different consistencies of food and take an x-ray movie of you swallowing. The attached is a video a similar dysphagia evaluation to the one I had performed Tuesday

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri8bBhw9msQ

 

 

Please donate to a fund drive for Trey Bell who is battling Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

On September 12th, 2014 Trey Bell went to the doctor because of a cough that wouldn't go away. The doctors then tell Trey that he has a mass covering his heart and it was cancer!

A 33 year old father to three beautiful children, Alana 13, Sarina 7, and Devin 5, and loving husband to Lea of 3 years and HS sweethearts for 16 years now in a fight to beat Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Most remember Trey from being a UW-Whitewater graduate, All-American football player, 1st ever Hula Bowl  (D1 All-Star game) from WIAC participant, and Arena Football player.  His exceptional skills, love for his teammates, and ability to lead has led to new paths.

There is a time-honored tradition within the Warhawk football family - Once A Warhawk, Always A Warhawk.

One of Trey's former teammates, Jim Leszczynski, has started a fund drive for Trey. Jim seeded the fund raising with a $100 check.

I ask that you consider donating by clicking onto the following Website:

http://www.gofundme.com/fh6s0s?fb_action_ids=10100852017497593&fb_action_types=og.shares

Today's testing was difficult to swallow

In the time between chemotherapy cycles my doctors took a look today why I’ve been having extreme difficulty swallowing which has been a problem for me for the past several months.

 You may have already had a swallowing test with a speech-language pathologist, also called an SLP. During this test you may have tried different foods and liquids. The SLP may have checked how well you can move the muscles of your mouth and how clearly you talk.

Sometimes the SLP needs even more information about how you swallow. You may need another swallowing test - this time in the radiology, or x-ray, department.

Today’s testing included:

§                         videofluoroscopic swallowing study, or videofluoroscopy

§                         modified barium swallow, or MBS

§                         esophagram

§                         cookie swallow

I wore a purple Warhawk football sweater. I left the testing with my sweater caked in barium.

I was a demanding couple of hours.  I’m back home tonight.

Back to The VA in Madison tomorrow where a dental team will study why chemotherapy continues to destroy my teeth.

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/swallowing/Videofluoroscopic-Swallowing-Study/

Getting set for heavy duty cycle of chemotherapy

It is time for me to get back on my horse and get some blog posts posted.

 My last post was on Oct. 13 when I talked about staying strong while going through chemotherapy.

 I have now gone through my first two cycles of chemo. The stress on my body has been much greater than it was during my colon cancer 18 months ago.

 My chemo treatment for my stage 4 liver cancer got underway and takes place every two weeks (Tuesday and Wednesday) with 44 hours of chemo delivered into my body by way of a CADD pump computer.. The drug used has been Fluorouracil (5-FU)

I’ve been dealing with a number of side effects which has made this cancer fight extremely challenging. I’m dealing with:

• nausea*
• vomiting*
• poor appetite
• sores in mouth, lips, or throat*
• low white blood cell count with increased risk of infection*
• low platelet count with increased risk of bleeding*
• darkening of skin and nail beds
• diarrhea

A new, more potent chemo drug will begin for me next week. I’ve already been told this new drug will be very difficult on my body. 

I must be strong!!!

I must stay CANCER STRONG in dealing with this horrible disease

I was told going in that the side effects dealing with chemotherapy this time around would be more troublesome than my colon cancer chemo treatments two years ago.

The prognosis was “right on.”

 My chemo treatment for my stage 4 liver cancer got underway last week (Tuesday and Wednesday) with 44 hours of chemo delivered into my body by way of a CADD pump computer.

 Dealing with chemotherapy is a fulltime job.  If you don’t treat it that way it will take over your mind and body.

 The just concluded weekend certainly tested my will.

 I dealt with pain, nausea and vomiting, fever, chills, sores in my mouth and throat, dry hacking cough, cancer-related fatigue.

 I must stay “cancer strong!”

 I must admit I cry uncontrollably when I view Jim Volcano delivering his memorable speech at the 1993 ESPY telecast… 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuoVM9nm42E

I've now moved into phase 2 in my fight vs. liver cancer

Sorry for missing the past couple of days of blogging. It definitely been an "adjustment week" for me!

I have now moved into phase 2 in my fight vs. liver cancer. I had a surgical procedure Tuesday morning followed by the start of my first cycle of chemotherapy getting underway. It has been a tough body adjustment.  That first 24 hours was difficult as I woke up at 2 AM Wednesday and couldn’t get back to sleep.

Last night was much better. Back to Madison today to make sure my CADD chemo infusion computer is acting probably.

Success of my chemo will determine if doctors will be forced to remove a portion of my liver. Day at a time!!

Treyton Kilar's Field of Dreams grand opening tugs at one's heart strings

 When you are in the middle of battling cancer any good news is very much welcomed.  I received a heavy dose of good news on Saturday. Yes, the No. 1 ranked UW-Whitewater football team rolled over archrival UW-La Crosse in front of nearly 11,000 at Perkins Stadium.

 The best news of the day though happened just over the hill from the “Perk” where a dream of Mary and Mike Kilar held its grand opening on the northern edge of Whitewater's Starin Park.

 The Field of Dreams has been built in memory of Treyton Kilar, a 6-year-old boy who was killed when his family’s vehicle was struck by a drunken driver on Sept. 2, 2010. The Whitewater youth, an avid baseball player, was a first-grader at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Jefferson.

 The youth baseball field honors Treyton Kilar, a boy whose dream was to someday play major league baseball. But Mary and Mike's 6-year-old son was killed Sept. 2, 2010, in a crash involving a drunk driver.

 “Treyton is looking down on us from heaven and watching all of his friends have a chance to play on something that he would have absolutely loved playing on,” Mary said.

 In the past four years, the Kilars have been overwhelmed by the emotional and financial support of community members; the city council, the Milwaukee Brewers, and area businesses that have helped make the field a reality. Multiple fundraisers have included kickball and dodge ball tournaments, "Run for Trey" races and donations. These efforts have resulted in more than $710,000 toward the project's $900,000 goal.

I’m certainly not alone battling this terrible disease

One aspect of cancer that I learned quickly is the fact that I’m certainly not alone battling this terrible disease. 

Former UW-Whitewater All-American cornerback Trey Bell was recently diagnosed with lymphatic cancer. He has been at St. Lukes Hospital in Milwaukee all week for chemotherapy treatment. Trey is positive and focusing with a one day at a time attitude. He is scheduled to get out of the hospital this afternoon.

I posted this information on Twitter late yesterday afternoon. Within six hours a large number of former UWW teammates posted messages to Trey.

Once a Warhawk – Always a Warhawk!

 

 

Trying to stay as normal as possible

Emotionally, Tuesday was a very good day.  The day started by joining Bob Berezowitz, Pike Teipner and Claude Miller on our “every three week” trip to Madison for lunch at the Avenue Bar. The day always includes plenty of Whitewater conversation. It is always one of my favorite days each month.

 Tuesday night I attended my first UW-Whitewater Quarterback Club meeting of the season at Saxes Lone Star Inn.  Big crowd – very inspiring! 

 Maybe it is due to the fact that a lot has been going through my mind the past several weeks – but with the large crowd the noise factor really tired me out. The evening was very tiring but extremely enjoyable. The meatloaf was fantastic!!!

 Hopefully my busy day Tuesday will help me get stronger physically in advance of the start of my chemotherapy treatments next week.

 One thing for sure – with all the football talk on Tuesday I am very fired up to be at Perkins Stadium on Saturday when the Warhawks play host to UW-La Crosse in the WIAC opener.

Getting set for the start of chemotherapy

It spent Tuesday afternoon at the Veterans Hospital in Madison meeting with my oncologist and Palliative Care team relating to my recently diagnosed Stage 4 liver cancer.

 Joined by my daughter Kimberlee and son-in-law Christopher, Dr. Leal further explained her dianosis and allowed us to view the Pet-Scan photos of the tumors in my liver.   

 She talked about the importance of starting my chemotherapy treatments.

 Next up will be a procedure to surgically place a a “port” in my chest.

 During cancer treatment, my health care team needs access to my veins to give my treatments including chemotherapy, blood transfusions, antibiotics, or intravenous (IV) fluids. They will also need to take frequent samples of my blood for testing. To make these procedures easier, Dr. Lean  ordered the insertion of a special medical device inside my chest.

 The procedure is scheduled for Tuesday morning with my chemotherapy to begin Tuesday afternoon.

 One day at a time!