Concern over my progress in my battle vs. stage 4 liver cancer

Today I am heading back to the VA in Madison to have my CADD chemo pump removed concluding 46 hours of chemo infusion over the past three days.

 I entered my fourth chemo treatment with some significant concern from my oncologist, Ticiana A. Leal, MD.

 The biggest concern centers around an unforeseen 10 lb. weight loss over the past two weeks.  The other concern stems from the difficulty in dealing with chemo.  Excessive fatigue, nausea and vomiting tops the list..  I was prescribed additional medicine to deal with the situation earlier this week.  It seems to be working well.

 As far as dealing with the weight loss issue, Dr. Leal wants me to eat more despite nausea.  I had my first restaurant meal in the past month on Tuesday… Pasta with salad and cheddar rolls.  I have also been filling myself on soups, noodles, yogurt, and pudding on nearly a continuous basis in a bid to increase my weight. I’ll find out the results this afternoon.

 The excessive weight loss issue rocked me for the first 24 hours. After lengthy telephone conversations with my daughter’s Aimee and Kim the past couple of days that “fighting attitude” has returned for me.

 As the saying goes… Having a rough morning?  Place your hand over your heart. Feel that?  That’s called purpose.  Your alive for a purpose. Don’t give up.

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!!