Day 28 Proton Therapy

Single digits left!!!!!

Appointment time was 1pm today and the technicians were waiting on Dale when he got there!

Back at home by 2:15!

9 days left, puts a huge smile on Dale's face!

Day 27 Proton Therapy

Dale got an early call again today and went in at 11:15 for treatment.
He's coughed a bit more today, it's not productive but does cause his face to flush. His appetite is still good, he split a chicken fried steak with mom tonight for dinner. Slept well last night, didn't take any Xyloxilyn. Maybe a little fatigued looking in the eyes, but is still moving around normally.

Day 26 Proton Therapy

Dale met with Dr. O'Reilly today. Dale is coughing a bit more and Dr. O'Reilly believes it's the burn sensation in his esophagus causing the coughing. Dale used Xyloxylin last night and it worked well. Dale's weight and vitals are good. Skin doesn't show much reaction to the radiation and his lungs sound good also.

Dale's proton treatment was early today, 11am!

Home by 2:15!

Day 25 Proton Therapy

Dale met with the Dietician again today. She's happy with his report. His weight is consistent and he still has avoided the "trouble swallowing" side effect.

Dale had his treatment and was home in Pearland by 3:30! Starting Thursday this week, Dale's treatments will be at 1:00pm each day. Yippee! They will be able to drive themselves each day since they are now avoiding rush hour!

Day 24 Proton Therapy

Dale got a call from TO (his therapist at the Proton Center) to come on in at 11:30am and they would squeeze him in! So Jackie and Dale loaded up and headed to the treatment center and then they will head to Victoria for the weekend!

Day 23 Proton Therapy

I drove Jackie and Dale to the Proton Center today..we waited about 1:15 for Dale's treatment. Dale has noticed a bit of redness on his chest. It's not painful but apparently a side effect of the treatment. When we got home, Jackie's brother and nephew, Bill and Jon arrived from Lake Charles for an overnight visit. They really enjoyed the visit with them!

Day 22 Proton Therapy

Marcy took Dale and Jackie to the Proton Center again today. This week the Proton Center has been very busy and Dale's appointments haven't been taken earlier than the appointed time, which had become the norm.

Dale and Jackie will drop Marcy off at the airport on their way home and Marcy will go back to Phoenix! It was great having her here to take do the Proton Center shuttle service! I know Jackie and Dale love having their kids around them!

Day 21 Proton Therapy

Doctor's appointment was non-eventful.

Treatment was completed and home by 4:55pm!

Dennis and Phyllis are having a great time getting away from it all and Marcy is our savior for a few days!

Day 20 Proton Therapy

Marcy's in town this week for a few days and driving Jackie and Dale to the Proton Center! YEAH! Dale is over half way through with his treatments. He felt as though he was having to swallow harder over the weekend, but that's a minor issue.

Dale will have his "weekly see" on Tuesday and hopefully get a "thumbs up" from Dr. O'Reilly!

Day 18 and 19 Proton Therapy

Dale had treatment 18 on Thursday. James Gaubatz and Betty drove up from Angleton for a morning visit before treatment. Lunch at Gringo's!

Dale got a real early call on Day 19 from the Proton Center (7:55am!) so they (mom, dad and Missy) packed up their stuff quickly and headed to MD Anderson for treatment. By noon they were in Victoria and rejoicing for their own surroundings and normalcy!

Still hearing no complaints about symptoms...this is unbelievable!

This is a video from another facility, but it really gives a good explanation of the treatment:
http://www.floridaproton.org/cancer-treatment/proton-therapy-video.html

Day 17 Proton Therapy

Appointment went quick and they took Dale early. Missy chauffeured today!

Still symptomless!

Day 16 Proton Therapy

Dale met with Dr. O'Reilly today. Dale's latest Mapping Simulation shows some decrease in the size of the tumor but the location is staying constant. There will be no changes to the proton beam for the remainder of the treatment. Dale's overall health remains good. He's lost about 6 pounds over the past 3 weeks, but his activity level and diet are good.

Dale had his 16th treatment today. We were home by 4:30! Missy arrived at 5:30 so we are visiting this evening. I'm excited to have Missy here to drive them to treatments! I'm also excited to get to see my sister again! Cancer does have it's benefits!

Day 15 Proton Therapy

Dale got an early call today, so he and Jackie dropped everything and raced to the Proton Center for treatment at 10:30am and then waited an hour or so for Dale's second Mapping Simulation. This mapping was to re-assess the location and size of the tumor to tweak the proton beam aperture. Tomorrow afternoon, Dale will meet with Dr. O'Reilly for his 'Weekly See' and then have his regular treatment.

Missy is flying in from Colorado Springs tomorrow for a few days. She'll be driving Dale and Jackie to their appointments on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday! Glad to have her here!!!!!!

Dale still appears to be handling the treatments well. While he coughs some, his esophagus hasn't become a big issue and he doesn't appear to be fatigued. Fingers crossed that things stay that way!

Day 14 Proton Therapy

Emily drove Dale and Jackie to the Proton Center today. They went a little early and were able to get treatment down and home by 4!

Dale has had an excellent day today. He's been up and moving 75% of the day and seems to feel great!

Dale has a bit of a cough occasionally, but hasn't complained with any throat/esophagus irritation today.

Day 13 Proton Therapy

Treatment ran late today, 5:15pm. Thirty five minutes later we were on the road home..or should I say, Parked on Hwy 288! Rush hour traffic on a holiday weekend...crappola!

Dale is doing fine...found Coors Light (non alcoholic beer)! Happy hour by the pool and praying to the fertility gods that his granddaughter and grand son-in-law have success in their quest for a baby!

Day Uh Oh!

Apparently, Gantry 1 (which is Dale's apparatus) is on the fritz today and so his appointment is either going to be very delayed (4-5 hours late) or canceled completed! Not to worry, they will add an additional treatment to his schedule at the end!!! UGH!


Appointment moved to 5:15pm...so we're home at 7pm after fighting rush hour traffic!

12 down, 26 to go.

Jackie goes to see Dr. Lisch (podiatrist) tomorrow, she's having foot issues. We're hoping to sneak into the Proton Center early for treatment too!

Day 11, Proton Therapy

Dale met with Dr. O'Reilly today. Dr. O'Reilly's checkup was fine. He did prescribe a Lidocaine cocktail called Xyloxylin, for Dale to use 10 minutes prior to eating to numb his esophagus. Xyloxylin is a combination of Maalox, lidocaine and diphenhydramine. He also recommended a new lotion for Dale to use to alleviate the red and itchy skin called Aquaphor. Some of the coughing that Dale is doing now is due to the damage being inflicted on his lungs during treatment.

Dale had his 11th treatment today...took 37 minutes from start to finish!

Invitation stands to anyone in the area that might want to drive over for the day and visit. They don't have much going on during the day here..just waiting around for Dale's 4:30pm appointment.

Day 10, Proton Therapy

Dale met with his nutritionist today and also had his 10th treatment. Dale is beginning to feel some "burn" in his esophagus from the treatments. He's not really altering his diet, just aware that something is going on.

Jackie and Dale are back in Pearland for two weeks straight. They will be celebrating Easter here in Pearland with us!

Day 9 Proton Therapy

Dale and Jackie headed to the Proton Center this morning for Dale's 11:30am appointment. They called at noon and they were done and headed to Victoria for the weekend!

Not sure about the first appointment time on Monday..hoping to get a firm answer sometime today!

Still going strong and 'living the dream'!

Day 8 Proton Therapy

Dale's appointments now are just at 30 minutes long. The drive in to the Proton Center takes about 25 minutes each way...so there's more time in the car than on the table!

Jackie made up "goody bags" of Mexican Wedding cookies and distributed them to patients and staff today! Those treats brighten up everyone's days. So many patients are away from home and truly appreciate a homemade goody!

Tomorrows treatment is at 11:30am, then the Stover's head to Victoria for the weekend!

Day 7 Proton Therapy

Dale got an early call this morning at 9:30 asking if he would mind taking his treatment in 30 minutes! So they dropped everything and rushed to the Proton Center and were home by 11!

Now for baking 250 Mexican Wedding cookies!

Dale will also get his treatment early on Friday at 11:30am, so they can head home again for another weekend in Victoria!

No symptoms or side effects, so far....