Day seven and Dale's side effects remain. Last pain report was an 8. Nothing has worked with any consistancy to help with the achy joints. Nausea is under control. Bottoms of feet and fingertips are problematic.
I'm heading back home today...hoping that Mom and Dad can continue the recovery solo. I feel pretty much helpless.
Noon update: Headed back to MD Anderson. They aren't happy with his progress....
5pm update: Dr. Karp (study chair) called at 1pm and wanted Dale to go to Ibuprofen before going to the ER. Dale has had some relief (pain level 8 to a 4) while we drove to Pearland. We're going to continue the Ibuprofen for the night and then go to MD Anderson tomorrow for weekly blood test. I pray this is the actual drug that stops the pain! Dr. Karp believes that Dale has had an inflammatory reaction to Taxol. Painful joints should have been relieved by day 5!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
C1D6
Dale woke at 5am this morning. Joint pain and a bit of nausea, so he took Zofran and Oxycontin. A couple of crackers and hot tea and now he's curled up in his electric blanket in the recliner waiting for this to pass. Pain level 7. He will switch to Compazine for nausea if the Zofran doesn't alleviate the waves of nausea.
His mouth issues have really settled down, swallowing is still iffy though. He's able to get up and move about some, though he laughs and calls himself "Sanford" because his gait is very similar to the guy on "Sanford and Son" tv show. He's not been able to wear his dentures since Saturday and he is very self conscious of that.
Dale will have a glucose/blood test on Thursday here in Victoria.
I'm hoping that by 9am the Oxycontin will have worked it's magic like it did last night and he'll report a pain level of a 2! Fingers crossed!
9am: Pain level 5, nausea under control. A little breakfast in his stomach. Fatigue has reared it's ugly head. Dale's in bed now, resting! Research nurse at MD Anderson has called to check in this morning. She's called 3-4 times since Monday.
1pm: Pain level 4-1/2 after a two hour nap. Sitting outside trying a change of scenery. Taste seems to be improving. Nausea still under control. Rash behind both ears. Fingertips feel different. Normal swelling in ankles has been nonexistent since Saturday. Not taking Lasixs, but may need to get back on it - waiting for doctor decision.
6pm: After a very rough afternoon, 2 tylenols seems to have taken the edge off Dale's painful joints. His pain level is now a 3! Bottoms of his feet are tender. Jackie's working on Chicken and Dumplings! Hope he can get those down. He's not eaten much today.
His mouth issues have really settled down, swallowing is still iffy though. He's able to get up and move about some, though he laughs and calls himself "Sanford" because his gait is very similar to the guy on "Sanford and Son" tv show. He's not been able to wear his dentures since Saturday and he is very self conscious of that.
Dale will have a glucose/blood test on Thursday here in Victoria.
I'm hoping that by 9am the Oxycontin will have worked it's magic like it did last night and he'll report a pain level of a 2! Fingers crossed!
9am: Pain level 5, nausea under control. A little breakfast in his stomach. Fatigue has reared it's ugly head. Dale's in bed now, resting! Research nurse at MD Anderson has called to check in this morning. She's called 3-4 times since Monday.
1pm: Pain level 4-1/2 after a two hour nap. Sitting outside trying a change of scenery. Taste seems to be improving. Nausea still under control. Rash behind both ears. Fingertips feel different. Normal swelling in ankles has been nonexistent since Saturday. Not taking Lasixs, but may need to get back on it - waiting for doctor decision.
6pm: After a very rough afternoon, 2 tylenols seems to have taken the edge off Dale's painful joints. His pain level is now a 3! Bottoms of his feet are tender. Jackie's working on Chicken and Dumplings! Hope he can get those down. He's not eaten much today.
Monday, September 28, 2009
C1D5
Chemo sucks!
Dale is really struggling with joint pain. Knees, elbows and ankles are sore and tender. He's trying Tylenol without much success. A headache is also zapping his once chipper attitude. Mouth and throat issue continue, but the overriding joint pain has moved that issue out of the limelight. I've called MD Anderson this morning, they suggest a trip to the local ER for the joint pain. Dale refuses to go - so we'll try to ride out this pain here at home.
I went to Walmart last night late and purchased an electric blanket. Dale wraps up in it like a burrito and the warmth offers some relief to the achy flu-like symptoms.
He's really working hard to get his 66 ozs. of fluids a day. Throat issues make swallowing problematic. He's trying to eat every 2-3 hours to avoid nausea. Hot foods don't work, salt doesn't have a taste and most everything he eats vaguely tastes like it should. He's using a baking soda rinse in his mouth now ever 2-3 hours. Daily temperature readings are holding normal.
Dr. Karp (chair study at MD Anderson) told Dale that he hoped chemo wouldn't knock his "hubcaps" off. Dale said last night, the "hubcaps" were wobbling. Pain rating last night was an 8. It's still an 8 this morning.
Praying Day 5 is the last bad day!
3pm update: Dale is just up from a nap and seems to be feeling a bit better. I'm headed to the pharmacy to pick up a new pain medicine.
11pm update: Not sure if it was the new script, Oxycontin. or just some time, but Dale's pain level is now a 2! Hopefully, he's turned the corner on achiness and tomorrow morning will be the start of getting back to normal!
Dale is really struggling with joint pain. Knees, elbows and ankles are sore and tender. He's trying Tylenol without much success. A headache is also zapping his once chipper attitude. Mouth and throat issue continue, but the overriding joint pain has moved that issue out of the limelight. I've called MD Anderson this morning, they suggest a trip to the local ER for the joint pain. Dale refuses to go - so we'll try to ride out this pain here at home.
I went to Walmart last night late and purchased an electric blanket. Dale wraps up in it like a burrito and the warmth offers some relief to the achy flu-like symptoms.
He's really working hard to get his 66 ozs. of fluids a day. Throat issues make swallowing problematic. He's trying to eat every 2-3 hours to avoid nausea. Hot foods don't work, salt doesn't have a taste and most everything he eats vaguely tastes like it should. He's using a baking soda rinse in his mouth now ever 2-3 hours. Daily temperature readings are holding normal.
Dr. Karp (chair study at MD Anderson) told Dale that he hoped chemo wouldn't knock his "hubcaps" off. Dale said last night, the "hubcaps" were wobbling. Pain rating last night was an 8. It's still an 8 this morning.
Praying Day 5 is the last bad day!
3pm update: Dale is just up from a nap and seems to be feeling a bit better. I'm headed to the pharmacy to pick up a new pain medicine.
11pm update: Not sure if it was the new script, Oxycontin. or just some time, but Dale's pain level is now a 2! Hopefully, he's turned the corner on achiness and tomorrow morning will be the start of getting back to normal!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
C1D4
Day 4 and the cautious optimism continues!
Dale slept well last night. Used Biotene mouthrinse often to eleviate the dry/tender mouth issues. Werthers Original candies provide some relief. Taste is still a bit off, Dale is officially not a jalapeno eater for now. Watermelon is good, and if he soaks the Oreos in milk long enough - they are delicious! Had Breakfast Taco filling (sans tortilla) for breakfast. Going to try Macaroni and Cheese today.
No nausea, no fever, no fatigue, no aches! Geez! I feel like a vulture circling the house...waiting for something to go wrong. Dad is averaging 66 ozs. of fluids a day.
Attitude: Great, Activity level: 105%, Energy level: Normal
I have a call into Dr. Tsao to ask for permission to use the Benadryl/lidocaine/Maalox compound (prescribed during Proton Therapy) for the sore mouth and throat he's experiencing.
For those that know Dale, he's had one nap since Thursday! So fatigue is obviously not a problem.
4pm update: Dale has had a teensy bit of nausea this afternoon, cured by eating lunch. Thought is that he needs to eat a bit every 2-3 hours. Knees are a bit sore. Mouth and throat continue to be a nuisance. Still taking his steriods and Zofran. Chocolate shake was a winner. Macaroni and cheese for lunch and a chocolate meringue pie waiting for dessert later! YUMM!!
Oddly enough, the CT scan Dale took last week (9/17) -showed improvement in a few of his previously noted nodules (8/17)! His biggest nodule is just under 1cm! We are hopeful that CP-751781 can melt those small nodules!
Dale is a bit achy and a bit fatigued this evening. His mouth issues are pretty stabilized but he's feeling the affects of the chemo in his stomach now. His attitude is still good and we're all searching for ways to lessen the effects and provide comfort. He's been out in the yard some today, but mostly in the recliner watching Tiger win the FedEx Cup. All-in-all, Dale has really handled the past 4 days like a pro. Fears that we all had about side effects have been replaced with sighs of relief that things are going so well. Fingers crossed that tomorrow is a good day too!
Dale slept well last night. Used Biotene mouthrinse often to eleviate the dry/tender mouth issues. Werthers Original candies provide some relief. Taste is still a bit off, Dale is officially not a jalapeno eater for now. Watermelon is good, and if he soaks the Oreos in milk long enough - they are delicious! Had Breakfast Taco filling (sans tortilla) for breakfast. Going to try Macaroni and Cheese today.
No nausea, no fever, no fatigue, no aches! Geez! I feel like a vulture circling the house...waiting for something to go wrong. Dad is averaging 66 ozs. of fluids a day.
Attitude: Great, Activity level: 105%, Energy level: Normal
I have a call into Dr. Tsao to ask for permission to use the Benadryl/lidocaine/Maalox compound (prescribed during Proton Therapy) for the sore mouth and throat he's experiencing.
For those that know Dale, he's had one nap since Thursday! So fatigue is obviously not a problem.
4pm update: Dale has had a teensy bit of nausea this afternoon, cured by eating lunch. Thought is that he needs to eat a bit every 2-3 hours. Knees are a bit sore. Mouth and throat continue to be a nuisance. Still taking his steriods and Zofran. Chocolate shake was a winner. Macaroni and cheese for lunch and a chocolate meringue pie waiting for dessert later! YUMM!!
Oddly enough, the CT scan Dale took last week (9/17) -showed improvement in a few of his previously noted nodules (8/17)! His biggest nodule is just under 1cm! We are hopeful that CP-751781 can melt those small nodules!
Dale is a bit achy and a bit fatigued this evening. His mouth issues are pretty stabilized but he's feeling the affects of the chemo in his stomach now. His attitude is still good and we're all searching for ways to lessen the effects and provide comfort. He's been out in the yard some today, but mostly in the recliner watching Tiger win the FedEx Cup. All-in-all, Dale has really handled the past 4 days like a pro. Fears that we all had about side effects have been replaced with sighs of relief that things are going so well. Fingers crossed that tomorrow is a good day too!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
C1D3 = Cycle 1 Day 3
Dale was up early today...awoke about 6:30am. He notes some sensation in his mouth, not easily defined. He's using a new toothpaste and mouth rinse (Biotene) as requested by his Research Nurse. Biotene makes his mouth feel better.
Face is a bit flushed.
Breakfast, biscuits and bacon. Some comments about the taste being lowered.
Comments about the sensation of his hands being shaky this morning.
Nothing above is a concern, just observations.
Attitude: terrific, Energy level: 110%, Activity level: above normal.
Dale is taking Dexamethasone (steroid, 2 pills a day/twice a day for 3 days) and Zofran (nausea, 1 pill/8 hours or as needed). He's taking the Zofran as a preventative to nausea, none noted so far.
Face is a bit flushed.
Breakfast, biscuits and bacon. Some comments about the taste being lowered.
Comments about the sensation of his hands being shaky this morning.
Nothing above is a concern, just observations.
Attitude: terrific, Energy level: 110%, Activity level: above normal.
Dale is taking Dexamethasone (steroid, 2 pills a day/twice a day for 3 days) and Zofran (nausea, 1 pill/8 hours or as needed). He's taking the Zofran as a preventative to nausea, none noted so far.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Cycle 1 Day 2
OMG! After going to bed at 11pm last night, Dale is up at 6am! WHAT!
Apparently the steriods given yesterday by IV have created a 16 year old mentality! Dale feels rejuvenated and refreshed. I think his exact words this morning are "I could run a marathon!". Another favorite Daleism, "Nobody should feel this good with cancer".
So Day 2 has started off well! We will pack up and head to Victoria some time this morning.
I, on the other hand, am headed to the Vet's office. When we returned home last night, our dashchund was in distress. Not sure if we've broken a paw or what?
Apparently the steriods given yesterday by IV have created a 16 year old mentality! Dale feels rejuvenated and refreshed. I think his exact words this morning are "I could run a marathon!". Another favorite Daleism, "Nobody should feel this good with cancer".
So Day 2 has started off well! We will pack up and head to Victoria some time this morning.
I, on the other hand, am headed to the Vet's office. When we returned home last night, our dashchund was in distress. Not sure if we've broken a paw or what?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Cycle 1 Day 1
We arrived at MD Anderson at 7:45am. After some waiting, Dad was called back for his vitals (all good) and then escorted to Room 16 of the Clinical Research Translation center. The room is set up similar to a hospital ER exam room. We waited a few more minutes and around 9:15, Kendra (Dale's nurse) hooked Dale up to an IV. She brings in 8 or 9 bags of medications and hangs them on his "tree". Benadryl, Zofran, a steriod and another drug that eases digestive upset were given (each in 10 minute increments). Dale dined on a Prasek's Pig and a banana! Once those pre-meds were onboard, vitals were taken again and then Taxol was added. Taxol will drip for 3 hours. Kendra comes by every few minutes to see how things are going. It's 11am and he'll be on taxol til around 2pm.
1pm update: Ashley, Research Nurse, came by with a questionaire to complete and three prescriptions to take home. Zofran, a steroid and compazine - nausea meds for the next few days. Lunch is being served and Dale's reclined in the chair watching Tiger tee off! Pretty easy day so far. Have about 45 more minutes of Taxol, 1/2 hour of Carbo, then 1 hour of the "experimental" stuff, then 4 hours of fluids! Should be done about 8pm! UGH!
3pm update: Waiting on lab draw and then the "experimental" drug drips for one hour! Going great! Photo at the top is of the "experimental" drug. Duly marked as experimental! IV is annoying him, but he's tolerating it. Still joshing with the nurses and being 'funny'.
5:30pm: Dale has had one hour of fluid IVs so far. Dr. Tsao wanted 4 hours of fluids after treatment to help flush the kidneys. Dinner has been ordered and the first round of FedEx cup is complete! Dale had another blood draw one hour after the experimental drug. His last blood draw today. Fluids should be finished around 8:30pm, then we'll head to Pearland for the night. Dennis picked up all of Dale's home medications and they are waiting for us at home. Dale will take a steroid for 3 days and Zofran as necessary. He also has Compazine for nausea if needed. Everyone hear really preaches "fluids" so I guess that's our new mantra!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Dale + Figitumumab!
Dale won the MD Anderson computer lottery today!
He gets the new experimental Pfizer drug, Figitumumab, that looks to beat standard chemotherapy responses to his type cancer by about 23% better odds! Yippee! Hooray!
To quote my Father, "I'm the luckiest guy around!".
Thursday's treatment will take about 7 hours for all three drugs to be administered. Dale will have several blood draws prior to treatment and then another blood draw one hour after treatment.
He gets the new experimental Pfizer drug, Figitumumab, that looks to beat standard chemotherapy responses to his type cancer by about 23% better odds! Yippee! Hooray!
To quote my Father, "I'm the luckiest guy around!".
Thursday's treatment will take about 7 hours for all three drugs to be administered. Dale will have several blood draws prior to treatment and then another blood draw one hour after treatment.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Schedule grows
Dale's calendar is filling up with more blood tests and treatment:
Time........... Appointments for 10/13/2009
7:20 AM.... CHEST, PA & LAT
7:45 AM.... BLOOD/SPECIMEN COLLECTION
9:00 AM.... TSAO, ANNE M.D.
Dale will have his second treatment as soon as his appointment with Dr. Tsao is completed.
Time........... Appointments for 10/13/2009
7:20 AM.... CHEST, PA & LAT
7:45 AM.... BLOOD/SPECIMEN COLLECTION
9:00 AM.... TSAO, ANNE M.D.
Dale will have his second treatment as soon as his appointment with Dr. Tsao is completed.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Signing on the dotted line......
After arriving at MD Anderson at 7:15am, Dale signed his consent forms after meeting with two clinical research nurses, Mary and Cheryl. We had a very informative Q&A session and then headed down to the Diagnostic Center for Dale's bloodwork, EKG and chest Xray. After a few minutes there, we retired to the Hospitality area for coffee and breakfast.
At 10:30am we met Dr. Daniel Karp. A straight-to-the-point, humorless doctor who chairs the Clinical Study. He did a pretty complete physical exam and then answered more questions.
Mary and Cheryl went over Chemotherapy training and answered more questions. About this time, everyone's eyes glazed over from the mounds and mounds of information! We were out of MD Anderson by noon and headed home to Pearland for a yummy lunch.
Dale doesn't have to go back tomorrow, he got most of his chemo training today. The remainder will be given during his first treatment. He does however, have to go back this evening for a Cat Scan!
Dale's second Chemo treatment will be on Oct. 12th.
At 10:30am we met Dr. Daniel Karp. A straight-to-the-point, humorless doctor who chairs the Clinical Study. He did a pretty complete physical exam and then answered more questions.
Mary and Cheryl went over Chemotherapy training and answered more questions. About this time, everyone's eyes glazed over from the mounds and mounds of information! We were out of MD Anderson by noon and headed home to Pearland for a yummy lunch.
Dale doesn't have to go back tomorrow, he got most of his chemo training today. The remainder will be given during his first treatment. He does however, have to go back this evening for a Cat Scan!
Dale's second Chemo treatment will be on Oct. 12th.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
A new adventure begins!
I spoke with Mary Rollins today. She is the Research Nurse for Dale's clinical trial treatment. A tentative schedule has been set:
Sept. 17th!
7:30 AM............ NURSING ASSESSMENT
8:00 AM........... BLOOD/SPECIMEN COLLECTION
8:30 AM ...........EKG - RESTING
10:30 AM......... KARP, DANIEL M.D.
11:00 AM.......... CHEST, PA & LAT
Home to Pearland for a while
7:50 PM ............CT CHECKIN-DONT EAT 3 HR PRIOR
8:20 PM ............CT SCAN, CHEST
Time............... Appointments for 9/24/2009
8:00 AM.........BLOOD/SPECIMEN COLLECTION
8:45 AM ........PHARMACOLOGY SAMPLING
9:00 AM......... TRTMNT SCHEDULED,ORDERS NEEDED
Additional Treatment dates:
Oct. 15th
(Reevaluate) Nov. 5, Nov. 26
(Reevaluate) Dec. 17, and Jan. 7
Bloodwork needed on Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 can be drawn at a lab in Victoria
Dale is the 1st of 30 patients at MD Anderson that has been accepted into the Phase III Clinical Trial of Figitumumab. On Sept. 22nd, the computer will decide if he is getting this third medication or not! Pray he's randomized into the group getting Figitumumab!
Sept. 17th!
7:30 AM............ NURSING ASSESSMENT
8:00 AM........... BLOOD/SPECIMEN COLLECTION
8:30 AM ...........EKG - RESTING
10:30 AM......... KARP, DANIEL M.D.
11:00 AM.......... CHEST, PA & LAT
Home to Pearland for a while
7:50 PM ............CT CHECKIN-DONT EAT 3 HR PRIOR
8:20 PM ............CT SCAN, CHEST
Time............... Appointments for 9/24/2009
8:00 AM.........BLOOD/SPECIMEN COLLECTION
8:45 AM ........PHARMACOLOGY SAMPLING
9:00 AM......... TRTMNT SCHEDULED,ORDERS NEEDED
Additional Treatment dates:
Oct. 15th
(Reevaluate) Nov. 5, Nov. 26
(Reevaluate) Dec. 17, and Jan. 7
Bloodwork needed on Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 can be drawn at a lab in Victoria
Dale is the 1st of 30 patients at MD Anderson that has been accepted into the Phase III Clinical Trial of Figitumumab. On Sept. 22nd, the computer will decide if he is getting this third medication or not! Pray he's randomized into the group getting Figitumumab!
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Party of All Time
For those that were there....congratulations on your decision to attend the most fabulous and fun party in Dale's entire life! Good friends, food and fun with overflowing love and fellowship! Just couldn't have been better!
Check out Photos from the party:
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1380921023/a=90646091_607335023/
Check out Photos from the party:
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1380921023/a=90646091_607335023/
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Clinical Trial - best option
Dale met with Dr. Tsao today to discuss treatment for his recurrent lung cancer. Dr. Tsao does not want another biopsy done on the recurrent cancers. Dr. Tsao has recommended that Dale join a Clinical Trial at MD Anderson. This trial is a combination of the chemotherapy drugs, Paclitaxel and Carboplatin, and a new experimental drug by Pfizer called Figitumumab. Figitumumab (or CP-751871) is a drug designed to block certain receptors that are found on the surface of cancer cells. Figitumumab restricts the cells ability to uptake sugars and may cause the cells to die. Paclitaxel is designed to block cancer cells from dividing, which may cause them to die. Carboplatin is designed to interfere with the growth of cancer cells by stopping cell division, which may cause the cells to die.
If Dale meets the criteria for this trial, he will be accepted and initial bloodwork will be taken. An EKG will be needed also. This study is 'randomized', so not everyone recieves the new drug. Some just get the two chemotherapy drugs. Patients are told before the study starts if they are getting the new drug or not. Dale may withdraw from the study at any time.
Treatments occur about once every 3 weeks and after two treatments, Dr. Tsao will reassess the progress by doing another CT Scan. If progress is noted and Dale is tolerating the treatment well, the 3rd & 4th treatments will be scheduled. After the 3rd & 4th treatments, there will be another assessment to determine if Dale will continue on to the final 5th & 6th treatment. This is a Phase 3 trial, which means it has passed the first two Phases of trials and is showing good promise on cancers like Dale's with progression-free survival (PFS).
Dr. Tsao discussed side effects and the "ugly" side of chemotherapy, but was very adament that this is the best option for Dale. She hopes that Dale will have 2-4 days of feeling slightly ill and tired after the treatment and then recover fully for the next couple of weeks before the next treatment. At each treatment, she will exam Dale and review current bloodwork to verify that he's "good to go" with another treatment.
If, at the end of the 6th treatment, Dale will have the option to continue the Figitumumab for another 17 months (without chemotherapy) if he is seeing good results.
The plan is to discuss this with family members this weekend and if the consensus is to go ahead with the trial, then once accepted into the trial - treatment could begin next week!
http://mediaroom.pfizer.com/portal/site/pfizer/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=1016273&newsId=20090530005024&newsLang=en
If Dale meets the criteria for this trial, he will be accepted and initial bloodwork will be taken. An EKG will be needed also. This study is 'randomized', so not everyone recieves the new drug. Some just get the two chemotherapy drugs. Patients are told before the study starts if they are getting the new drug or not. Dale may withdraw from the study at any time.
Treatments occur about once every 3 weeks and after two treatments, Dr. Tsao will reassess the progress by doing another CT Scan. If progress is noted and Dale is tolerating the treatment well, the 3rd & 4th treatments will be scheduled. After the 3rd & 4th treatments, there will be another assessment to determine if Dale will continue on to the final 5th & 6th treatment. This is a Phase 3 trial, which means it has passed the first two Phases of trials and is showing good promise on cancers like Dale's with progression-free survival (PFS).
Dr. Tsao discussed side effects and the "ugly" side of chemotherapy, but was very adament that this is the best option for Dale. She hopes that Dale will have 2-4 days of feeling slightly ill and tired after the treatment and then recover fully for the next couple of weeks before the next treatment. At each treatment, she will exam Dale and review current bloodwork to verify that he's "good to go" with another treatment.
If, at the end of the 6th treatment, Dale will have the option to continue the Figitumumab for another 17 months (without chemotherapy) if he is seeing good results.
The plan is to discuss this with family members this weekend and if the consensus is to go ahead with the trial, then once accepted into the trial - treatment could begin next week!
http://mediaroom.pfizer.com/portal/site/pfizer/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=1016273&newsId=20090530005024&newsLang=en
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