Truely half way done
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
August 11, 2011 7:07pm CST
This week has really been quite a rollercoaster for us. First, Tom had an appointment with his oncologist on Friday that was supposed to be followed with treatment #7 of 12 treatments. Well, he saw that physician's assistant for the doctor because the doctor wasn't in the office. She didn't like the way that his lungs sounded (one of the drugs, bleomycin can cause significant lung damage) and opted to delay his treatment until Wednesday, following a Chest X-ray, CT scan and pulmonary function test.
He went to see the doctor yesterday, who reported that his pulmonary function was better than it had been prior to chemo starting and the enlarged lymph nodes in his chest were significantly smaller than they'd been prior to starting treatment. So, though we were worried about his lungs sounding bad on Friday, it turned out to really be more reassurance for us that things are going in the right direction. The downside to the held chemo is that he now will not be done with treatment until the 21st of October instead of the 14th of October.
Just thought you all might like an update.
1 person likes this
10 responses
@marguicha (223107)
• Chile
12 Aug 11
I´m with you, dear friend. And you know that doctors postpone chemo for a week if the rest of our body isn´t behaving. I had my second chemo 4 weeks after the first one because my defenses were low. Not to worry.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Aug 11
The thing that really scared me at first is that the one medication has the potential of causing irreversible lung damage. That on top of the cancer that he already has would have been a very bad combination. So, I'm glad that they were able to rule that out.
@marguicha (223107)
• Chile
12 Aug 11
I hope everything works out all right. I´m home as much as I can and have everything very clean as defenses go way down
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Aug 11
Well, his doctor said that he was fine to work as long as he felt up to it. So, as of right now, he's only missing treatment days.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
17 Aug 11
Hello dorannmwin 
Oh wow this is great news to hear. I am glad that although he is not completely free that at least things are looking and getting much better. That has to be a sigh of relief on the one hand and knowing that things are going much better then you do anticipate has to be comforting.
I think of your family often and wondered how he was doing. My prayers Doran that he is completely well soon.
Oh wow this is great news to hear. I am glad that although he is not completely free that at least things are looking and getting much better. That has to be a sigh of relief on the one hand and knowing that things are going much better then you do anticipate has to be comforting.
I think of your family often and wondered how he was doing. My prayers Doran that he is completely well soon. @dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
17 Aug 11
You are definitely right that things are starting to get better. I hope that once all of this is in the past that I will again have the person that I love in my life because since going through all of this he has been a person that I don't like very much at all at times and that is something that is difficult to deal with.
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
14 Aug 11
dorannmwin,
Appreciate the update and I am praying that all will be going well for your husband. In the meantime, do be patient and remain strong throughout.
Take care.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
15 Aug 11
Well, patience is definitely not a virtue that I was granted with too much of, but I'm certainly trying.
@much2say (55664)
• Los Angeles, California
12 Aug 11
Good to hear things are going in the right direction! Ah, so much better to see the doctor he sees regularly - he knows what's going on with your husband best. Sorry you had to go through worrying about his lungs and delaying that one day of treatment - but I guess it was to be on safe side. October is just around the corner - hang in there - sending healing thoughts out your way!!!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Aug 11
On the one hand, I wish that it was already October so that his treatments could be in the past. However, on the other hand, I really don't want it to be October because it is also the month in which my baby will be turning five and I don't want him to grow up so quick.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
16 Aug 11
If I were in your shoes, I would also like for nothing else but to finish the treatment as quickly as possible. I would also want to be done with it on the 14th, instead of the 21st. But I guess the reassurance that everything is better is worth the week of delay.
I like the updates!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
17 Aug 11
Ultimately,I do think that it is worth the wait, and the added benefit is that we won't have to delay Paul's fifth birthday party because of Tom being down from chemo, but we are both so ready for it to be done.
Now, if we can just get through the last five treatments without any more hitches, then I will be happy.
@DIVINEPURPOSE (62)
• United States
14 Aug 11
I am so glad to hear that everything is going a lot better. God is such an awesome God, he knows where we are through each and every trial. He will surely give us no more than we can bare. October 21, will be here before you know : ).
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Aug 11
Yes, that date will be here quicker than anything and I'm really happy about that fact. I know that life will never really be the same as it was before, but things will be better than they've been through this entire ordeal.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
12 Aug 11
That's good to hear things are progressing in the right direction. I hope time passes quickly for his treatments and the chemo does it's job. Your family has a long road ahead to recovery... stay strong and let us know how everything's going! ((hugs))
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Aug 11
We do have a long way to go and I also know that we will be facing a new version of normal, but as long as my husband is able to be healthy again, all of the struggles that we are facing right now are all very much worth it.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Aug 11
Hooray, and hopefully the week's delay was worth the reassurance that there wasn't a problem with the lungs.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Aug 11
Though it was frustrating to have lost as much time as we did waiting for them to get tests scheduled and such, it is nice to know that his team of doctor's take everything seriously if there could be a problem and that does make me feel better.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
12 Aug 11
gee i hope things start going better for you all soon girl. im still praying for you girl. thanks for the updates. hugs, bon@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Aug 11
I know that things are going to get better, if there is one thing that I've learned to do through this entire ordeal, it is to keep a positive attitude. That, in and of itself, has helped me more than anything.
@surekharathi (14146)
• India
12 Aug 11
Ohhh so sad it means you feel lots of problem chemo ohhh no I know chemo is more dangerous but dont worry friend God is with you. Till 21 October you should take rest dont do the work more please. We all are mylotters is with you and we will do prayer for you.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Aug 11
I definitely appreciate all of the prayers that are with my family during this trying time in our lives. I can't wait until all of the chemo is over, but I also realize that even then, my life being normal as I knew it will never be back.
