Everything went well for the second treatment. Curt first saw the Nurse Practioner who was very impressed with his progress. She gave him a brief examination and talked with us. She couldn't believe he had been playing tennis, softball, and golf. She said the chemo must be working for him to feel like this and no longer have pain. She also thought his eye (not as protruding) and general appearance looked better. She ordered an MRI for him to have on June 27 before he sees Dr. Chui on July 6 and has his third treatment. The nurse who prepared him for his treatment couldn't believe how good his Port looked. She wondered who did it. Curt had a nice corner chair with windows looking both East and South. It was too cloudy to see the mountains. I enjoyed watching some work on a nearby skyscraper that was being built. Curt saw the Nurse Practioner after 10:30 and went into the chemo about 11:30. They first have to draw blood to see if everything is okay and start a "plain" IV. The blood results were very good. Then they start the 2 chemo bags. They take 1 hour each. We ate our lunch while all this is going on. He was done about 3 PM. He said he felt a little "drunk" afterwards. His main side effects seem to be hiccups (for about a week) and fatigue. We went back to Angie's and Curt rested. We had a "take out" supper. Jef had to work late. Curt, Maddie, Vega and I went to Angie's softball game at 6:15. It sprinked a little during the game (they lost). We were home about 7:30. After the girls went to bed, we played some more bridge. Curt got a little tired about 10 and wanted to quit (I think it was because he and Jef had gained a lot of points on Angie and me).
Today we went out for breakfast and went to Costco and Target. Vega got a bigger bike (16 in.). We went to a park after that so the girls could ride their bikes (it is too hilly around Angie and Jef's). Curt rested again after lunch. We went back to OHSU at 3:15 for his followup injection and then stopped at the Woodburn Mall to do a little shopping. Curt got tired and went to the car before the last store. We had a little something to eat at Arby's nearby and made a couple more stops before getting home after 6:30. Curt is reading our mail and papers now.
So far, so good!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Port Operation
Curt has been doing well since his first chemotherapy. He was almost back to doing everything as before. He has played tennis several times, but doesn't have as much stamina with singles. He has pitched 3 coed softball games (won 1 and lost 2), golfed 9 holes, worked in the yard, etc. He is most happy about not having any pain. He thinks he might have taken a couple Tylenol since his treatment. His eye also does not bother him as much.
We came to the Bakers in Lake Oswego on Tuesday afternoon. We enjoyed watching Maddie and Vega do their tap, ballet and gymnastic routines then. We walked Maddie to her last day of school on Wednesday and then went to the lower campus of OHSU for a class on chemotherapy from 10 to after 11:30. A Social Worker, Nurse Clinic coordinator, Dietitian, and AMC Patient Navigator spoke and gave us a notebook with lots of handouts. We ate lunch at a Thai Restaurant and did a little birthday shopping for Jef before going back to Bakers. Curt went for a walk with the girls later in the afternoon. We have been continuing our bridge marathon with Angie and Jef in the evenings. So far the women are ahead for the year.
This morning with had to be at OHSU's upper campus at 6 AM! We got to meet the surgeon, Dr. Billingsley, before he went into surgery at 8. Curt had heavy sedation and did well. There are 2 incisions. The bigger one is near his right bone below his neck. This is where the dome-shaped disk about the size of a dime or penny is that will be used as the "Port" for all blood work and chemo from now on. A special needle can be inserted in it almost indefinitely. There is a catheter that goes under his skin from there up about 3 inches to a large vein in his neck. That is where the smaller incision is. They insert this catheter into the vein and it goes down about 3 or 4 inches toward his heart. The doctor came to me in the waiting room to see me about 9 (the surgery takes about 35 minutes) and said it went well. I went back to the recovery room and we had to wait about an hour for a portable x-ray machine to come and x-ray that area to make sure it was okay. They would not give any liquids until they knew they would not have to do any more operating. Curt was pretty drowsy and it didn't seem to bother him. They only complaint he had was around the neck incision. The nurse said it is harder to numb that area. They gave him an ice pack to put on the area and an Oxycodone to help with any pain he might have. They also gave us one of the special needles to use as needed if we are someplace where they do not have the needles. We got back to Bakers before 11:30. Angie and the girls took off shortly after to go swimming (indoors - it has been a little cool, around highs of 70). They will be back after 1:30. Curt ate some cereal and is now resting. The hard part for him might be that he can't play any tennis or softball for about 10 days. They want those incisions to heal first.
Tomorrow we return to OHSU at 10:30 for the second chemo treatment. We hope to watch Angie's coed softball game that evening at a nearby Junior High School. Saturday afternoon Curt will have the followup shot and we can return to Corvallis.
We came to the Bakers in Lake Oswego on Tuesday afternoon. We enjoyed watching Maddie and Vega do their tap, ballet and gymnastic routines then. We walked Maddie to her last day of school on Wednesday and then went to the lower campus of OHSU for a class on chemotherapy from 10 to after 11:30. A Social Worker, Nurse Clinic coordinator, Dietitian, and AMC Patient Navigator spoke and gave us a notebook with lots of handouts. We ate lunch at a Thai Restaurant and did a little birthday shopping for Jef before going back to Bakers. Curt went for a walk with the girls later in the afternoon. We have been continuing our bridge marathon with Angie and Jef in the evenings. So far the women are ahead for the year.
This morning with had to be at OHSU's upper campus at 6 AM! We got to meet the surgeon, Dr. Billingsley, before he went into surgery at 8. Curt had heavy sedation and did well. There are 2 incisions. The bigger one is near his right bone below his neck. This is where the dome-shaped disk about the size of a dime or penny is that will be used as the "Port" for all blood work and chemo from now on. A special needle can be inserted in it almost indefinitely. There is a catheter that goes under his skin from there up about 3 inches to a large vein in his neck. That is where the smaller incision is. They insert this catheter into the vein and it goes down about 3 or 4 inches toward his heart. The doctor came to me in the waiting room to see me about 9 (the surgery takes about 35 minutes) and said it went well. I went back to the recovery room and we had to wait about an hour for a portable x-ray machine to come and x-ray that area to make sure it was okay. They would not give any liquids until they knew they would not have to do any more operating. Curt was pretty drowsy and it didn't seem to bother him. They only complaint he had was around the neck incision. The nurse said it is harder to numb that area. They gave him an ice pack to put on the area and an Oxycodone to help with any pain he might have. They also gave us one of the special needles to use as needed if we are someplace where they do not have the needles. We got back to Bakers before 11:30. Angie and the girls took off shortly after to go swimming (indoors - it has been a little cool, around highs of 70). They will be back after 1:30. Curt ate some cereal and is now resting. The hard part for him might be that he can't play any tennis or softball for about 10 days. They want those incisions to heal first.
Tomorrow we return to OHSU at 10:30 for the second chemo treatment. We hope to watch Angie's coed softball game that evening at a nearby Junior High School. Saturday afternoon Curt will have the followup shot and we can return to Corvallis.
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