"I'm Done!, but I still have 8 to go!"

 20 down, 8 to go! The first apointment Kent and I went to of Radiation we were were told you will have 28 to 30 treatments of Radiation.  Both of us looked at each other and said, "Ok, One month it's doable."  No one except for those who are going through this know what it
is exactly that it takes to go into this regimen.  Timing is everything, sleep is precious and every bit of energy you have is spent being around those you care about, but colapse once you get home where you can rest.  Kent is at the point of everyday is exhausting and long and bed is never to soon. 

This weekend we spent one night away at the cottage. it's enough removed from home but a place he can relax , yet escape inside to sleep or rest if he's had enough. Home, where Kent spends all his time still working his job daily though chemo and radiation and then spending his evening quietly sitting in his chair just mustering all the little energy he has left, becomes hard to be at now that he has to have all his meds at home. Chemo becomes a very hard association when you are constantly at that same place. 

Proud would be an understament of all of who watch him fight every day! He carries on with daily tasks like going to a Restraunt in the middle of the day with his daughter just because time with her is so important and she has a very busy weekend including a wedding and she spends her Summer at Camp Geneva., He spends his extra time making sure all the T's are crossed and i's dotted when forms need to be in for Lydia, or if and when anyone else needs help too!

Tommorow Kent will start one of eight treatments left.   2, four day weeks with a 4 day much needed break over the 4th of July Holiday. I ask to please pray he makes it these next 2 four day weeks!  He's a bit uneasy about having a break and not wanting to go back into it after that.  I know he can finish strong, but he needs you his biggest cheerleaders encouraging him. 

July 11 is the day! Graduation day from Radiation! He will get a certificate of completion. Well deserved!  I told him and will hold on to my word we will go to a restraunt of his choice to celebrate! I will not share the restraunt at this time but I without a doubt know what he will pick and we may have to wait for Lydia because its that good and we all want to share in his accomplishment! We'll share for sure when it becomes a reality.

Matthew 11:28 through 30 

"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my Yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light! 

Thank you for all being Kent's prayer warriors and biggest Cheerleaders to keep on and not being Done! 

Leah 

Farewell my good friend

Thursday we had a vet appointment with our struggling fur baby.  She had been in previously with a toe on her left foot which was larger than the rest.  At the time we elected surgery to remove the toe and pathology confirmed it was indeed cancer. This Thursday's visit was for an enlarged to on the opposite back foot.  We suspected a return of the cancer on her foot was making walking difficult for her.  When visiting the vet he examined her then continued to tell us her toe was not his primary concern.  The muscles in her back hips were basically gone.  This was making it difficult for her to walk around.  The toe was just adding to the diffuculty for her.  In her current state the future looked grim for her.  We were presented with very few options with the best option being the one nobody wants for their beloved animal.

It's been quite an adjustment around home with her no longer present.  I know she was loved as she always followed Leah and she sat by me when Leah wasn't around which meant every work day in the last 4 years.  We welcomed her into our home roughly 10 years ago as a Paws with a cause Breeding dog which was when I was just coming out of my first cancer journey.  So in a very real sense up until Thursday she has been my emotional support dog.

While it's difficult, I know I have the support of a lot of people and I wouldn't give that up for anything.  Today was treatment number 16 out of 28 which means I have 12 treatments left.  My schedule going forward looks a little interesting.  This week I have today thru Friday with a couple days at an earlier time.  I will have Satruday off and then start treatments again on Sunday and continue through Wednesday.  At that point We will all with be celebrating the 4th of July and so I will have a 4 day weekend including Thrusday and Friday.  The following week I will have 4 treatments left and should Graduate on July 11th from the radiation/chemo program.

Prayers for calm mind and calm stomach would be appreciated.

~Kent

What goes down.....

I know what goes up must come down but what's the rule when something goes down?  I'm still not sure I know that rule fully.  The last several days have not gone great and I'll expalin why.  Yesterday day was fine through Chemo number 1 and lunch and treatment.  On Tuesday I see the Radiation doctor after treatment wich was the case again yesterday.  Things were fine through the Doc appointment and even to the car and part of the way down the road.  The further I drove the worse the pain got.  I got the car to Borculo and pulled over and we switched drivers.  Leah drove the rest of the way home even though she doesn't feel comfortable driving my vehicle.

It was on the way home I started putting the pieces together and figured out this was an Acid Reflux issue.  I took an antacid right away when we got home and then was careful with food last night and also slept more upright.  Suddenly the puzzle pieces aligned and looking backwards seemed much more clearly.  My acid reflux seems to be brought on with my high stress and anxiety.  Unfortunately this is not a new problem but shows up infrequently enough I can't really prepare for it but have to react to it.

Lately I have been eating fresh fruit like Peaches and Cherries and then eat things like burgers and occaisionally Pizza  or chicken with Barbecue sauce. None of those options are great options with Acid Reflux issues. Yesterday I had several of the foods mentioned and by the time I had to lay down for treatment I was evidently high on acid and then I laid flat for treatment (if you know acid reflux that's a No No).  

Today I continued my antacid and was careful in the food department.  Rule of thumb today for food is bland (and boring?)  While at treament today I was met by the dietician again.  We explained the happenings of yesterday and the antacid I was taking as a result.  The dietician noted she recalled a reaction between the antacid I was taking and the Chemo I am taking.  She mentioned some other options for antacid, so Tomorrow we'll try the new antacid and see how things go.

On another note the Radaition doctor said to continue on as normal and that somedays will be worse than others.  I am  hoping the worst days are behind me or at least that we've identifiued the problem.  Tomorrow's treatment will be number 14 which is half way through radiation treatments.

I would appreciate your prayers for calm and peace and stamina for the next 15 treatment.

~Kent

Politely say Goodbye

Today was day 8 of radiation with oral chemo.  According to what I was originally told I would be having 28 - 30 treatments.  The process has changed slightly since the beginning which I'll explain in a minute.  Since chemo education I was told I would have an appointment with my Oncologist in weeks 2 and 5.  Since this is week 2 I have had 2 doctors appointments.

Monday I met with my Medical Oncologist.  We talked with her and much of the conversation revolved around nausea and how to handle it.  You have to know on chemo my stomach is often "off".  It seems food helps much better than most anti-nausea meds.  The only by-product is the scale keeps going up.  It's not my favorite thing however I forget about the scale for the short moment the food goes in my mouth.  The Oncologists words were "choose foods with fewer calories".  To make a long story much shorter, the efforts to reduce nausea were 1. Reduce Chemo down to 1500 mg from the 1800 mg I was taking previously, 2. Start taking another anti-nausea med at bed time.  Per the chemo reduction I feel like it is making a small amount of difference so the nausea isn't as bad as what it has been. I would like to share as many of you don't know (since it didn't make the last post) is that I ended up skipping Friday's second dose of chemo due to nausea and what results from it if you don't do anything.  I would politely say goodbye to nausea at every occurence.

On Tuesday I had my treatment and then met with my Radiation doctor.  I informed her of the changes my oncologist made and we talked more about handling the nausea.  We talked a little bit that food worked better than meds.  She said that was ok and that they just didn't want me losing weight.  The other thing we asked is how many radiation treatments I was getting.  She said that during the mapping process they decided on 28 treatments for my case. 

Later that night I took my new anti-nausea med at bed.  I was extremely tired getting up this morning and continuing throughout today. later I read per symptoms on the med sheet that drowsiness was a side effect. This evening, after radiation I started becoming more alert (which should have happened this morning).  Per that med we are suspecting that the sleepiness was a result from that.  We're discontinuing that med and will talk with my Oncologists office tomorrow.  I recieved a phone call yesterday as I waited for my Radiation appointment that I was missing a scheduled weekly blood draw. They conveniently scheduled my weekly labs right during my radiation appointment so I will need to figure another place or another time to have my labs drawn.

I would appreciate your prays for the next 20 treatments.

~Kent

He made it!

He made it! One week down, several to go! Kent was nothing short of amazing in this first week.  The prayers were felt, and answered.  The first night was a little bit rough as he had a pounding headache and had the feeling his BP was high.  We pray that  these next few weeks continue as it has after the first night.  Kent feels "off" from time to time, but as of now food helps that "off" feeling.
For any of you that would be interested his days are very planned and routine.  8 am through 10 am are a set of various meds and food routine.  Eating Lunch no less than 2 hours prior to his radiation.  Food directly after to prevent the "off" feeling again.  Between 9 and 10 pm he repeats a second dose of his chemo meds.

 Radiation is scheduled for 4:15 PM, we walk into the building, he is greeted by a receptionist, and they open a door which we both enter and down a slight hallway is a small waiting room in which he and I wait for him to get called back. Kent is usually a bit quiet before going back, he spends his time looking on his phone usually.  When Kent is called out of the waiting room he enters a room with a huge machine that has a mold of his body on it which he lies on and the radiation machine moves back and forth around him.  The process takes no more than 15 to 20 min.  One thing that I have learned in this 1st week of going with Kent is that each patients that enters in this building have a genuine connection.  Women having heart to hearts and caring for each other, an employee came out into the waiting area to see a patient as it was the patients last day the next day and the employee wasn’t going to be there to say goodbye. nurses trying to help someone remedy a reaction to a radiation treatment and lastly Doctors who come in and genuinely take the time to hear how you are!   Cancer is a journey that NO one wants travel but God surely places people in role to help those travel that path! 

This week’s highlights that have helped Kent to have a normal week go as follows... we welcomed a dog that we are house sitting for 2 weeks, we made our way with my mom to the kick off donor dinner at Camp Geneva,  sat with Lydia at that dinner, and today helped her settle in to be 1 of 4 counselors who are among the very first to stay at Mission Point! A brand new cabin for high schoolers on the shores side of camp.  One last thing Kent has enjoyed... a frequent stop at Chick-fil-a for his Cookies and Cream shake. A much deserved shake for all he has gone though.  

The beginnings of next week's happenings... Sunday we will begin our week at Camp Geneva again! They will be commissioning 110 wonderful counselors to start their summer with some awesome kiddos, the most counselors Geneva has ever had.  Their theme song this year says it best, " At Geneva,  where it's nice to meet ya!"  "God's Heart is really cool."  A few awsome lines to help learn the theme HEART! We can't wait to hear the stories of Lydia and her journey this summer. 

Next, Monday and Tuesday in addition to his normal Chemo and Radiation routine Kent will be including two Doc appointments. Monday he meets his medical oncologist in Grand Rapids and on Tuesday we will travel to Holland in addition to his radiation he will meet with his Radiation oncologist.  We will update at a later time as to what we find out in both these appointments.  We are a little unsure what will be discussed with the exception of the amount of Chemo and how that is going, the discussion of any changes we should make and maybe the symptoms he has felt including his daily evening headache. 

As we finish out this blog, again we say a huge thank you to all who have walked this journey with us, prayed for us and helped us in many ways.

- Leah.

 

It'll be your friend

During the last post I believed radiation would begin May 28.   This past Monday and Tuesday I had medical appointments. Monday was what the radiation world calls "Simulation"  This time Lydia joined me in coming to an appointment.  There is a booklet of information you get  along with a list of possible symptoms in this appointment, then you are asked to sign this document as a consent to treat.  The nurse who started the process of simulation, showed me where R&R rooms are and where the treatment waiting area is.  It is a small room with 5 chairs and 4 changing rooms along the outside walls for if you are not prepared enough for treatment clothing wise. (no metal on clothing)  When my name was called, I followed a  man back to a room where they would be doing my "mapping" CT scan.  I figured this would be a fairly run of the mill CT scan.  I wasn't entirely right with my expectattions.  My Radiation therapist verbally gave me a lot of information which gave me a good picture of what to expect.  I was then allowed to lay down and get in "my position".  Once they were happy with how I was lined up they drew 3 dots on my skin.  One on each side and one on my abdomen.  They taped over these before the scan took place.  They wanted me to have IV contrast so since I have a port that has 12 week time period on it I have them use that to bump my date out another 12 weeks.  The nurse came in the room and went to access my port.  I always ask for a warning.  I thought she hit my port but I knew that one hurt more than usual.  Come to find out she missed my port on the first try.  The second try she hit my port but could not get blood return.  Since they are not allowed to give me medications (including those needed to unclog my port) they could not use my port.  They tell you that your port will be your firend.  I do not share this sentiment so when this happens it sours my already poor opinion of the port. The third poke was an IV in my left arm.  I should have just had them start there.  The CT and contrast went as expected following that.  

When my CT  was completed the Therapist needed sign off from the doctor to make sure they had what they needed in order to complete the mapping.  When he got the nod it was time to make this a bit more permanent.  They took the tape off those 3 dots they made earlier and then they tattooed them afterwords.  I never tought I would get a tattoo but now I have 3.  Following the tattoo I sat up and then discussed scheduling.  Due to me needing an emptier stomach I will need to not have food for at least 2 hours before radiation.  I asked if they had anything at 4. They responded that they had a 4:15 slot starting Monday June 3.  That seemed enough after lunch and late enough in the day I should be able to work.  That was the end of my simulation and I was allowed to return home for another 2 weeks.

Tuesday brought my Chemo education and since my port wasn't working I had to get stabbed 1 more time to get my port flushed.  Leah and I got to Lemmon Holton to talk with the education nurse.  It was 20 or more minutes past our appointment time when we got called back.  Again I got thrown a lot of information and took pretty good notes.  For most of the meeting it seemed the nurse was sugar coating it for me.  When she was almost done she stepped out to talk to my insurance to find out about getting my chemo filled.  One of my chemo nurses from 11 years ago stepped in to do my port flush.  When she was done we picked her brain about what and how to do this to be tolerable.  She suggested taking Zofran 30 minutes prior to the oral chemo  I wrote that down in my notes for future refference.  

I was told by the education nurse there was a specialty pharmacy in California that needed to fill my oral chemo.  We were told to expect a call from them.  

Over the next two days we received calls from the pharmacy in Cali.  They also did their own version of chemo education.  This nurse suggested taking zofran 45 minutes prior to taking oral chemo.  Again Noted.  On Tuesday we were told the cost of the med was $16,000.00 per month. The pharmacy said they needed a card for my $20 copay.  I am thankful I'm not paying the full cost of the med.  Once almost done they asked if me having it delivered to my home on Thursday the 30th.  I said that would be sufficient and got set up for Email reminders for refills.  

Today I started laying out my Treatment days from exactly when I take my normal meds to when I need to eat to when I need to take Chemo.  The next step is to begin the process to see how I am tolerating all the treatment.

I ask while I am in this treatment process for prayers of no side effects and normal daily routine.  

Kent

Get the laser started.

Since the last post I have had 2 appointments.  On Tuesday this week I met with my General Surgeon who performed my Hernia repair.   He looked at my incision and said it looked good.  We talked about many things including what the mesh suture was actually and also we discussed how much time for healing was a good balance between his normal request and that for a person livng with cancer and needing treatment.  We decided the original 6 weeks he requested was a fair request.  This means he would like no less than 6 weeks before and treatment to allow full healing as treatment would prevent my body from healing.  At the conclusion of the appointment he stated if I needed him for anything to be sure to reach out.  

Today I had a consult with another Radiation Dr..  As I mentioned before I expected a meeting similar if not the same as the last.  Today seemed to go very different in many respects.  The doctor went over my case from 10 years ago all the way through to today and then asked what we knew about radition after having met her coworker in March.  We encouraged her to repeat anything he might have told us.  (Honestly I was in the March appointment with a different frame of mind and not really knowing what treatment I wanted to pursue.  As of today I am confident the option of another surgery is not an option and we need to prceed with Tumor Board's recommendation.)  She clearly talked about the process of radiation and explained it would be roughly 30 treatments which would end up being 5 - 6 weeks consisting of 5 days a week.  We asked questions like, Will it impact my daily life? Can I go in the sun?  Do I need to stay away from young children?  When we asked if there was anything we weren't asking she said,"I think you are asking all the right questions".   The answers to the two following questions are yes,   The treatment is an internal treatment versus an external radiation and therefore I am safe  to be aound young children and in the sun.  She also shared, she would not recommend this treatment if she was not confident it would work for me.  We both left the appointment feeling good about the doctor and about the process.  As it stands we need to make some decisions.  1.  Where would we want to have treatment.  (Ill explain this in a minute)  2. What time of day would we want the treatment to be.  As for the location,  she works in both Grand Rapids and Holland, and for several reasons but mainly if there is a need for Leah to have to drive I can have treatment in the Holland which would make it easier for her to be in that location.  I will  need to decide in the next couple of days as to where I want to continue treatment in order to continue with the current timeline.   They will want you to have your Mapping CT scan done in the same location as your treatment.  The same day as the CT they do education for the treatment so that will happen

What I do know is my treatment will start Tuesday May 28.  

We have not fully decided on a location or time yet.  I have an appointment with my Oncologist Monday  Morning during which we'll discuss the oral chemo I'll be geting along with the radiation treament.  After that appointment we'll call my Radiation doctor's office to confirm location and time of day to proceed with treatment.

Stay tuned for another post next week.

~Kent

A note from Leah...  Kent has been amazing during this whole process.  I am so proud of him.  The days of Surgery, Chemo treaments, Doctors apointments, tests, pokes he has remained calm and rallied through everything.  He amazes us, his family.  Everything any medical professional has asked he has done.  We are thankful for all of you our prayer warriors who have prayed for him as he has gone though it all. 

During this Month of May while Kent has some healing time we are thankful Lydia will be home and will be able to share some family time before she leaves for her internship at Camp Geneva on May 29 as a Camp Counselor and Kent starts treatment one day before Lydia leaves. 

Again Stay tuned for further news as it becomes avalible to us....