Sorry for the delay, we'd hoped to get this out yesterday.
We met with the oncology team yesterday (same two doctors Dale had last year). The mass in Patty's right lung is a recurrence of the endometrial cancer she beat in 2005. It is unknown how long the tumor has been there, but the doc thought it was likely a slow-growing tumor that has probably been there awhile. Although surgery is not possible, and there is no cure given the size/location, there are options for therapy and our worse fears were not confirmed. The doctor was talking about initial treatment going until and perhaps beyond the holidays. While still awful and terrible and messed up beyond belief, we are grateful for the blessing of time.
On October 1st Patty will have the first of 4-6 chemotherapy treatments (combination of carboplatin/taxol) which are done once every three weeks. It's a 5-hour in-clinic ordeal taking the chemo, but a friend and snacks can come along for the ride. We do the first three treatments and then another CT scan to decide if the next three sessions will happen. Apparently it's usually most unpleasant for 2-3 days after each treatment, with fatigue, nausea etc. lingering sometimes for up to a week. Just about the time you start to feel totally normal again, you go back for another round.
The goal of the chemo is to extend and improve the quality of life. Chemo is the first choice, but after the initial round of treatment, depending on Patty's response, there are other options including anti-estrogen therapies (tumor has an estrogen receptor), as well as radiation. If the initial response to chemotherapy goes well, it can be repeated. The taxol is pretty intense and requires close monitoring for blood chemistry impacts, anemia, etc.
It's hard to say much else right now, except we're all just going along one day at a time. There was a nice week at the beach with friends and visitors, and the elevator condo was done on time. Last night was the last night Patty will have broken sleep from attending to dad's sanitation all night long, as each kid is taking a weekend sleepover/care night with Dale, and today we arranged night aides for the other four nights.
By next week sometime we plan to have a few people calling around to solicit help with meals and other stuff, and will post an online calendar of who's doing what when, once that's organized. We are very grateful for all the offers of help, and apologies if we have not gotten back to everybody personally, but it has been overwhelming and hard to know where to start with things. Jon Grenfel, Dick and Diane Saulsbury, George and Annis Bleeke, Sarah Rowley, Stephanie Oliver, and Mabsie Walters have been helping out a lot the last couple weeks (thank you!). The community at Grace Episcopal has also been a treasure once again, and we will take them up on their offers of delivered meals very soon.
In other news, Megan and Jeremy got nailed by a teenager on Highway 101 in Newport last weekend and rolled/totaled the Ford Escape, but miraculously and thankfully they are both just fine. That was basically the best thing to happen around here in weeks. Nobody liked that car anyway and now Patty gets to buy a new one. We are also blessed to be a family with a good sense of humor. Yay for the little things! ;)
Mostly we are happy to know there is a path forward for treatment, and look forward to Autumn and another holiday season with family and friends. We will let you know how things are going with the treatment when we have news.
Patty enjoys getting text messages and we are anticipating more normalcy and less drama in the coming weeks. Trips and a family retreat are being considered, and Patty's getting a cute new daybed. As always, thanks for the prayers and good thoughts, and we send all our love to you and yours.
Best,
m
Patty
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