In a row

 Getting our ducks pumpkins in a row. 

Next week Far Guy begins specialized radiation treatments.  Twenty treatments. 

The Radiation Oncologist thinks that the specialized radiation can be done safely and Far Guy's lung will be spared injury.  With radiation there is a about a 2% chance the cancer will reoccur, without radiation a 20% chance it will reoccur.  So...we made the decision as a family that we wanted him to have radiation....because we want him to kick this cancer to the curb once and for all. 

June 3 he saw the Dermatologist Jess for what he thought was a cyst, she took a biopsy.

June 10 he was diagnosed with breast cancer from a biopsy taken at the Dermatologists Office

June 13 he was seen by a Oncologist in Grand Forks North Dakota. The next week he had a Pet Scan and various tests.

July 2 he began Verzenio and Letrozole  (blood tests and Dr visits every two weeks)

August 27 he had another Pet Scan and the tumor is now very small

September 8 he had a surgical biopsy of his Thyroid Gland (It is not cancer, it is thyroid and should be taken care of someday...no rush)

September 16 Verzenio discontinued due to side effects

September 25 Left Breast Mastectomy (biopsy results were good, no lymph node involvement, margins were acceptable concerning the tumor)

October 14  Switch in meds from Letrozole to Tamoxifen

October 22  he had a consult with the Radiation Oncologist

November 3 Radiation will begin in Grand Forks North Dakota

So there we are.  Men can get breast cancer too. 

Far Guy was the first breast cancer diagnosis for the Dermatologist.

He was the first male breast cancer patient for two of the Residents/Interns that were there for his surgery.

He was the third male breast cancer patient for his surgeon.  

I can truly say that we were treated by some very caring Doctors and Nurses throughout Far Guy's Cancer 

adventure.  The Doctor that did the thyroid biopsy was a bit of a turd...other than that we are very pleased that we chose The Cancer Center in Grand Forks for treatment. 

Far Side

Waiting

 I waited for Far Guy to have his Pet Scan.  They have these cool cubbies/pods/whatchamacallits with outlets and a charging port.  The Pet Scan took over two hours.  I read my book.  There were several different waiting areas and I was all alone in the area I chose. 

They have a robotic floor scrubber that was having troubles staying on course.  Finally someone showed up with a phone and moved it out of the area. 

Anyways...Far Guy had his Pet scan and blood work. 

We saw the Oncologist yesterday for the report.  Great news on the breast cancer...it is under control and almost gone comparing the June Pet scan to the August scan!!  The Doctors says he considers it a Stage Three now not a Stage Four...good news!!  

We are awaiting an appointment for a biopsy of Far Guy's Thyroid.  It has nothing in common with the breast cancer....so it is NOT a metastasis as the Dr originally thought.  It is something else...and the biopsy will tell the story.  So we wait for an appointment and then after that we wait for about two weeks for the biopsy results.  Then the Dr and Far Guy can decide what the next plan will be. 

We are very thankful for the good news and thankful for everyone that has been praying for Far Guy!

Far Side

News all good

 This is a week of medical appointments...six of them.  Three were accomplished on Monday and Tuesday.  We made the drive Up North (2 1/2 hours) for a blood draw for Far Guy on Monday.   During the night a horrid UTI made it impossible to sleep...so I went to Urgent Care as soon as they opened...got meds and I will recover.   Tuesday Far Guy saw his Oncologist Dr B and the tumor has shrunk by 50% !!!  The cancer medication is being decreased in the hope that the side effects will be tolerable and it will still work at decreasing the size of the tumor.  We see Dr B every two weeks, he is very encouraged by the progress in just the last two weeks. We drove back home to the woods after the appointment.

Sadie was happy to see us, Jen and Andy made supper for us on Monday night...burgers and corn on the cob and then Andy made lunch for us before we left.  Andy and Jen are so good to us we are blessed to have them in our family! 

We also got to see Maddie and Baby K for a bit! 

The Clinic where Far Guy had his blood draw. 

Keep praying for Far Guy as all the prayers are working!! He has been so sick the past ten days.

The three remaining appointments this week...two are virtual and then on Thursday Far Guys usual Infusion appointment. 

Far Side

Uffda

 Far Guy started his cancer fighting medications on Tuesday evening July 1. Our insurance denied the meds. Luckily the pharmaceutical company has a program that he qualified for. 

Here is $19,655 worth of medication. It is $351 a pill and he takes two a day. Uffda. Thank goodness for the pharmaceutical company program that makes our cost zero.

He is struggling through some side effects.  Sure wish he could catch a break. The side effects could go away after a month or so. Uffda.

Far Side

News

 Well..it is not the news we hoped for.

Stage 4 adenocarcinoma in the left chest, with lymph node that is also cancerous.  We cannot attempt chemo because the hearts ejection fraction is 47% and it should be 50% or above. Plan b is hormone therapy taken as pills daily. The Dr will see him every two weeks and he will have blood work and pet scans from time to time. If the tumor responds and shrinks then he will have surgery. If it does not shrink we will have to revisit the plan a of chemotherapy…which may cause death.

We are sad and discouraged, it will take some time for everything to sink in. Thank you for all the prayers.

A rainbow after a thunderstorm on Wednesday night. Photo by Jen

I will be back as I am able.

Far Side

Pool day

 Wednesday was pool cleaning day and Sadie helped. 

I stepped outside long enough to get a photo. 

Far Guy went to his Pet scan…results will not be known until late Thursday. Far Guy is feeling scared, I cannot blame him as I am scared for him too. 

I am still having some numbness on my left side (buttock,hip,leg and foot)and some pain from the incision.  I have deep stitches and the a whole bunch of glue holding it all together. The glue is supposed to flake away during the first month. No sitting in water…so no pool for me. I can take a shower…with help. I am walking often. 

Jen and Far Guy think I am doing great. 

Baby K had the procedure that unties the tongue tied. Now she may gain some weight. Maddie said the procedure went well. 

I will be back as I am able.

Far Side

Chest cancer

 Let’s go back to a few weeks ago. 

Far Guy had a funny (not ha ha funny)looking spot on his chest.  We had numerous conversations about it…make an appointment soon.  He refused to have it looked at until I had a date for spine surgery.  Once I had a date…he had a biopsy.  He thought it was a cyst, I hoped it was a cyst. Results would take 7-10 days.

As I was coming out of surgery last Tuesday June 10th Far Guy’s phone rang.  It is CANCER. CHEST CANCER.  Far Guy and Jen are together when they get the news. They decide not to tell me right away…good decision as I have to have the simplest of things repeated many times. They shoulder the news alone but together. Decisions are made when and where to see Doctors. They made decisions exactly as I would have.

Grand Forks ND is a no brainer as Jen and Andy live close by. The Oncologist can see Far Guy on Friday. We head North. We met the oncologist on Friday June 13th, he seems like a kind man…Dr B.

The CHEST CANCER is Stage three because it has come through the chest wall.  More testing will be done this week on Wednesday and Thursday with a Dr B appointment on Thursday afternoon…to make a plan.

Prayers are appreciated. We trust that God is in charge. BUT it is still hard. We are scared, discouraged and mad all rolled into one emotion.

I will return as I am able.

FarSide