Do It For Them

Do It For Them
Seven reasons worth fighting for-Ben, Hannah, Emma, Molly, Katie, Grace, and Jack

Husband, Father, Son, Our Superman

Husband, Father, Son, Our Superman

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Chemo Wednesday-The Good the Bad and the Ugly!



Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but can I just say it again, Cancer SUCKS! Warning about my mood, I think someone stole my silver lining attitude, I'd like it back please, I'll even offer up a reward, a whopping buck two fifty(old family saying).


I've never even seen that Clint Eastwood flick, The Good The Bad And The Ugly, but the title really fit with how the day went yesterday at chemo.
The Good- Duane's Liver is slightly improving. 2 out of the 3 important function numbers moved in the right direction, still very elevated, but moved in the right direction. The infamous billi number DROPPED 2 whole points, woo hoo! In my mind the woo hoo was sarcastic but really I am glad it went down instead of up.
The Bad- We got the results of his CT scan and not really any change, except for the colon tumor looking slightly larger. Now Dr. L did tell us not to panic, CT's are not the best tool for measuring colon tumors. So with that in mind, when we got his CEA count(cancer protein indicator) it was up by 7 points, 44 to 51, sucks huh.
The Ugly- Ladies out there who have suffered from morning sickness, take your worst day and times that by three! Duane was so sick on Wednesday. Usually before they start the chemo, pre-meds are given to help alleviate the nausea, etc. Well on top of the fabulous pre med nausea medicine Duane had 2 other IV injections to stop him from barfing. The last one he had was just in the nick of time, he was literally breathing through the urge to purge. Duane made it home but immediately went to bed and any time he got up everything came up, yuck!
That in a nutshell is what we did between 9 and 5 yesterday at our every other Wednesday home away from home, the chemo place.

6 comments:

Lisa said...

I'll be your positive thinker right now! You get to have all the crappy bad attitude you want. Lay it on us & lay it on thick! That is what your blog is for and that is what we are for. The good, the bad and the ugly was a perfect title! Good one! I hope Duane keeps something down, at least for awhile, today! Love ya!

Jennifer P. said...

Don't worry honey---it can't all be silver linings. Sometimes you just have to sit with the emotion and be scared and angry and uncomfortable. You don't seem the type to stay there for long! This is a good forum to vent.

Cracker Scraps said...

Hi! I'm visiting you from SITS and here's a big old SITS hug and kiss for you!

My father died from colon cancer in 2004 after a long fight. He was 73.

I'm a nurse and it was my privlidge to take care of him. My duty was to once a week drive him 100 miles each way for his chemo. He'd be so sick that he'd beg me not to have him take another treatment, yet by the time the next week rolled around he'd alway say, "I can do it again!"

His tumor spread to the point that when he went to hospice, at his home, next door to mine, he began to accept it! I had the privlidge of giving him his last bath as he could only communicate with me by batting his eyes. I knew he was there and I knew that he knew I was there bathing him and cleaning his mouth. He was a dentist so I knew that mouth care was very important to him.

My sister arrived via the train that afternoon and he died a few hours later.

He and I had nothing left unsaid! We were ready to say goodybye until we meet again in God's kingdom of heaven.

I can't imagine what it must be like for you and your seven darling children.

I pray for strength and courage for you, your DH and family.

I believe God does work miracles so just keep taking things one day at a time!

I'll be following your blog!

jori-o said...

Hey lady, I'm visiting from SITS. And congratulations! I hope things are starting to look better for you since Wednesday. I'll be keeping your sweet family in my prayers!

Ashley. Unscripted... said...

Congratulations on your SITS win!! I look forward to reading more of your blog.

Sandy N said...

First I will introduce myself... I am from SITS. There are so many things that I want to say to you... But I find myself still speechless. I will pray for you.