The results are in on the spinal biopsy. All is clear. No cancer cells. So we are very thankful indeed. There are still more tests before chemo and radiation can start. Endoscopy of the cancer on Bob's esophagus and an MRI of his spine to use as a baseline. But these things are scheduled for this coming week so maybe next week we can start therapy? Who possibly could have guessed that I'd ever say that with hope, rather than dread?
Now our job is to enjoy the coming holiday with our loved ones and to remember to be thankful for all we have.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
Love,
Susan and Bob
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Fattening the Turkey
Determined to put a few more pounds on Bob before the chemo starts. He reluctantly agreed to a peanut butter & jelly sandwich for breakfast. Then I made him baked beans with an entire Hebrew Nat'l hot dog sliced up for lunch. Snuck (sneaked?) 1/2 container of ensure plus into his ice coffee. When I returned from the bank he was munching some potato chips! AND he's getting camper stew (that's ground beef and elbow mac's with lots of cheese) for dinner. He's gonna be a blimp!
Updates
Everyone is asking and I hate to be evasive but honestly, we don't know much more than we did 2 weeks ago. Here's where we stand now.
Bob had a Petscan a couple of weeks ago. The biopsy of his throat was done the following day at LIJ hospital by the ENT Superstar Dr Douglas Frank. Before the surgery, he told us that the Petscan had shown another cancer on his esophagus, in addition to the one we already knew about which is on his hypo pharynx. He was able to successfully biopsy those. They test positive as squamous cancer. The doctor was not significantly alarmed by this since it was what he had suspected and the treatment would not change because of this new esophagus cancer.
HOWEVER he was concerned about another very small spot that showed up on the Petscan. This is on Bob's spine. The doctor had no idea what it could be but he had to find out because it could significantly change the treatment. If it was cancerous then the treatment would have to aim for remission rather than eradication of the cancers at the two other sites.
So now we needed another biopsy. Unfortunately this was a complicated procedure because of the spinal location. We needed to go to a different hospital (North Shore University) because special equipment was needed and three different specialties had to be present. It took more than a week to coordinate everything. Yesterday, Bob finally had the second biopsy. The surgeon was optimistic that he got the samples he needed but couldn't guarantee it because Bob started to wake up and move around toward the end and the anesthesiologist refused to administer more drugs. So the surgeon had to pull out all the needles, etc, in fear that Bob's spine could be damaged.
Now we have to wait until Monday to get the results (hopefully). The oncologist tells us that bone biopsies take much longer to analyze than tissue because first the calcium in the sample has to be dissolved.
Once we have these answers Dr Frank and the oncologist team will decide how to treat.
In the meanwhile, we are in good spirits. Bob is not in any pain, except from the biopsies, which Percoset is handling ok. We even got to spend a few days in Florida between procedures (and also to see his dentist who had to get involved). We bought iPhones while we were there so learning how to use them is a major project and great distraction. How does anybody type on that tiny keyboard? I have small fingers and it's still a chore.
Right now Bob is still sleeping (snoring) while I type this in bed. I'm posting this right now before he wakes up and makes me change it.
Thank you all for your calls and letters. Keep 'em coming. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Love, Susan
Bob had a Petscan a couple of weeks ago. The biopsy of his throat was done the following day at LIJ hospital by the ENT Superstar Dr Douglas Frank. Before the surgery, he told us that the Petscan had shown another cancer on his esophagus, in addition to the one we already knew about which is on his hypo pharynx. He was able to successfully biopsy those. They test positive as squamous cancer. The doctor was not significantly alarmed by this since it was what he had suspected and the treatment would not change because of this new esophagus cancer.
HOWEVER he was concerned about another very small spot that showed up on the Petscan. This is on Bob's spine. The doctor had no idea what it could be but he had to find out because it could significantly change the treatment. If it was cancerous then the treatment would have to aim for remission rather than eradication of the cancers at the two other sites.
So now we needed another biopsy. Unfortunately this was a complicated procedure because of the spinal location. We needed to go to a different hospital (North Shore University) because special equipment was needed and three different specialties had to be present. It took more than a week to coordinate everything. Yesterday, Bob finally had the second biopsy. The surgeon was optimistic that he got the samples he needed but couldn't guarantee it because Bob started to wake up and move around toward the end and the anesthesiologist refused to administer more drugs. So the surgeon had to pull out all the needles, etc, in fear that Bob's spine could be damaged.
Now we have to wait until Monday to get the results (hopefully). The oncologist tells us that bone biopsies take much longer to analyze than tissue because first the calcium in the sample has to be dissolved.
Once we have these answers Dr Frank and the oncologist team will decide how to treat.
In the meanwhile, we are in good spirits. Bob is not in any pain, except from the biopsies, which Percoset is handling ok. We even got to spend a few days in Florida between procedures (and also to see his dentist who had to get involved). We bought iPhones while we were there so learning how to use them is a major project and great distraction. How does anybody type on that tiny keyboard? I have small fingers and it's still a chore.
Right now Bob is still sleeping (snoring) while I type this in bed. I'm posting this right now before he wakes up and makes me change it.
Thank you all for your calls and letters. Keep 'em coming. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Love, Susan
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tests Tests Tests
We have tests scheduled for Thursday, next Monday, next Thursday. Can't begin to imagine the price tags attached to these things. TG for insurance and Medicare. What does a cancer victim do without insurance? And these are just preliminaries, BEFORE treatment starts! The mind boggles.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Feeling our way
It seems everyone I know has a comforting, encouraging story to tell. I know that their anecdotes are selective (no on is going to tell me about so-and-so's neighbor who didn't make it). I still love to hear them.
And Michael Douglas! My God, I feel like a groupie. I can't read enough about him. I never paid much attention to celebrity gossip (never even read People) but I sure do eat it up now. And has anyone noticed how much I look like Catherine Zeta-Jones? ;-o
And Michael Douglas! My God, I feel like a groupie. I can't read enough about him. I never paid much attention to celebrity gossip (never even read People) but I sure do eat it up now. And has anyone noticed how much I look like Catherine Zeta-Jones? ;-o
Friday, October 21, 2011
Some News
To All Our Dear Friends,
Please forgive this shortcut method of conveying some bad news. It's quicker and easier than conventional phone calls. Certainly we'll be talking to you all individually in the coming months.
Bob has been diagnosed with throat cancer. We do not yet know the extent to which it has spread or the stage. It started on his hypopharynx and has spread to a lymph node on his neck. This is the only symptom that he had. He noticed the lump on his neck this summer. The doctor suspects squamous carcinoma since this is the most common kind affecting smokers. He has, of course, now stopped smoking. After the Petscan next week and more preliminary preparations he will be undergoing chemotherapy and radiation at LIJ. His doctor is Douglas Frank, reputedly the best in the biz. The therapies will last 6 or 8 weeks. No surgery is indicated at this time.
This is the same kind of cancer Michael Douglas had last year, but in a slightly different location. And MD is now deemed cancer-free, according to all reports. That's encouraging.
Our yearly Florida trip is on hold for now. Hopefully, Bob and I will be able to come down later in the season, if the doctor ok's it.
As far as our other plans, we are adopting a wait-see attitude. I'm thinking of starting a blog so that our loved ones can stay connected but it's kind of a daunting task and I'm not too sure how to go about it. Our friends Meghan and Tommy Nicchi had a wonderful one when their daughter Brooklyn was so ill last year. It was a great comfort to their many friends (certainly it was a comfort to me) so I'm going to try to work something up. Maybe Dan can help me. I hear he's pretty good with computers.
Facebook and emails are really welcome right now. We know you all care for Bob, but it's always good to hear it out loud, so to speak.
Next year at this time, it will all be behind us. We are determined to believe that!
Love,Susan and Bob
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