The wait is over....the hair is gone :( It started to fall out this evening so we shaved it completely off. We had to explain to the boys why his hair was falling out, so we had a shaving party. The boys declined to have their heads shaved tho, and Kianna...NO WAY. As for me....some part of me is wanting to, so we'll see.
We are 1/3 of the way through chemo. Cycle #1 is COMPLETELY done! And December 28th will be the start of Cycle #2.
FIGHT, CONQUOR, DEFEAT!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
One month ago today....
Exactly one month ago today we learned of the high probability of Brandon having cancer. November 11th-the 13th were the longest, yet fastest, days of our lives...full of denial and emotion. No one should ever go through it. The world slowed, pulsated and stopped. Then turned upside down, and everything kept coming and going, rising and falling. Worlds worst rollercoaster...which does get better and eventually end, but you have a few hills to pass over first. TEST, CONQUOR, DEFEAT!
Cycle #1, week #1 and #2 are DONE! He is going great. Back to work and feeling good. I have to remind him that he isn't "normal" (can't think of the word Im trying to think of) and is in a special group now and that he just can't go full throttle into everything anymore, like he wants and fights about, even when you are feeling good...such a work-a-holic. Having a good constant energy level is the key to feeling good constantly. If you break it, you break too...and everyone around you feels the cracks and crumbles. He is lucky that Im not a real nurse, hahaha!
Only 1 treatment left (Tuesday) before the start of cycle #2 starts (New Years week). They gave him a week off for Christmas, mainly because no one would be around.
Cycle #1, week #1 and #2 are DONE! He is going great. Back to work and feeling good. I have to remind him that he isn't "normal" (can't think of the word Im trying to think of) and is in a special group now and that he just can't go full throttle into everything anymore, like he wants and fights about, even when you are feeling good...such a work-a-holic. Having a good constant energy level is the key to feeling good constantly. If you break it, you break too...and everyone around you feels the cracks and crumbles. He is lucky that Im not a real nurse, hahaha!
Only 1 treatment left (Tuesday) before the start of cycle #2 starts (New Years week). They gave him a week off for Christmas, mainly because no one would be around.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Cycle #1, Week #1...D-O-N-E!
The hardest week of daily doses of Chemo is done. We are now entering the once a week treatments for 2 weeks. Tuesday is the day, and the day we see how the chemo is doing for him (his numbers). Is it too much to ask for the numbers be perfect, no signs what-so-ever, and to have everything clear looking so we can stop....probably. But its our only wish we want...couldn't ask for more. After the once a week treatments for 2 weeks are done, he gets a break for Christmas. Then when that is over, he starts all over with the start of cycle #2.
He has been doing well with the treatments. The Chemo is catching up with him as he is VERY tired. Still has a very sensitive sense of smell which is not making him eat hardly anything. In fact, Im making him get some anti-nausea pills (if he remembers or else Ill call and ask the dr for him) so he can at least eat more than crackers and Fruit Loops. Its something, which IS good, but that itself doesn't help with the energy level and his regular health.
***Phone calls***
We are happy and do appreciate all of the DAILY phone calls, wondering how he is doing...being concerned, that we are getting from family....but its becoming too much. We need space and peace from what is going on. We'd like a few evenings together as family without interruptions, enjoying it without thinking what he is going though. Its still fresh and new on our minds. Everything went fast that we missed our normal family time. We want to go back to our normal routines and not being reminded of his illness and treatments DAILY by the answering the same questions over and over again, NOTHING HAS CHANGED! From now on, we've decided that we will let people know if anything changes or happens. AND don't worry if we don't answer the phone or don't call back if we missed any call(s)...NOTHING IS WRONG! And please don't keep calling, or call the cells, or call the next morning asking/wondering. That just irks us more, very uncalled for. We just need space and peace. Hope everyone understands. This doesn't mean not to call at all, do. Maybe every OTHER day. Just NOT DAILY please. But what you CAN DO DAILY is to keep those thoughts and prayers coming, but not through phone calls, through God. Thank you!
He has been doing well with the treatments. The Chemo is catching up with him as he is VERY tired. Still has a very sensitive sense of smell which is not making him eat hardly anything. In fact, Im making him get some anti-nausea pills (if he remembers or else Ill call and ask the dr for him) so he can at least eat more than crackers and Fruit Loops. Its something, which IS good, but that itself doesn't help with the energy level and his regular health.
***Phone calls***
We are happy and do appreciate all of the DAILY phone calls, wondering how he is doing...being concerned, that we are getting from family....but its becoming too much. We need space and peace from what is going on. We'd like a few evenings together as family without interruptions, enjoying it without thinking what he is going though. Its still fresh and new on our minds. Everything went fast that we missed our normal family time. We want to go back to our normal routines and not being reminded of his illness and treatments DAILY by the answering the same questions over and over again, NOTHING HAS CHANGED! From now on, we've decided that we will let people know if anything changes or happens. AND don't worry if we don't answer the phone or don't call back if we missed any call(s)...NOTHING IS WRONG! And please don't keep calling, or call the cells, or call the next morning asking/wondering. That just irks us more, very uncalled for. We just need space and peace. Hope everyone understands. This doesn't mean not to call at all, do. Maybe every OTHER day. Just NOT DAILY please. But what you CAN DO DAILY is to keep those thoughts and prayers coming, but not through phone calls, through God. Thank you!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Chemo day 1
Brandon had his first session today. He had a little reaction to a drug at first but after awhile of rest, things went smoothly. Later in the day he became nauseated and sick, but thats normal. He is kinda learning what its like to be in the first trimester...smell sensitivity, snacking throughout the day instead of meals, up the fluid intake, trying to keep something in your stomach, and the neasea/vomitting. He learned pizza and english muffins are a NO-GO! So its looking pretty good for getting an anti-nausea med for him on top of the anti-nausea med that they administer there with the chemo.
Now its Tuesday-Friday....peronally not looking forward to it since he is already feeling the effects of it. Need to keep eyes what is at the end.
We also had 'the talk' with the boys since Isaac seemed a bit scared the first time he got sick. Reminded the boys that its the medicine that is causing him to be sick and the medicine will help daddy too to fight of the 'illness'. And not to be scared and you won't get sick. Also to be good and listen to mommy. Isaac gets it (still seems a bit scared and emotional) but Carson and Kianna don't. Its going to be a VERY rough and tough time. Hope I can make it though....Im barely hanging on the first day.
When we were there, in came an old man telling the nurses that he won't be coming anymore because there is nothing more the drs can do. I just about broke down hearing that and seeing the hugs. Such a support system they have there. When they were taking out his IV thing, he told Brandon that he is way too young to be there....agreed. He seemed to be a sweet humorous man by the conversations heard. I wish him well.
We also talked with a lady that works with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law who was a great talkative bubbly lady and also an old lady who is really nice and talkative too. I wish those ladies well too. Sad to say that there is many people having Chemo done (was quite full today).
Now its Tuesday-Friday....peronally not looking forward to it since he is already feeling the effects of it. Need to keep eyes what is at the end.
We also had 'the talk' with the boys since Isaac seemed a bit scared the first time he got sick. Reminded the boys that its the medicine that is causing him to be sick and the medicine will help daddy too to fight of the 'illness'. And not to be scared and you won't get sick. Also to be good and listen to mommy. Isaac gets it (still seems a bit scared and emotional) but Carson and Kianna don't. Its going to be a VERY rough and tough time. Hope I can make it though....Im barely hanging on the first day.
When we were there, in came an old man telling the nurses that he won't be coming anymore because there is nothing more the drs can do. I just about broke down hearing that and seeing the hugs. Such a support system they have there. When they were taking out his IV thing, he told Brandon that he is way too young to be there....agreed. He seemed to be a sweet humorous man by the conversations heard. I wish him well.
We also talked with a lady that works with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law who was a great talkative bubbly lady and also an old lady who is really nice and talkative too. I wish those ladies well too. Sad to say that there is many people having Chemo done (was quite full today).
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Oncologist Appt
Monday, November 30th, at 9am, we start the hardest journey in life, chemo (by IV which will take 2 hours). 3 cycles, each cycle is 3 weeks. The first week will consist of chemo Monday through Friday. Then the next week (week 2) and the week after that (week 3), is only once per week. Then once that (cycle #1) is done, we start all over for the next cycle (#2) and so on (#3). 9 weeks of mostly constant chemo treatments. With the holidays coming, there will be a delay, or resting period...which is fine with us since we picked the sooner date to start than the later, which would have been early December. Sooner the better!
With the chemicals they have now and getting anti-nausea drugs in the IV, there are minimal side effects, which is good. Effects vary much... from nausea to nerve damage and to a rare 1 in a million chance of having a stroke. So we will see when time comes. I hope it isn't too bad for him, hate seeing people sick and in pain. Oh yea, hair loss won't be an issue since he is almost already there with his buzz cuts, LOL.
Just keeping our eyes on the 80-90% CURE rate. BE GONE!!!!!
With the chemicals they have now and getting anti-nausea drugs in the IV, there are minimal side effects, which is good. Effects vary much... from nausea to nerve damage and to a rare 1 in a million chance of having a stroke. So we will see when time comes. I hope it isn't too bad for him, hate seeing people sick and in pain. Oh yea, hair loss won't be an issue since he is almost already there with his buzz cuts, LOL.
Just keeping our eyes on the 80-90% CURE rate. BE GONE!!!!!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
A Bump in the Road (that we WILL get over)
Its official....Stage 2 Non-Seminole Testicular Cancer. Non-Seminole is good news, the good type of this cancer, VERY much treatable, 90%. Bad news is that it has started to spread to his abdomin, 2 spots next to eachother, 1cm each, between the front and back intestines. That means 3 rounds/cycles of Chemo. We get to meet his onocolgist Tuesday to talk about all of this.
Story...
It all started last week, Wednesday, when he noticed his right testicle swollen and painful. He went in to the dr and they thought an infection but sent his to get an u/s to check on it. Later that day we got a call back saying they found a mass. The world had stopped for us. Then the next day, Thursday, he got a CT done and found the same result but with 2 lymph nodes in his abdomin. The world then turned upside down. With that said, the following day, Friday, he went into surgery to remove his right testicle. So much to take in, in just 3 days. Yesterday we got the results back, which I provided the above and bring us up to today.
On a side note to this is that he got a clean bill of health at his yearly physical in Sept. We just don't get it. How? Why? Was there ANY clue?
By the way, for those of you thinking about children....Good thing is that we were already done with having kids since he had a V done over a year go. I can't imagine what it would be like if we started having kids later and weren't done or haven't even started at all.
Story...
It all started last week, Wednesday, when he noticed his right testicle swollen and painful. He went in to the dr and they thought an infection but sent his to get an u/s to check on it. Later that day we got a call back saying they found a mass. The world had stopped for us. Then the next day, Thursday, he got a CT done and found the same result but with 2 lymph nodes in his abdomin. The world then turned upside down. With that said, the following day, Friday, he went into surgery to remove his right testicle. So much to take in, in just 3 days. Yesterday we got the results back, which I provided the above and bring us up to today.
On a side note to this is that he got a clean bill of health at his yearly physical in Sept. We just don't get it. How? Why? Was there ANY clue?
By the way, for those of you thinking about children....Good thing is that we were already done with having kids since he had a V done over a year go. I can't imagine what it would be like if we started having kids later and weren't done or haven't even started at all.
Isaac's off to Kindergarten!
Thought Id finally get back to here.
This past Sept Isaac started Kindergarten. He very much likes it and thinks HIGHLY of his teacher. A week ago we got his first of many report cards. He is doing fantastic. Our refridge is never without anything on it now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
