You gotta take the good with the bad...

Met with the colorectal surgeon today and he is NOT recommending a colostomy or stent at this time. Woohoo!!! We will need to continue to monitor this though in case the situation changes. He does not feel however that Jeff is a candidate for a colon or liver tumor resection secondary to the significant involvement of Jeff's liver (basically surgery would place too much strain on what is left and functional).  BooHoo!! Disappointing to hear but we persevere on.  We meet with the oncologist on Weds to finalize the chemo schedule and drug regime and whether we will participate in a drug study. We are hoping to start next Friday pending getting everything (insurance authorization, Home Health agency selected, etc) set up. 

The drug study involves taking an oral chemo drug daily that will inhibit the tumor's ability to uptake and digest glucose.  As we understand it tumors need 2 things to grow--blood and glucose.  By participating in the IV chemo infusion and the daily oral chemo we will seriously affecting the tumors ability to thrive and grow.  Has some side effects as all drugs do...but theoretically is sound.

Cheryl, Jeff, and Paige

PortaCath placement

Jeff finally made it home at 8pm after another lonnnng day.  Arrived at the U at 1:30 with a tenative start of 2:30-3:30...5:00 comes and goes and Jeff is finally taken in at 5:15.  You can all guess how pleased he was with that delay.  First thoughts upon waking up?!?!?!!? FOOD

He's home now and beginning to have a little pain.  Given his reactions (extreme night sweats) to even OTC pain pills lately he is reluctant to take anything but we are gonna try some ice and ES Tylenol (mildest reaction thus far).

Next on the agenda is multiple appointments on Thursday at Huntsman--Colorectal surgery consult, Oncologist, Case Manager/Care Coordinator, Research Program RN, and Dietician (? sp).

Cheryl

Tuesdays Weigh in

Another Tuesday sneeking by and my new weight after eating hotel and trackside food adds up to ------- 154lbs.

Of course today will not help, it's another no food until after procedure day. I hate these days, I struggle to feel good without my small little meals.

I will post after the procedure --- talk to you later.

our weekend

Just got back from a hot weekend in Las Vegas for the truck race.  Got there and had the chance to upgrade to a 1Bdrm Jacuzzi suite which we took advantage of as this trip may be our last bit of fun for awhile.  Good thing we did as Cheryl got a nasty cold and Jeff didn't do so well in the heat so he was up and down alot and could lay on the couch.  (See attached pics--sorry about the quality; a cell phone camera can only do so much).  Another good race and good time spent with friends (nice to finally meet you, Michelle!!).  $30 well spent--look at these digs!!!!!!

Told Paige tonite about Jeff; she took it exceptionally well.  Lots of tears from all, a couple of questions, but amazingly calm.  Amazed at how resilient they are.  She didn't ask if he was gonna die; just what we had to do to get him better and how long it would take.  Explained Tuesday's procedure; helps that she has a good friend Bodie (shout out to the Carey's) who has a Portacath and she doesn't see him as a sick kid at all.  Just a "little brother" that she can torment.

Want to take this chance before things get too crazy to let you all know that we appreciate all your wishes, prayers, offers of help, etc more than you can know.  Know that we are logging each of them away and will take as many of you up on them as the need arises.  Probably won't post again until after the Portacath placement unless something comes up.

Jeff, Cheryl and finally Paige

today's update

Another lonnnnng day for Jeff.  Left about 7:30 and got home about 4pm.  Didn't really get the news he wanted, but it actually might make some longer term decisions easier.  We were under the impression that the stint would be removed once the tumor in the colon/rectal area had shrunk enough but alas this is not the case.  We could live with it permanently implanted if it didn't mean Jeff would have to keep his poo the consistency of puree for the rest of his life.  A colostomy that is reversable is looking better by the minute  (ain't that sad?).
The porta cath insertion for the chemo is scheduled for next Tues as well as the consult with the surgeon re: the colostomy on Thursday.  If we go with the colostomy we will do it ASAP as it delays the implementation of chemo (has to heal for about 2 weeks).
We are off to Las vegas for teh truck race this weekend, just the two of us.  Kinda bittersweet though as we are telling Paige the news when we get back.  Wish us luck.....

Love you all,
Glad we have great friends and family,

Cheryl and Jeff

Todays update - Tomorrows Schedule

Looks like a bonified day of fun lined up. First I shall spend about and hour and a half traveling through some really overcrowded traffic to be at an 8:30 appt. with a Dr. who wants to talk about putting a stint in my colon to keep things open during treatment. There's always pros/cons. After that I drive a couple of blocks to another building to get blood work, an IV and an EKG. Still with me, now I keep the IV and continue up another floor to get a PET scan to figure out if the "C" word has gone anywhere else.

I am not entirely sure I want to hear about the results of the last one.---- Tired of bad news and no beer.

On a lighter note I certainly hope this illness is not related to how my beloved Cowboys are playing. They do look sicker than even I feel.

Goodnight.

Tuesdays weigh in.

Most who have know me for a while, know that I used to have at least some girth to me. Always a little bit too much in the tummy, but where else was the beer to go. When life was normal I was 185lbs. I always weigh myself on Tuesdays ( no real reason) and today -------------- 153lbs. 

My method is not recommended!!!!!!!

The hits keeps coming.

I should be springing around and going like a madman again ------right? Hell no, I am hot then cold, nauseous, dizzy, can't sleep and really just as miserable. More blood work, scans, and doctor visits. Come to find out I have an enlarged liver and some blood results that warrants the doctor to call for a liver biopsy and a colonoscopy. By Thursday, Sept. 16th I was told I had cancer in the lower colon/rectom area. Monday, Sept. 20th I found out that I had cancer in 40-50% of my liver as well.

I have never shed so many tears in all of my life, most of them with Cheryl when we are alone. I am not ready for this at 42. Thank God for strep, who knows when I would have caught this. 

The colon cancer started growing about age 40 and the liver cancer about a year ago.

I am too tired to post anymore, Cheryl and I will post again tomorrow to get caught up. Goodnight

The first real post - As the Earth cooled so to speak.

This whole saga started out on Father's Day of this year. While out camping with some of the dearest friends we have and each of their parents (hell there all friends, enough alcohol at many get togethers qualifies in my book) I got strep. I had no idea. The next month I just thought through some long hours at work I was just a little tired and maybe had a little summer flu/cold. A month later during a summer vacation to California and Oregon, my appetite was almost gone and Paige was giving me a kiss goodnight. That next Wednesday found me grey and on the verge of being put in the hospital for a severe kidney infection. Come to find out strep doesn't always go to the throat, it also likes choice K. To make a long story short, antibiotics and steroids and time heals the kidneys and all parts to allow me to pee normal again. This ends in mid August.

On a side note, my last official beverage was a Mike's Hard lemonade with Cheryl, because the damn gas station next to the campground in Redding didn't sell Miller anything. Its a sad way to have left things.