Scan results Feb. 20, 2014

I know that there are people waiting for the update, so I am just going to give the report as best as I can….

Ron's Kidney which measured at 2.6 x 1.5 cm last scan now is at 2.7 x 2.4 cm.  The large mass within the posterior lower pose now measures 4.6 x 3.9 cm which at last scan was 3.9 x 3.6 another increase in size.  Also Interval increase in soft tissue component of the left iliac bone metastatic lesion.  They find a mixed pattern of response to the therapy.  Also his adrenal gland has increased in size from 2.6 x 2.1 cm to 3.6 x 2.3 cm.  So what does this all mean? Basically that although he did respond in that the lungs and places that have been radiated have not increased, everything else has not responded in fact they have grown!  Not excatly what we wanted to hear. But also not too surprising to Ron as he has felt some pain in these areas lately.  So what to do now???? A new drug this time its called Everolimus (Afinitor) it is again an oral chemotherapy for metastatic kidney cancer.  Side effects well the list is about the same as last time…

• Nausea
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea
• Mouth discomfort or sores
• Edman
• High cholesterol 
• High blood sugars
• High blood pressure
• Feeling tired or weak
• Respiratory symptoms (cough or shortness of breath)
• Infections
• Low blood count

Just to name a few. It will take a few weeks as always to get insurance approval, drugs ordered and get started again.  

As we are sitting in the infusion room Dr. Agarwal came in to see Ron.  Can I just say he is the best doctor ever!!! He came to check on Ron. He had heard that it took them 6 tries to get the IV in his arm and was not happy that it had been so difficult, he came to let Ron know that he did not have to be restricted to just using his right arm for IV (which is what we were told at the very beginning of the journey) that it would not be a problem to use the other arm where there was lymph nodes involved.  What great news his right arm has just been drained! All the veins that they try are so hard that it has been really stressful on Ron.  

He went on to explain that the reason for the iron is that he has been talking to another expert doc here at the HCH and was told that low iron helps cancer to grow.  He told him to check Rons iron, and he did, only to find out that Ron's iron is low sooooooo they are going to give Ron lots of iron!!! 

I am continued to be amazed that as I am sitting in my little chair wanting to scream or cry or anything thinking what more do we have to do, and in walks Rons doctor to give us more information and literally comfort!! He said you are doing all the right things and we are not giving up on you! We will keep looking for answers and doing all we can for you.  Although you don't qualify for any trials we will keep fighting and doing all we can for you.  And I know that is the truth!! 

So I'm not screaming or even crying ok maybe a little tear.  But it's because I do know that we are on a wonderful journey together! We have the blessing of knowing that we are an eternal partnership and that the Lord is the key to all thats taking place in this journey! He set the path and led the way.  And he will give us direction in all we need!  So we will enjoy the day together and go home together and that is my favorite place to be!! With Ron no matter what we are doing!!! 

And we will be prepared for the next step in this journey.  

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

back to the Hospital we GO!!!!! Feb. 11, 2014

Well we made it 11 days without having to go the HCH.  They have been days filled with Ron not feeling so good.  So this morning he woke and was really dragging and feeling "crappy" as he would say.  We took his blood pressure and it was really low.  He has high BP and the meds that he takes for the cancer cause hight BP as well.  So we couldn't understand why it would be low.   So a phone call was made and off to the acute care at huntsman we went.

Labs are always the first done when we get there.  Most of them came back at normal or just above normal levels for the things that they are concerned about, which is a good thing.  He was slightly dehydrated and so they gave him 2 litters of fluids.  That alone made him feel much better.  They took lots of other labs that will be getting results for over the next few days.

We hadn't even been in the hospital room for 10 min. and Ron's doctor, Dr. Agerwal came in to see him.  We couldn't believe it! He is such a great man, as well as a doctor.  He said they told me you were here and I wanted you to know that I'm on you case and will be informed as to all that is going on, and will get to the bottom of the problem.  He explained all the test (labs) and said that he would be doing some extra ones that will take some time for results but that he was not going to give up on Ron.  That was the blessing of the day!!! Not to mention the fact that the pharmacist who is helping with Ron's INR also "stopped by" to check on Ron and had his INR test while we were there as well, so he doesn't have to have that done tomorrow.  And one of the nurses there today was my friend Shauna, lots of small little blessings but they sure made the day go by so much better!!!  Always seeing that the Lord is so aware of what is going on in our lives and looking out for us. So what to do now….

We are home.  Ron is feeling better after receiving the fluids.  He has scans next week.  They will be very telling!!!!! My theory that I shared with the doc today is this… The meds that he is taking for the cancer are working and the side effects from them are causing him to feel so dragged down and not have much energy.  OR  The meds are not working and the cancer is causing it.  I like the first theory the best!!! Either way we will have more knowledge of what is going on next Thursday when we have the results from the CT scan.  The doctor even said that my theories makes sense but I guess we shall see.

So that is where we are at…. Valentines Day is Friday and I plan of spending it with Ron and having a fabulous day!!! And I hope you all have a fabulous day as well. Prayers are so welcome for this upcoming week of scans.  It is a scary and anxious time, but we know that the Lord has the greater plan and we will work towards doing what his will is!!!

                                                                FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

Happy Valentines Day! From these three most darling girls!!! 

Feb. 2014…..

As you can see Maggie came home!!! She is doing much better and we are all very happy about that!

Ron has been glad to not have to go the Huntsman Center for a while.  However he has had to go get his INR tested more than he likes.  It shouldn't be a big deal.  But Ron never seems to make anything the easy way.  His first test went well and his range was right where they wanted it.  The next one was a bit higher so they said they wanted him tested again sooner this time.  So on Monday we went in for the "routine" test.  They had to poke his figures 5 times!!! Yep every single finger got poked and they never could get a reading.  It kept saying error 5 which means not enough blood was being given to the machine.  Which was soooooooooo not true he was giving them all the blood they needed!!! So they sent him home we called the doc and he said to wait for tomorrow and go try again.  If it didn't work they were going to have to draw blood and run a different kind of test.  Which did not make Ron too happy!! (Bless his heart)

Soooo  We went back again today.  The first poke came back as error 6.  Different from yesterday but still not reading.  So the tech called someone in the know and they told her to try it a different way.  FINALLY they got a good read.  His blood level is too high 3.8 they want it in the range of between 1 and 2.  So now they can adjust his meds and then he gets to go be tested again on Friday.  Ron has not been feeling too great lately so this didn't help at all.  But as always we will continue to do what is best for Ron and keep on keeping on.

We did make it to Payson this weekend to see Grace do a little ballet review for us.  It was so darling!!! We love our little girls!!!

Ron was really not feeling well that day, and we had taken the truck so I got to drive that beast home!! I didn't like that at all.  But Ron is a great teacher so it was ok.

And the fight continues. ….        FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT