April 1, 2009 - Sam is scheduled to have his feeding tube removed after seven months. NO JOKE!
It's interesting how this event is almost more of a celabratory event for us than the news about the results of the PET/CT scan. You may wonder how that could be, but when we stopped to analyze our feelings about our joint reaction to the results - we had more of a "Whew!" reaction than "Woo-hoo!".
I tried to explain this to a friend this way... it's like we've been being chased by a monster and we are running for our lives and we manage to barely escape... but we suspect the monster could return and try to scare the crap out of us again. It's kind of like that.. Whew!
For the past week, Sam has been logging his calories trying to consume 2300 calories/day so that he can maintain his weight.... without using the feeding tube... and he has been able to do that. Honestly, it's not been as easy as you might think in that he has trouble swallowing most solid/dry foods. (All the women out there like me who can look at food and gain weight - don't feel his pain, I know - poor boy.) But, he is really hot to get this tube out... especially since the test shows Sam to be in remission.
For the first time in a long time, there is an opportunity to do "normal things" again. I'll tell you about that in another post.....
Wednesday will be a page turner day! We can hardly wait.
Thanks for being our prayer support.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
And the news is...
Great!
Sam's PET/CT scan is clean!!!!! No sign of any abnormalities.
We are relieved to get this news and we are hopeful that he will continue to remain cancer-free. Sam is looking forward to the next step which is getting the feeding tube removed and he plans to call the GI specialist to try to get that scheduled soon.
Thanks so much for for your prayers on our behalf - and we are grateful for you all.
Sam's PET/CT scan is clean!!!!! No sign of any abnormalities.
We are relieved to get this news and we are hopeful that he will continue to remain cancer-free. Sam is looking forward to the next step which is getting the feeding tube removed and he plans to call the GI specialist to try to get that scheduled soon.
Thanks so much for for your prayers on our behalf - and we are grateful for you all.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Nothing to Report - Monday 3/23/09
This morning Sam called the office where he sees the ENT, but he was not it that office today. They said they would forward the message, but as of this moment we have not received a call back. Sam plans to call tomorrow morning if he does not hear from the doctor first. I will post something as soon as the answer comes.
The waiting is always the hardest part. For myself, I would just like to know - good or bad. I would have called last Thursday, but it's not my place to call for Sam and I think he' s happier not knowing. Figures; we're opposites.
Yes, honestly I am going a little crazy. Not quite in the "Red Zone" as Cesar Milan would say, but almost. Don't know who Cesar Milan is? He's the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel and works with animals that are out of control:
Why the video... well, last Friday, when we didn't have an answer, I thought to myself, I need to be distracted so I don't focus on the test. I don't know why, but I thought about the Dog Whisperer and how when Cesar wants to redirect obsession or aggression he uses distraction. So, we went out for Sushi - it worked for a little while.
Praying works the best and we are doing a lot of that. If you are inclined, we would appreciate it if you would shoot up an arrow prayer for us. We are praying for good news.
Maddy
The waiting is always the hardest part. For myself, I would just like to know - good or bad. I would have called last Thursday, but it's not my place to call for Sam and I think he' s happier not knowing. Figures; we're opposites.
Yes, honestly I am going a little crazy. Not quite in the "Red Zone" as Cesar Milan would say, but almost. Don't know who Cesar Milan is? He's the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel and works with animals that are out of control:
Why the video... well, last Friday, when we didn't have an answer, I thought to myself, I need to be distracted so I don't focus on the test. I don't know why, but I thought about the Dog Whisperer and how when Cesar wants to redirect obsession or aggression he uses distraction. So, we went out for Sushi - it worked for a little while.
Praying works the best and we are doing a lot of that. If you are inclined, we would appreciate it if you would shoot up an arrow prayer for us. We are praying for good news.
Maddy
Friday, March 20, 2009
No News Yet - Friday 3/20/09
We have not gotten a call from the doctor with the results of Sam's Pet Scan a week ago. The technician did tell Sam that it could take 5 working days... so, we are waiting patiently - or not so patiently depending on the hour and amount of distractions.
As soon as we know anything, we will post.
Thanks for praying for us.
As soon as we know anything, we will post.
Thanks for praying for us.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
PET/CT Scan
Sam is scheduled to report to the UPMC Imaging Center tomorrow (Friday, 3/13/09) for bloodwork and hopefully, if his numbers are okay, he will begin procedures for the PET/CT Scan.
Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET/CT)
For the detail types reading this blog, here is a description of this procedure:
Depending on the type of nuclear medicine exam you are undergoing, the radiotracer is either injected into a vein, swallowed (Sam's will be swallowed) or inhaled as a gas and eventually accumulates in the organ or area of your body being examined, where it gives off energy in the form of gamma rays. This energy is detected by a device called a gamma camera, a (positron emission tomography) PET scanner and/or probe. These devices work together with a computer to measure the amount of radiotracer absorbed by your body and to produce special pictures offering details on both the structure and function of organs and tissues.
A PET scan measures important body functions, such as blood flow, oxygen use, and sugar (glucose) metabolism, to help doctors evaluate how well organs and tissues are functioning.
CT imaging uses special x-ray equipment, and in some cases a contrast material, to produce multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body. These images can then be interpreted by a radiologist on a computer monitor as printed images.
If you want to read more about it, here's the link to the site where I got this information: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=pet
We are looking forward to getting the results of this test with the hope that if there is no evidence of cancer, Sam may be able to have his feeding tube removed. That would be a huge step in his recovery process and we are hopeful that his test will be clear.
The one thing we have been told is that this cancer or secondary cancers can return, so we are still taking things one Dr. visit at a time. But, Sam is improving and that is something to hold on to. He is still having trouble swallowing food and has to constantly drink water/juice or other liquids to move the foods along and to keep his throat moist, but he is beginning to accept this new wrinkle of life. Challenging as that is, he is grateful to be alive and is coping.
We will not have any results of these scans until sometime next week, but I will post as soon as we hear from the physician. We are praying for some positive news.
Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET/CT)
For the detail types reading this blog, here is a description of this procedure:
Depending on the type of nuclear medicine exam you are undergoing, the radiotracer is either injected into a vein, swallowed (Sam's will be swallowed) or inhaled as a gas and eventually accumulates in the organ or area of your body being examined, where it gives off energy in the form of gamma rays. This energy is detected by a device called a gamma camera, a (positron emission tomography) PET scanner and/or probe. These devices work together with a computer to measure the amount of radiotracer absorbed by your body and to produce special pictures offering details on both the structure and function of organs and tissues.
A PET scan measures important body functions, such as blood flow, oxygen use, and sugar (glucose) metabolism, to help doctors evaluate how well organs and tissues are functioning.
CT imaging uses special x-ray equipment, and in some cases a contrast material, to produce multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body. These images can then be interpreted by a radiologist on a computer monitor as printed images.
If you want to read more about it, here's the link to the site where I got this information: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=pet
We are looking forward to getting the results of this test with the hope that if there is no evidence of cancer, Sam may be able to have his feeding tube removed. That would be a huge step in his recovery process and we are hopeful that his test will be clear.
The one thing we have been told is that this cancer or secondary cancers can return, so we are still taking things one Dr. visit at a time. But, Sam is improving and that is something to hold on to. He is still having trouble swallowing food and has to constantly drink water/juice or other liquids to move the foods along and to keep his throat moist, but he is beginning to accept this new wrinkle of life. Challenging as that is, he is grateful to be alive and is coping.
We will not have any results of these scans until sometime next week, but I will post as soon as we hear from the physician. We are praying for some positive news.
Monday, March 2, 2009
A year ago
A year ago March 1, 2008, Sam and I were sailing off on our long awaited Caribbean Cruise... not a care in the world. Little did we know what was ahead in the coming few months.
march 1, 2008 - Radiance of the Seas
Some people think they'd like to be able to know the future -- you know, the ones who go to a fortune teller and/or have their palm read... trust me, it's better to not know. I don't think we would have been able to enjoy our trip quite as much if we knew what was ahead. I'm just sayin'.
March 1, 2009 - Phipps Conservatory
I think Sam looks great. Anyone passing by would never know by looking at him the valley he has walked through the last six months while being treated for Squamous Cell Carcinoma - Base of Tongue Cancer.
I imagine that most people following this blog might think that the toughest part of cancer is what happens physically because of the obvious physical changes you've seen, but the mental/emotional aspects are just as challenging; not only for the person with cancer, but the people closest to them. This experience challenges you and brings out the worst and best. It forces you to face lots of things about life and death - what you expect; how you think life should be and what to do when it doesn't go your way.
With what we've been through, it is hard for us to imagine how anyone could cope without a personal relationship with God.
A few nights ago, we were both lamenting how tired we were of all of this - especially the thought that this disease will be a part of our lives for a long time to come. As we talked for a while we tried to get things back into focus... you know, focusing on how far Sam has come and realizing that its unrealistic to expect him to be better faster than things are going and that there are others who have been and are going through worse things than we are going through. We were starting to come to terms with the reality of our situation and then we read something written in 1925 by L.B. Cowman that inspired us and not only helped us put things in perspective but brought back our joy.
2 Corinthians 12:9 - My grace is sufficient for you.
[Quote- L.B. Cowman]
"I pictured a thirsty little fish who was concerned about drinking the river dry with Father River saying, "Drink away, little fish; my stream is sufficient for you." I also envisioned a mouse afraid of starving after seven years of plenty, when Joseph says to him "Cheer up little mouse; my granaries are sufficient for you." Again, I imagined a man high on a mountain peak, saying to himself, "I breathe so many cubic feet of air every year, I am afraid I will deplete all the oxygen in the atmosphere." But the earth says to him, "Breathe away, filling your lungs forever; my atmosphere is sufficient for you."
O people of God, be great believers! Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls. (Charles Spurgeon)
[End Quote]
This is the GRACE in which Sam and I stand and it is more than sufficient for all our problems, needs and concerns. All we must do is draw from the all sufficient fountain.
If you are struggling, we encourage you to ask God to give you the grace and faith you need and he will give it to you in full measure - pressed down, shaken together.
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