Breath of Fresh Air...

Let's hear it for Dad!!

We are very pleased to share with you that Dad's PET Scan came back with NO surprises! The cancer was not hiding anywhere we couldn't see on the CT, and it did not spread! Tears of joy filled our eyes this time around.

Dr. Roa was in contact with Sloan last week, she posed Dad's case to one of the doctor's there who agreed with our decision to start treatment when we did, and also suggested the same chemo regimen she scripted. A clinical trial just closed in the city that Dad would have qualified for that administered a drug, Erbitux, with chemo cycles. They found that it worked well in these patients and Dr. Roa will be adding this to Dad's next cycle.

Erbitux happens to be one of our accounts at work, so I have access to information about it. I've got some reading to do this week before we meet with Dr. Roa again next week. But, what I know so far is that it's a type of biologic therapy (antibody drug), that is designed to kill cancer cells, while minimizing damage to the healthy cells.

Overall, Dad is looking great, feeling better and has a true light shining around him. The light is hope, strength, love, determination and company; all of you, all of us and everyone we know shining down from the skies. He's had minimal to no side effects from the chemo, and is showing signs of tumor breakdown with a cough that the doctor is happy about.

Let the good news begin!

Thank you once again for everything.

Love,

Keri

(peaceofkeri@gmail.com)

First Chemo Treatment

Dad started his chemo today. First, we met with the Nurse Practitioner (NP), who reviewed the side effects, the process and the what ifs. We learned today about a drug, Aranesp. This is used if Dad's red blood count gets below 10, it is given to lessen the need for red blood cell transfusions. Aranesp stimulates your bone marrow to make more red blood cells. They will be monitoring his red, white and platelet counts during the process.

Seems to me like Dad could make some new friends during treatments. It is an open room with recliners for patients with a visitors chair for each "station". The nursing staff is very nice, very happy and very attentive. I noticed that one nurse called each patient by their first name and seemed as if she had really taken the time to know everyone being treated.

As for next steps, tomorrow is the PET scan and Tuesday will be the next treatment, plus a follow up with Dr. Roa. We have canceled our appointment (or taken a raincheck) with Sloan so we could start up chemo and start killing the cancer cells. We will set up another appointment with them when this series is up.

Here is a prayer courtesy of Pat Briscoe and Pudge, St. Peregrine, who is the patron saint for people with cancer. Thank you Pat and Pudge for sharing.

O St. Peregrine, you who have been called "the wonder worker" because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you, who for so many years bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when human power could do no more: you who were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from his cross to heal your affliction, ask of God and Our Lady the cure of these sick persons whom we entrust to you (names of those for whom you are praying). Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall praise God for his great goodness and mercy. Amen.

"Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start" -Nido Qubein

Keri
(peaceofkeri@gmail.com)

Chemo starts Tuesday

Hope everyone enjoyed the "spring preview" weather yesterday! 75 degrees!

Dr. Roa (oncologist) has a call out to Sloan to compare notes, but has not heard back yet since he was in clinic. She and Dr. Goldberg (radiologist) advised we set up an appointment for chemo for next week, just in case. So we are scheduled for Tuesday @ 10am to start. The treatment will be a Carboplatin/Gemzar combo. He will receive treatments 2 weeks on, 1 week off.

During treatments his progress and blood counts (white, red & platelets) will be monitored and evaluated to be sure it is effective, and make tweaks along the way if not. The Gemzar side effects are slight fatigue, not much hair loss (thank goodness!) and no nausea. He will be given an Iron IV with treatments to be sure he doesn't become anemic. This is because the part of his stomach that was removed for his gastric bi-pass surgery would have absorbed iron.

This is the plan as we know so far, unless we hear from Sloan and things change, but we have a good feeling that this will be the plan of action, then we can see Sloan after it's complete.

Next week:
Tuesday @ 10am - chemo
Wednesday @ 2pm - PET Scan
Friday (time TBD) - follow up with Dr. Roa

Thank you again everyone for your continued support, prayers and kind offers of help and hope. We appreciate you all.

Keri
(peaceofkeri@gmail.com)

The Fighting Irish (St. Pat's Update)

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all had a jolly St. Patrick's Day!

A few updates. Dad finished his radiation treatments on Monday (3/14), the pain in his back was relieved as planned. He now, however, has a hip pain that he can't seem to shake. It's very difficult for him to get comfortable because of it. The doctor put in a script for a hospital bed, and we are searching for a flat, supportive recliner for him as well. It's very important that he gets his rest to keep his immune system strong.

As we search, we are open to any other suggestions to help with this. Seems as if sitting/laying in the same position for too long triggers the pain that shoots down to his knee, all on his right side. We've noticed that chairs with soft contoured cushions do not do much good for him. Does anyone in the area have a tempur-pedic mattress that he could lay down on for a little while to try? We think it might help him since it will conform to his body - but laying in a store bed for an hour, with a hovering salesperson seems less than helpful.

We got an appointment for my Dad at Sloan Kettering in NYC for 3/29 which we are very excited about. Sloan is the #2 top rated cancer center in the US. They have very strict guidelines and we cannot see them if he is currently getting chemo. We, of course, do not want to risk anything spreading while we wait - so our oncologist is calling for us to discuss his case and determine if we can wait or not. I should hear from her tomorrow and will update.

We have some great news! The cancer has NOT spread to Dad's spinal cord! There are tumors ON his spine - but NOT in! We are very happy about this. We have also learned that it has not effected any organs besides the left lung. This is good news.

Dad is scheduled for a PET Scan next week (a more intense CT, basically) and that will detect where the cancer is in more detail. Please keep those prayers, wishes, thoughts, vibes - however you do it - keep them coming.

Thank you again for all your love & support. We feel truely blessed for each and every one of you.

Love,
Keri
(peaceofkeri@gmail.com)

Blindsided

As you have all already learned, my father, Mike Smith, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. (Skima Cell Carcinoma, non-small cell; subtype - squamous).

He was being treated for back pain when blood test results sent him to the hospital. Doctors thought it might be an infection in his lower spine, started him on antibiotics and did a biopsy from the affected area.

We waited all weekend to find out the type of infection, when Monday we were blindsided and learned it to be cancer. But where did the cancer start? Monday night he went for a cat scan focused on the chest, stomach and pelvic regions; Tuesday a bone scan. And then Wednesday, lung cancer...

Dad has a tumor in his left lung and it has spread around his windpipe and down parts of his spine. He started Radiation treatments Tuesday, which will continue every weekday ending March 14 and are marked to shrink the tumors on his spine. This has already started to relieve him on his back pain and he was discharged from the hospital today! Chemo therapy will begin after radiation is complete and will be once a week, 3 weeks on, 1 week off for however long is needed.

It comes to no surprise, however, that we absolutely have the greatest family & friends we could ever wish for. The support you have all given us is absolutely heart warming. I am not one to agree with any war, but in this case, and with army... watch out cancer, because you're about to get your ass kicked!

We will be sending out updates on this blog, literally keeping us all on the same page. We encourage you all to comment on posts and send us inspiration - we will post it.

"A sad soul can kill you quicker than a germ" -John Steinbeck

Chin up! We're gonna beat this.

Keri
(peaceofkeri@gmail.com)