The latest news on me is not great, but it is not terrible either. The best news is my white blood count continues to rise and it looks like the antibiotics are dealing with the blood infection (For clarification, the infection was Staphylococcus epidermidis – not the bad kind of Staph).
The worst news is that my liver numbers continue to be elevated – the doctor said twelve times higher than they ought to be (numbers from Thursday, April 29). I am also jaundiced. The doctor is calling this drug-induced (from the interferon treatments) hepatitis. This is NOT viral hepatitis. It is NOT hepatitis A, B, or C, and I am not contagious. My doctor is very hopeful this will go away on its own, however, I will be seeing a specialist Monday morning, May 3.
So the plan is for me to take it easy over the weekend (I am, frankly, quite tired of doing that) and hydrate as much as possible. I am also discontinuing the antibiotic till I see the hepatologist (liver, gall bladder, pancreas specialist) on Monday. If I develop a fever or any other issues over the weekend, I am supposed to go to the emergency room at Centennial Hospital in Nashville.
Meanwhile, I feel pretty good, except for tiring easily. I am planning to preach on Sunday, though I will probably not be my usual energetic self. Also, for my good people, I do not plan to mix it up with the crowd very much.
Thank you again for so many of you who are praying. Life really is good, God has been especially close, and His people have been absolutely wonderful through all of this!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Cancer Chronicles - April 26, 2010 - Addendum
At 5 p.m. today, Dr. Joseph (my oncologist) shared with me that he had just gotten back my liver numbers from last week’s monitoring. They have elevated significantly which indicates liver damage as a result of the interferon therapy.
The immediate implication of this is that I may be in the hospital for another day or two as further antibiotic treatment is determined and the liver numbers are monitored. The long term implication is, as Dr. Joseph put it, that we will be “abandoning ship” on the high dose interferon treatments (the fourth and final week of those treatments). Dr. Joseph tells me that time is the healer for the liver damage, especially time without the interferon treatments.
At a later time, Dr. Joseph and I will determine whether or not to move forward with the low-dose interferon treatments (three subcutaneous injections weekly for eleven months).
Your continued prayers are much appreciated.
Life is good, God is better, and His people are something else!
The immediate implication of this is that I may be in the hospital for another day or two as further antibiotic treatment is determined and the liver numbers are monitored. The long term implication is, as Dr. Joseph put it, that we will be “abandoning ship” on the high dose interferon treatments (the fourth and final week of those treatments). Dr. Joseph tells me that time is the healer for the liver damage, especially time without the interferon treatments.
At a later time, Dr. Joseph and I will determine whether or not to move forward with the low-dose interferon treatments (three subcutaneous injections weekly for eleven months).
Your continued prayers are much appreciated.
Life is good, God is better, and His people are something else!
Cancer Chronicles - April 26, 2010
As of Friday, April 23, I had completed three of my four weeks of adjuvant interferon therapy. Through the first two weeks all blood counts and other monitored items had remained normal and right where they should be. At the beginning of the third week, my white blood count slipped below preferred levels. This resulted in taking blood for cultures.
My oncologist called me at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 23, and told me that I had a blood infection, that I needed to go into the hospital and start IV antibiotics, and have my medi-port removed. By 7 p.m. I was being admitted through the Emergency Room of Sumner Regional Medical Center (Gallatin, Tennessee), where they gave me the first round of antibiotics (Vancomycin).
On Saturday morning I had minor surgery to remove the medi-port, and I have continued to receive the Vancomycin every 12 hours. The port had to be removed because it’s a possible infection site, but also for fear of heart valves becoming infected.
It is now Monday morning, April 26. The plan now is to receive the Vancomycin again today. I will also be seeing an infectious disease doctor who will hopefully be able to prescribe an antibiotic that I can take at home. Hopefully, I will be able to go home tomorrow (Tuesday, April 27).
This little episode is going to delay my last week of interferon treatments till I am cleared of the blood infection. My oncologist tells me that my antibiotic treatment will probably continue through next week (May 3-7) sometime, and that we should be able to renew the interferon treatments the week of May 10. He has also said I should be fine to preach on Sunday, May 2, and attend Jonathan’s college graduation on May 8.
To all of you who have prayed, sent emails or cards, made Facebook comments, etc., thank you so much! Every one is an encouragement, and I am blessed by all of them! Special thanks goes to my very understanding and caring church family at First Free Methodist Church, Gallatin, Tennessee!
Life is good, God is better, and His people are something else!
My oncologist called me at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 23, and told me that I had a blood infection, that I needed to go into the hospital and start IV antibiotics, and have my medi-port removed. By 7 p.m. I was being admitted through the Emergency Room of Sumner Regional Medical Center (Gallatin, Tennessee), where they gave me the first round of antibiotics (Vancomycin).
On Saturday morning I had minor surgery to remove the medi-port, and I have continued to receive the Vancomycin every 12 hours. The port had to be removed because it’s a possible infection site, but also for fear of heart valves becoming infected.
It is now Monday morning, April 26. The plan now is to receive the Vancomycin again today. I will also be seeing an infectious disease doctor who will hopefully be able to prescribe an antibiotic that I can take at home. Hopefully, I will be able to go home tomorrow (Tuesday, April 27).
This little episode is going to delay my last week of interferon treatments till I am cleared of the blood infection. My oncologist tells me that my antibiotic treatment will probably continue through next week (May 3-7) sometime, and that we should be able to renew the interferon treatments the week of May 10. He has also said I should be fine to preach on Sunday, May 2, and attend Jonathan’s college graduation on May 8.
To all of you who have prayed, sent emails or cards, made Facebook comments, etc., thank you so much! Every one is an encouragement, and I am blessed by all of them! Special thanks goes to my very understanding and caring church family at First Free Methodist Church, Gallatin, Tennessee!
Life is good, God is better, and His people are something else!
Monday, April 05, 2010
Cancer Chronicles - April 5, 2010
Last Friday, April 2, I underwent outpatient surgery to insert a port into my upper right chest for the purpose of receiving intravenous adjuvant interferon therapy over the next month. This surgery went extremely well, and I was able to preach on Easter Sunday morning with no hindrance.
Today, Monday, April 5, I began the interferon treatments. All went well, and I am especially appreciative that the nausea prevention IV that they give me before the interferon worked very well—I have had no nausea today at all.
I did experience the “fatigue” side effect this afternoon, with some achiness, and my temperature started to rise a little bit this evening (After all, we wouldn’t want to disappoint the experts who predict these things). A little nap this afternoon and some Tylenol this evening have addressed these symptoms quite well.
At the Tennessee Oncology Office where I am being treated, everyone is very nice and it is a casual atmosphere. Beth was able to be right beside me during the whole process this morning. The actual medication period (nausea medicine and interferon) is only about an hour. Of course, there are usually some other details to take care of, too, i.e. blood work, etc. We were there about 2 ½ hours this morning. As I have mentioned previously, this treatment will occur five days a week for the next four weeks.
On the home front, Jonathan and Anna left this morning and traveled safely back to Clinton, Mississippi. Rachel and Thomas will leave tomorrow morning (Tuesday, April 6) to return home to Sanford, North Carolina. Beth plans to remain here through this Friday (April 9) and return to Clinton on Saturday.
So many people are praying, and we have also been blessed with several acts of kindness and generosity. Thanks to all of you! You know who you are!
Life is good; God is better! And His people are something else!
Today, Monday, April 5, I began the interferon treatments. All went well, and I am especially appreciative that the nausea prevention IV that they give me before the interferon worked very well—I have had no nausea today at all.
I did experience the “fatigue” side effect this afternoon, with some achiness, and my temperature started to rise a little bit this evening (After all, we wouldn’t want to disappoint the experts who predict these things). A little nap this afternoon and some Tylenol this evening have addressed these symptoms quite well.
At the Tennessee Oncology Office where I am being treated, everyone is very nice and it is a casual atmosphere. Beth was able to be right beside me during the whole process this morning. The actual medication period (nausea medicine and interferon) is only about an hour. Of course, there are usually some other details to take care of, too, i.e. blood work, etc. We were there about 2 ½ hours this morning. As I have mentioned previously, this treatment will occur five days a week for the next four weeks.
On the home front, Jonathan and Anna left this morning and traveled safely back to Clinton, Mississippi. Rachel and Thomas will leave tomorrow morning (Tuesday, April 6) to return home to Sanford, North Carolina. Beth plans to remain here through this Friday (April 9) and return to Clinton on Saturday.
So many people are praying, and we have also been blessed with several acts of kindness and generosity. Thanks to all of you! You know who you are!
Life is good; God is better! And His people are something else!
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