After meeting with the neurooncologist again on 11.17.2007, he had a preference to begin treatment starting after Thanksgiving weekend. We could have started this coming week, but he did not want to start with an abbreviated week that then had the four day Thanksgiving holiday off from the therapy. Simultaneous administration of chemotherapy and focused radiation therapy should take place on the weekdays after that time and should conclude in mid-January.
I feel better and better each day with less fatigue as each day goes on, but we'll see what effect the therapy has on my mind and body because the most significant side effect described by the physicians is increased fatigue.
I now have some projects to work on from home from my employer and we will see how that goes too. I wanted to work again and know that it can only be part time for now. My employer has been very supportive and willing to let me work from home right now.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Friday, November 9, 2007
11.06.2007 - Treatment Plan
On 11.06.2007, we met with my new neurooncologist here and then met with a radiation oncologist. The pathology of the tumor has changed. They are classifying it as a grade four (most aggressive type) astrocytoma - often referred to as a glioblastoma multiforme. Astrocytomas are the most common form of brain tumor. My neurooncolgist has a very positive attitude and wants to aggressively treat it. He believes that cures for these situations are possible. Real world statistics aren't good, but we are going to fight this.
The treatment plan will involve simultaneous administration of chemotherapy and focused radiation therapy. Radiation therapy will involve 33 fractionated therapy sessions that are normally administered daily over the week days. Most of the chemotherapy will be orally administered and is generally well tolerated by the majority of patients who receive it. I will also receive a once a week IV infusion of another chemotherapy agent. The most significant side effect described will be increased fatigue as a result of all of it. Fatigue levels will get better after treatment. They will take a month off of treatment and then do follow-up MRI scans to see how the treatment went.
On 11.08.2007, I met with my neurosurgeon and he removed the staples from head. That was really nice to have done because I was finally able to take a full shower and wash my head since the surgical procedure.
On 11.09.2007, I had the pre-treatment planning CT and MRI scans done so that they can design the specific treatment plan for the focused radiation therapy. It was a long morning, but will enable the treatment to proceed now. They are anticipating treatment to begin in about ten days or so and then will involve the daily treatment sessions. The sessions will only take 20-30 minutes each day, so actual treatment - other than the once a week IV chemotherapy infusions - won't take too long, it will just be the daily grind of driving down to the hospital for the sessions on a daily basis.
The treatment plan will involve simultaneous administration of chemotherapy and focused radiation therapy. Radiation therapy will involve 33 fractionated therapy sessions that are normally administered daily over the week days. Most of the chemotherapy will be orally administered and is generally well tolerated by the majority of patients who receive it. I will also receive a once a week IV infusion of another chemotherapy agent. The most significant side effect described will be increased fatigue as a result of all of it. Fatigue levels will get better after treatment. They will take a month off of treatment and then do follow-up MRI scans to see how the treatment went.
On 11.08.2007, I met with my neurosurgeon and he removed the staples from head. That was really nice to have done because I was finally able to take a full shower and wash my head since the surgical procedure.
On 11.09.2007, I had the pre-treatment planning CT and MRI scans done so that they can design the specific treatment plan for the focused radiation therapy. It was a long morning, but will enable the treatment to proceed now. They are anticipating treatment to begin in about ten days or so and then will involve the daily treatment sessions. The sessions will only take 20-30 minutes each day, so actual treatment - other than the once a week IV chemotherapy infusions - won't take too long, it will just be the daily grind of driving down to the hospital for the sessions on a daily basis.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
10.13.2007 - Headaches
I don't recall what dates they started occurring, but I started having headaches at work. I thought it was likely because I was starting a new job and it was stressful at times. When I would get the headaches, they were always generalized headaches, like a normal tension headache. I would take some Advil and they would go away and then things would be normal. I didn't think too much of them.
I woke up early on a Saturday morning, 10.13.2007, with a significant headache. I wasn't at work, so it surely wasn't due to stress from work. It also wasn't generalized like the other headaches. This one was localized to the area where the tumor tissue was. I knew that couldn't be good. I tried taking some Advil, but it didn't work this time. My wife thought I should go to emergency room and I agreed.
At our local hospital, which is a very new facility, they were humble enough to acknowledge that they were ill equipped to deal with a brain tumor situation. They had no neurologists or neurosurgeons on their staff and their imaging equipment wasn't really ready for something like my situation presented. They did do a good job in assisting with the pain and referred me to another hospital in the Metro Denver area.
My wife took me there and they had a neurologist, a neurosurgeon, and did MRI and CT scans. The neurosurgeon I consulted with viewed the films and could instantly tell that my present scans did not reflect a stable and unchanged situation. It looked to him that my tumor had grown back, but he wanted to see the prior films to see what things looked like when I had the last MRI.
I overnighted the CDs with the MRI scans from Colorado to Stanford and had the CDs with the MRI scans from California overnighted to the neurosurgeon here. The physicians consulted with one another and everyone was in agreement that things had definitely changed since the last MRI scan. The tumor was back and it had changed quickly. Surgery would need to be performed again.
On 10.25.2007, I had surgery. The neurosurgeon was able to resect about 90% of the tumor tissue and there were no complications from the surgery. I spent some time in the hospital recovering and was discharged on 10.30.2007, to continue my recovery at home. It was very nice to be discharged. I like the level of care at the hospital, but I like being at home much better.
I woke up early on a Saturday morning, 10.13.2007, with a significant headache. I wasn't at work, so it surely wasn't due to stress from work. It also wasn't generalized like the other headaches. This one was localized to the area where the tumor tissue was. I knew that couldn't be good. I tried taking some Advil, but it didn't work this time. My wife thought I should go to emergency room and I agreed.
At our local hospital, which is a very new facility, they were humble enough to acknowledge that they were ill equipped to deal with a brain tumor situation. They had no neurologists or neurosurgeons on their staff and their imaging equipment wasn't really ready for something like my situation presented. They did do a good job in assisting with the pain and referred me to another hospital in the Metro Denver area.
My wife took me there and they had a neurologist, a neurosurgeon, and did MRI and CT scans. The neurosurgeon I consulted with viewed the films and could instantly tell that my present scans did not reflect a stable and unchanged situation. It looked to him that my tumor had grown back, but he wanted to see the prior films to see what things looked like when I had the last MRI.
I overnighted the CDs with the MRI scans from Colorado to Stanford and had the CDs with the MRI scans from California overnighted to the neurosurgeon here. The physicians consulted with one another and everyone was in agreement that things had definitely changed since the last MRI scan. The tumor was back and it had changed quickly. Surgery would need to be performed again.
On 10.25.2007, I had surgery. The neurosurgeon was able to resect about 90% of the tumor tissue and there were no complications from the surgery. I spent some time in the hospital recovering and was discharged on 10.30.2007, to continue my recovery at home. It was very nice to be discharged. I like the level of care at the hospital, but I like being at home much better.
Monday, August 13, 2007
08.13.2007 - Left DPS & Became A Prosecutor
I knew it was only a matter of time before my medical situation caught back up with me and I didn't want to be forced out. I thought it would be a long time in the future before things got worse, but wanted to shape my own future career course. I had my law degree and was now a member of the Colorado Bar, so I thought I would pursue law in Colorado. I interviewed with a few offices and was extended a position as a Deputy District Attorney with an office. It was sad to leave the public safety field, as I had been doing that line of work for the past six years, but I felt good about the change. The cost of living was dramatically different too. I started on 08.13.2007.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
07.24.2007 - Another Seizure
Things seemed to be going well, but I had a full blown seizure while I was eating breakfast with my daughter on 07.24.2007 my wife observed some of it and called 911. The ambulance took me to the local hospital and they did some scans. I was discharged after a few hours or so because there wasn't really anything to do. The scans showed that everything was stable and unchanged. I advised my neurooncologist of the situation and I attributed it to the intense stress of the life changes taking place - moving to another state, leaving my present job, and all of that stuff. He felt that those were pretty significant factors as well.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
06.12.2007 - Stable & Unchanged
On 06.12.2007, follow-up MRI scans were done and the situation was stable and unchanged. That was good to learn. I had a follow-up appointment with the neurooncologist, but left before actually ever meeting with him. I waited nearly an hour for him in the exam room, but he was too busy with some other matter, so I left the MRI films and went to work, which I was already late for.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
05.22.2007 - More Auras
There has been a change in my medical condition. Over the past couple days, beginning with 05.22.2007, I have experienced what I could best describe as auras. I advised my neurooncologist of these changes and he felt it appropriate to have a follow-up MRI scan.
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