Cheryl will going into the hospital on Tuesday, May 3rd for the pleurodesis procedure. She will have a CT early that morning and then around noon, Dr. Jones, the thoracic surgeon, will drain the left lung cavity, take biopsies of her pleura and lung and will then put in talc to cause scarring that should stop or slow additional pleural effusions. The Cleveland Clinic has a good explanation of the procedure: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/pleural_effusion/ts_overview.aspx
After they introduce the schlerosing agent into the lung cavity, Cheryl will have one large bore and one small bore drain. The large drain drain will be removed within the first couple of days and the smaller drain will be removed when fluid output is controlled. Dr. Jones said to expect a two to five day hospital stay to recover and that Cheryl will be in some pain for at least a couple of weeks.
During her hospital stay, Dr. Burke(gynecologic oncologist) will have pelvic and abdominal CT scans performed to determine if there is any recurrent tumors in that region. He is planning to put her back into chemotherapy as soon as she has recovered from the pleurodesis. If the scans show that she has measurable evidence of disease, he would like to enroll her in one of two current clinical trials.
Please be praying that the procedure will go well with no complications and that the biopsies and scans will give the doctors the information that they need to help us continue this fight.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Count's Up But We're Not Down for the Count
Cheryl had one scheduled doctor's appointment this morning that turned into two. This morning she saw Dr. Wumi, her pulmonologist for a follow-up after having had her pleural effusion drained two weeks ago.
He removed 1.6 liters of fluid from her left pleural cavity and sent it off for cytologic analysis. The report came back as positive for malignancy. They also did a blood panel and another CA-125 test(ovarian cancer marker).Cheryl's CA-125 was 19 a few weeks after she completed chemotherapy. In mid-March it had risen to 97.9 and this latest test showed that her level has risen to 204. This is a strong indicator of a return of cancer.
A chest x-ray done yesterday shows that about 300cc of fluid has already built back up in her chest. Due to this quick a recurrence, Dr. Wumi referred Cheryl back to Dr. Jones, the thoracic surgeon.
Dr. Jones was able to fit her in this afternoon for an appointment and after reviewing her x-rays and history has decided to go ahead and admit her to the hospital next week so he can perform a pleurodesis, a procedure where they open the chest cavity to drain the excess fluid and then blow in talc to cause scarring that should stop the pleural effusion. This will entail a two to five day hospital stay, depending on how quickly she responds to the treatment. I will do another update when we get a date/time for the procedure.
After Cheryl completed her appointment with Dr. Jones, we went down the hall to pass some info to Dr. Burke (gynecologic oncologist). He said that this quick rise in CA125 and other indicators show that Cheryl's cancer is platinum resistant. She will need additional chemotherapy and he will see if she is eligible for a clinical trial.
We are a bit shaken by all of this but we continue to hold on to our faith that God will carry us through. Keep us in your thoughts and prayer in the days to come.
He removed 1.6 liters of fluid from her left pleural cavity and sent it off for cytologic analysis. The report came back as positive for malignancy. They also did a blood panel and another CA-125 test(ovarian cancer marker).Cheryl's CA-125 was 19 a few weeks after she completed chemotherapy. In mid-March it had risen to 97.9 and this latest test showed that her level has risen to 204. This is a strong indicator of a return of cancer.
A chest x-ray done yesterday shows that about 300cc of fluid has already built back up in her chest. Due to this quick a recurrence, Dr. Wumi referred Cheryl back to Dr. Jones, the thoracic surgeon.
Dr. Jones was able to fit her in this afternoon for an appointment and after reviewing her x-rays and history has decided to go ahead and admit her to the hospital next week so he can perform a pleurodesis, a procedure where they open the chest cavity to drain the excess fluid and then blow in talc to cause scarring that should stop the pleural effusion. This will entail a two to five day hospital stay, depending on how quickly she responds to the treatment. I will do another update when we get a date/time for the procedure.
After Cheryl completed her appointment with Dr. Jones, we went down the hall to pass some info to Dr. Burke (gynecologic oncologist). He said that this quick rise in CA125 and other indicators show that Cheryl's cancer is platinum resistant. She will need additional chemotherapy and he will see if she is eligible for a clinical trial.
We are a bit shaken by all of this but we continue to hold on to our faith that God will carry us through. Keep us in your thoughts and prayer in the days to come.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
It's Not Fluid, But What Is It?
Cheryl began experiencing shortness of breath and tiredness over the weekend so she went in for chest x-ray Monday to see if the fluid has returned. I checked with Dr. Wumi's PA this afternoon and she said that the only fluid that was evident on the x-ray was the residual that had also shown up on her post draining x-ray last Thursday.
The PA said that Cheryl may be suffering from an electrolyte imbalance or partial dehydration due to the large quantity of fluid that was drained last week. She recommended that we try to increase Cheryl's fluid intake over the next several days but that if she doesn't start feeling better to go to the ER to get checked out or else schedule an appointment with the oncologist to get their take on what is going on.
After resting nearly all day today, Cheryl does feel a bit better this afternoon than she did this morning. She'll be drinking Gatorade to see if that will help with the electrolyte/dehydration issue.
We know something is not right, please be praying with us that it will either clear up or that the doctors will be able to diagnose and treat it quickly.
The PA said that Cheryl may be suffering from an electrolyte imbalance or partial dehydration due to the large quantity of fluid that was drained last week. She recommended that we try to increase Cheryl's fluid intake over the next several days but that if she doesn't start feeling better to go to the ER to get checked out or else schedule an appointment with the oncologist to get their take on what is going on.
After resting nearly all day today, Cheryl does feel a bit better this afternoon than she did this morning. She'll be drinking Gatorade to see if that will help with the electrolyte/dehydration issue.
We know something is not right, please be praying with us that it will either clear up or that the doctors will be able to diagnose and treat it quickly.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Success and Another Wait
Dr. Wumi(pulmonologist) performed a pleurocentesis on Cheryl's left lung cavity and removed 1.6 liters of fluid. He said that the fluid had increased since her CT scan that was done yesterday morning. She had immediate relief from the pressure and shortness of breath but is still a bit tired due to poor sleep for several nights in a row. On the post-procedure x-ray, we could see that her left lung was fully re-inflated. She may experience some dry coughing and bit of aching as things return to normal.
She is to have another x-ray in two weeks so Dr. Wumi can see if the fluid is recurring or not. He is hoping that this will take care of things for now but said that having this happen after surgery and chemo is usually indicative of malignancy.
If that is the case, we will cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, we pray that she quickly regains her energy and that this is just a blip and not a major turn of events.
She is to have another x-ray in two weeks so Dr. Wumi can see if the fluid is recurring or not. He is hoping that this will take care of things for now but said that having this happen after surgery and chemo is usually indicative of malignancy.
If that is the case, we will cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, we pray that she quickly regains her energy and that this is just a blip and not a major turn of events.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Fluid Is Back
Cheryl has been complaining about shortness of breath for over a week. Last Friday's visit to the oncologist did not offer any real explanation and her problem continued to worsen over the weekend. On Monday, she called Dr. Wumi, the local pulmonologist's office and they scheduled her an appointment for Tuesday afternoon.
After an exam and review of symptoms, Dr. Wumi said that she might be suffering from a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung),so he scheduled her for a CT with and without contrast first thing this morning. Her follow up appointment was at 3:20 this afternoon. Dr. Wumi told us that the the good news is she doesn't have a pulmonary embolism but the bad news is that the pleural effusion (fluid buildup in the lung cavity) that she had when the cancer was diagnosed last summer is back. He let us view the CT scan and showed us that only about a fist sized portion of her left lung can fill with air due to the amount of fluid that has occurred.
This may be a sign that there is active tumor activity in the pleural lining. He won't know for sure until after they have drained the fluid and done a cytology report on it.
I will do an update tomorrow evening. Please be in prayer that this is not a recurrence of her cancer.
After an exam and review of symptoms, Dr. Wumi said that she might be suffering from a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung),so he scheduled her for a CT with and without contrast first thing this morning. Her follow up appointment was at 3:20 this afternoon. Dr. Wumi told us that the the good news is she doesn't have a pulmonary embolism but the bad news is that the pleural effusion (fluid buildup in the lung cavity) that she had when the cancer was diagnosed last summer is back. He let us view the CT scan and showed us that only about a fist sized portion of her left lung can fill with air due to the amount of fluid that has occurred.
This may be a sign that there is active tumor activity in the pleural lining. He won't know for sure until after they have drained the fluid and done a cytology report on it.
I will do an update tomorrow evening. Please be in prayer that this is not a recurrence of her cancer.
Friday, April 8, 2011
No Bad News To Report
Cheryl had an appointment with Dr. Robertson(general oncologist) this afternoon as a follow up to her hospital stay last week. She has what appears to be a superficial clot on the inside of left thigh.
Dr. Robertson did a basic exam and decided that everything is "normal" at this point. They tested her blood oxygen and found that it is also in the normal range. He decided that when she finishes her current round of giving herself a 50 mg of Lovenox twice a day that she will switch to one shot a day of 80 mg. He also recommended that she take one baby aspirin a day to help prevent clotting.
She has a follow-up with him in eight weeks. Next week, Cheryl will be getting her CA-125 tested after a 30 day wait. Her level went from 19 shortly after finishing chemo to 97.6 last month. We are praying that the number will either drop or hold steady.
Dr. Robertson did tell us that they do not usually do additional rounds of chemo based solely on the CA-125, even if it is elevated.
Cheryl also has an appointment next week with the vascular doctor that followed her case in the hospital to make sure that all of her circulatory problems are being taken care of.
Dr. Robertson did a basic exam and decided that everything is "normal" at this point. They tested her blood oxygen and found that it is also in the normal range. He decided that when she finishes her current round of giving herself a 50 mg of Lovenox twice a day that she will switch to one shot a day of 80 mg. He also recommended that she take one baby aspirin a day to help prevent clotting.
She has a follow-up with him in eight weeks. Next week, Cheryl will be getting her CA-125 tested after a 30 day wait. Her level went from 19 shortly after finishing chemo to 97.6 last month. We are praying that the number will either drop or hold steady.
Dr. Robertson did tell us that they do not usually do additional rounds of chemo based solely on the CA-125, even if it is elevated.
Cheryl also has an appointment next week with the vascular doctor that followed her case in the hospital to make sure that all of her circulatory problems are being taken care of.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Going Home
After all the focus on cellulitis, the doctors have determined that this was not the problem with Cheryl's right leg. The area that had us all concerned turns out to be inflammation. The doctor discontinued the antibiotic and it appears that things are under control with an anti-inflammatory and Lovenox blood thinner.
On that note, they have decided that Cheryl is a Coumadin failure, meaning that it is not controlling her clotting correctly so she will be going on theraputic Lovenox where she will have to give herself two injections a day.
Her leg pain has cleared up and they are making arrangements to have her discharged today. The vascular surgeon said that she does not want to put in the inferior vena cava filter since it usually ineffective in cancer patients but she does want to do a follow up with Cheryl in a couple of weeks. Cheryl will also have a follow up with the general oncologist.
Afternoon update
Cheryl's discharge paperwork was finished and we were out of the hospital before noon. We stopped at Red Lobster and had a nice leisurely lunch before coming home. We stopped at Wal-Mart and picked up a few flowers to complete the project she started before she had to go to the hospital. If the weather is nice tomorrow, she expects to finish up the patio and front porch planters.
On that note, they have decided that Cheryl is a Coumadin failure, meaning that it is not controlling her clotting correctly so she will be going on theraputic Lovenox where she will have to give herself two injections a day.
Her leg pain has cleared up and they are making arrangements to have her discharged today. The vascular surgeon said that she does not want to put in the inferior vena cava filter since it usually ineffective in cancer patients but she does want to do a follow up with Cheryl in a couple of weeks. Cheryl will also have a follow up with the general oncologist.
Afternoon update
Cheryl's discharge paperwork was finished and we were out of the hospital before noon. We stopped at Red Lobster and had a nice leisurely lunch before coming home. We stopped at Wal-Mart and picked up a few flowers to complete the project she started before she had to go to the hospital. If the weather is nice tomorrow, she expects to finish up the patio and front porch planters.
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