Well the day we have waited for since January has arrived.  Pat has finished all of her treatment and we have the results of her CAT scan.  However, we are unsure as to what the results are.  The doctor told her that there is something still there but hopefully it is scar tissue.  He is going to recheck her in two months and redo the scan.  At this point we do not know what to think.  So once again we wait.  Please pray that it is scar tissue and not the remnants of the cancer.  She wanted to go a balloon ride when we went east last fall.  Gary and I have scheduled a ride for the three of us this next Thursday, at sunset.  I pray she is up for it as she has been very sick and weak from the brain radiation treatments.  As it is with everyone's life I have been very busy and have not posted lately...I will try to do better.  Love and God's blessings to you all.

June 2, 2014

Well it is finally here...Pat's last round of chemo.  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and she will be finished with her chemotherapy.  But, here is a bit of strange...instead of doing the brain radiation right away the Oncologist is sending her to a Neurologist.  Have no clue why and she doesn't either.  She didn't ask and he didn't tell her.  I wish I could be there with her just once to ask MY questions.  I would probably never be let in again.  I tend to be a little overly zealous when I want answers.  Pat just sits back and nods as her doctors ramble on.  I wish I had her confidence in modern medicine, but I don't. So as soon as this is over I am assuming, which could be dangerous, that there will be tests done and long awaited answers forthcoming...let you know!

Hello everyone,
I must apologize for not keeping you informed.  Until now things have just kinda been on hold with Pat's treatments as I explained in my last entry.

Now, she has one more round of chemo, a three day session, that will be the last one.  She will then begin her brain radiation treatments for preventative measures, as small cell cancer tends to metastasize to the brain.  We are quite concerned as it does cause memory loss.

Last week she received good news.  The tumor in her lung did not show up on the latest X-ray.  Answered prayers for sure, all your prayers and ours have been heard.  We are cautiously optimistic with this news.  She is not out of the woods, but there is a clearing up ahead.  I will try and do better on posting...so much to do lately.  God's blessings to you all and keep us in your prayers.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Pat got an unexpected "vacation" from her chemo last week.  Her blood work indicated that she was not strong enough to receive another round at that time.  She has gotten two units of blood and more fluids.  So, she tried to rest...even though she is still very weak and combating nausea.

Yesterday, was the day she was supposed to start the next round of chemo, however, she will remain on her chemo vacation for yet another week.  Disappointing news for her, she was hoping to move forward in her treatments.

The doctor told her that if she is still not strong enough next week; they would hospitalize her.  I am assuming that would be to keep her hydrated and control the nausea better.  So we wait.  I will update when I have news to share.  Keep those prayers coming, we could sure use them.

Friday, March 21

Today Pat is receiving her final radiation treatments.  HOORAY!!!  She will have had 30 in all.  Now she has to get through the second half of her Chemo.  She has developed a type of palsy (tremors) along with headache and dizziness.  This was a great concern to her doctor, so he ordered a CAT scan on Monday of this week.

Needless to say, we had to wait for the results.  Scared us all because we knew they were checking for evidence that the cancer had reached her brain.  Praise God for answered prayers, it has not!  The tremors, headaches and dizziness are most likely side effects from the radiation to her brain.

In addition to her CAT scan on Monday, she had to have two units of blood, and more saline solution for dehydration.  Kidney problems have become an issue also.  Wow, the treatment is brutal.  Guess it has to be if she is going to win the war cancer has waged upon her body.  The doctors certainly have attacked with both barrels loaded.

She is an amazing person...remaining is good spirits as she fights for her life.  Her strength is inspirational.  We all live each day aggravated by the petty annoyances that life brings to us... while others, like Pat, strive to just make it through the day.

Be very grateful for each day you have your health.  We all do not really appreciate life until we are in danger of losing it...for it is the sweetest thing me know.  Please continue to pray for Pat, and throw an extra one in there for our family. 

God's blessings,
Jean

March 6, 2014

Just returned home from Pat's.  This week she finally began her radiation treatments.  She gets two per day.  The first is for 30 minutes directed at the tumor in her lung.  The second is 20 minutes for her brain.  They are doing this five days a week for three weeks.

She has also been doing her third round of chemo.  Half way through the series of 6.  She receives three treatments, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; then waits two weeks before beginning the next round.  Basically she has nine more weeks of her chemo treatments left.

They have adjusted the chemicals in her "cocktail" as her kidneys did not like the one they have been using.  She has been extremely dehydrated and has received two bags of fluid every other day.  Her white count has also been a problem.  They are hoping this new combination will alleviate the kidney issues as well as maybe helping the nausea.

She continues to be upbeat although she is extremely tired.  The radiation for her lung has "burned" the inside of her esophagus making swallowing painful.  It is a constant burning sensation for which they have given her two different liquid medicines that she takes before and after eating.

We also this week lost our Aunt Shirley who lived in Tennessee with her daughter.  Our father's "baby" sister.  I cannot leave Pat to go to the funeral, just can't.  Our brother Frank and his son are going to drive down in the morning.  Our prayers have been focused on her family this week as they grieve the loss of their mother.  She was a caring, loving, selfless woman who loved the Lord with all her heart and demonstrated that love in all that she did.  She will be missed tremendously.

Please continue to pray for Pat as we journey onward.  Blessings to you and yours.

Jean

Again, I have not posted for over a week.  I am still a bit under the weather, but improving.  I saw Pat yesterday, had to wear a mask as I did not want to take any chances.

Her color is better, but she is very weak.  Still having nausea and vomiting issues.  She finished her second session of chemo last week.  Her white count is down again and having some other concerns.  They gave her another shot to boost her white count production which once again caused severe bone pain.

Sporting her bandanas, she still feels self conscious of her hair loss.  We talked about it and I told her it is her badge of courage and to be proud of what she has accomplished in her battle. Although she is not yet reached the half way point in her treatment the doctor says her lung sounds a lot better as far as the air flow.  There isn't much else to tell right now as they have postponed the start of her radiation until March 5th.

I will post when I have more news.  Keep up the prayers, and Pat ask me to thank you all for the cards you have sent her.  May God bless you all as you continue to support us.

I have not posted anything for a couple of weeks as the only thing that is new is that Pat's hair is falling out now and she continues to lose weight.  We talked about shaving her head to get it over with quickly, instead of watching it fall out in clumps as each day passes.  I have been sick again so I have not seen her in two weeks.  I am so frustrated with her Radiation doctor I want to scream!!!

     He went on vacation this week...which I am sure he needs, but he did not finish Pat's positioning device before he left.  So her radiation, will again, be postponed. I wonder if his wife were waiting for treatment, would he have viewed his obligation differently?  I will pray for him, and myself, on this one.

     She had her first, of her next three chemo treatments today.  Tomorrow, and Thursday will finish this round.  She will rest for two weeks before it starts all over again.  She is really nauseous tonight, I pray she can continue to endure this torture.  Will update later this week; keep praying...

Saw Pat yesterday.  They have discontinued her Chemo and did not start her radiation as her white blood count is extremely low.  They have given her a two week "vacation" after only one week of treatment.  The doctor put her on a powerful antibiotic to ward off any infection because she is very susceptible to any illness at this point.

Beverly and I took a fridge full of food over, lots of her favorites, in hopes she will eat more and gain some of her weight back.  She is very tired and is in pain from the shot they gave her to boost her white cell production.  Bone pain, is causing most of her discomfort at this point.  The nausea meds seem to help alot, thank goodness.

She wanted me to post a great big Thank You, to all of you that have sent her cards.  They have given her encouragement and she is truly touched by the outpouring of support.  Anyone who wants her address please email me : jean.duemling@gmail.com.

Once again if you want to send her a message via email just use my address and I will print them out for her, remember to put FOR PAT as the subject.  I am making her a printed journal of all my posts, and all of yours.  Later, she will have this as a week by week account of her experience.  She is so thankful for your words of encouragement, and needs us all to continue to let her know she is not alone in this battle.  God bless you all for keeping up with this journey...hugs from me to you.

Today Pat had a consultation with her radiation therapist.  She will begin two treatments per day, five days a week, for three weeks.  She was told that she would get one treatment in her right lung and one for her brain.  Although the MRI did not show any sign of the cancer in her brain, they are going ahead with the treatment as a preventive measure.

She is very sick from the chemo that will continue three times a week for five more weeks.  Being extremely fatigued, she is struggling to take phone calls.  I have been sick with the flu and have not been able to see her; this is very hard for me as we are, and always have been there for each other.

To date she has lost twelve pounds.  This has all happened so quickly.  Unbelievable how your life and the lives of those you love so much can changes so quickly.  Keep us in your prayers and most of all pray for my beloved sister as she battles an enemy so cruel that it takes everything you have in you to win.

So happy to tell you that Pat's cancer has not reached her brain.  This gives us hope for the first time.  Although this is a tough one to beat we are all elated with the news.  She has a fighting chance!!  Certainly our prayers have been heard and answered.

She is beginning to feel the effects of the chemo.  Nausea, but controlled at this point.  She will now begin her radiation therapy five days a week in addition to the chemo.  They have given her several knitted caps to wear as her hair will begin to fall out soon.  She wants bandannas, so I will spend this weekend going through all my scrap material and sewing her an array of them.  God is good!

The results of Pat's PET scan came back.  No other organ involvement.  Good news for sure.  Now we must wait again.  There will be a CT scan tomorrow to rule out brain involvement.  The doctor tells Pat that the kind of cancer she has "likes to migrate to the brain."  We are again on pins and needles; all this waiting is torturous.

She began her chemo today, an eight hour session, combined with her first dose of radiation therapy.  It will be a rough night for her.  Tomorrow she will receive another two hour chemo treatment along with the daily radiation.

The consult this morning was loaded with information.  The doctor told her that if they were not VERY aggressive, her lung is in danger of collapsing due to the size of the mass that now is blocking air flow to her right lung.

Some of you suggested viewing the Netflix, "Gersom Miracle" which I did today.  I wonder...if this  has such a high success rate WHY are we, the most powerful nation on earth, not using it???  Something as simple as changing your diet cures you of all that ails you and prevents even the common cold.  I need to do more reading.  If anyone reading this has used this diet or knows anyone that was cured of cancer by following it, please contact me.

I am trying to fix the comment link on this blog as many of you have tried to leave messages for Pat.  Until I can figure out how to do that please send me an email that I can print out for her to:
                                                  jean.duemling@gmail.com

Just put FOR PAT in the subject box.

You have cancer.  Those are the words we have all come to fear.  Last week my sister, Pat, heard those words.

We have gathered as a family, prayed, and visited.  We all still find it hard to talk about the cancer.  It has consumed us.  We are scared of what we will find out in the days to come, and afraid of not knowing what will happen.

Today, she had her port and pik lines put in, and is in some discomfort.  I am worried I spelled the pik line wrong... but can't bring myself to read any more about it, today. Tomorrow she will begin her war against her enemy, small cell lung cancer.  Although she knows what is ahead she is ready to fight for her life.

I thought I would keep this diary of what she is going through to keep all those that love her up-to-date, and maybe later it will serve someone else that is on the same journey.  Perhaps this will take the place of the endless phone calls I feel compelled to make daily; what else can I do?

Tomorrow we will have the results of her PET scan.  If the cancer is isolated in her lung she will also begin radiation therapy five days a week-- along with the chemo therapy 3 days a week, for six weeks. 

Keep us in your prayers as we journey onward, together.

J