RD

If this is a repeat, just ignore me, I'm tired but happy!! The Oncology doctor came in today and helped us feel better.

The Oncologist told us that after the air leak heals in RD's lung that he will get to go home and rest for about a week and then start radiation. It will be Monday through Friday, for six weeks. If the trip gets too hard on RD there is a place that we can stay up here. But RD wants to try driving first to see how he does. Once a week he will be given Chemo. The docs didn't think he could tolerate both treatments, so they are going to lower the dose of Chemo while he is getting the radiation. After the radiation, the doc said that he might do some more Chemo but still at the lower dose. He said that he had seen people where the tumor got smaller and then disappeared. We are sure praying for that for RD. The cancer is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. It is a Stage 3, would be a 2 because of the size but it is close to his main artery and that makes it a 3. I don't understand a lot of what I'm writing, just wanted to pass on what the doc told us.

We didn't rest well last night so he has napped on and off all day and is sleeping now. He seems to be feeling pretty good, just really, really tired.

Thank you soooo much for your prayers, we so appreciate them!! Hope everyone had a nice Christmas, even though we spent Christmas in the hospital, we had a nice day because we were together. Love to all...

RD

The docs have decided that surgery is not an option for RD. The tumor is too close to the main heart artery and the risk is high for a massive heartattack. He gets short of breath just walking across the floor so that played into the decision, too. As much trouble as he has now with breathing, because of emphysema, he doesn't need to have his lung removed. So he will be treated with radiation and chemo.

This afternoon they did a MRI, CT and Bone Scan. The leak hasn't closed up in his lung yet but I'm hoping that we will go home as soon as it does

We didn't get good news today. He has lung cancer. Don't know what direction we will be going...surgeon will be in to talk to us. Some of the options are: surgery to remove the cancer; surgery to remove the lung; radiation & chemo; the surgeon may want another opinion from a doc in Nashville. They aren't sure if he can tolerate surgery or if he can tolerate the surgery if he would be in worse shape than he is now. He gets out of breath just walking to the bathroom at home. He still has an air leak in his lung so we aren't going home for a few days, until the hole in his lung heals. Don't really know the type of cancer other than it is not 'small cell', we will know more about that later. The location of the mass is a big part of the problem as to have surgery or not. We may not know anything more for a few days, so I'll let you know when we hear something.

Please keep praying...Love you all....

RD

His lung doc is Dr. Gilroy, he took care of Dad for years. In our book, he is the very best. The radiologist was the one that did the biopsy and Dr. Gilroy had told us that this could happen and that with him having emphysema that the risk was greater. That is why he wanted to do the brochoscopy but the mass is in a place that is had to get to, but they got a good biopsy today and was almost finished when the lung started leaking.

Jeremy was here and then his wife and kids came up and brought me some clothes and my computer. RD is in a room and I'm here with him. Hope we get good news tomorrow.

RD

RD was admitted to the hospital because his lung collapsed during the biopsy. He is doing good, in some pain, but mostly sore. He has a chest tube and will have to stay until the hole heals in his lung. We may get the biopsy results tomorrow.

December 22, 2004, he was admitted in outpatient for a heart cath. The degree of the blockages and the place of the blockages were such that the doc said that there was no way he could go home. He was admitted to the hospital. The doc's schedule was full for the 23rd so he had by-pass surgery on Christmas Eve, had some complications but he was discharged around 5:00 on New Year's night. It is hard to believe that he is here again on Dec. 22 for outpatient test that has turned into a hospital admittance.

I'll keep you posted!! Thank you all so much for your prayers.