Cousin Lunch

Georgette, Michael, Lois and I went to our monthly cousin lunch. Bob, Kay, Ron, Debbie and Chuck were also there. It was the first time I've seen my siblings since the diagnosis. It was also the first time I ventured into public dragging around an oxygen tank. All went well. We had a good time

Power Port

At Kenosha Memorial Hospital at 6AM again and was prepped for the 8AM port insertion. The "Power Port" was installed on my left side below my shoulder blade. It had a catheter that ran under the skin to a vein on the right side of my neck. All went well as long as Lois didn't pat (unintentionally) me on the chest

The port is an injection site that is below the skin and can be connected to an IV set using a special needle that locks in place somehow. I've got to see it work.

We went to Dr. Mariani's office to have my blood oxygen retested and get an O2 prescription that Medicare would accept.

Bone Scan & MRI

At 8:00AM I received a shot of the radio-active solution used for bone scans. Because there is a 3 hour wait between shot and scan we scheduled the brain MRI during this period. Both scans were uneventful. I never realized how noisy the MRI procedure is.

E.R. Visit

We left Todd's early today because I was having shortness of breath problems. Just standing up and walking a few steps to the bathroom would leave me huffing and puffing.

Things didn't improve after we got home so we decided to go to the Emergency Room. They started out by giving me a nebulizer w/bronchodialator treatment. It helped a little but not much

An x-ray showed that my right pleural space was filled with fluid. Dr. Habel , one of Dr. Mariani's partners, happened to be in the hospital and he performed a thoracentesis and withdrew 2 liters of fluid (red). He recommended a surgical procedure that would seal the pleural space and prevent fluid accumulation.

Because my blood oxygen level was below 90% I met Medicare's requirements for having my own O2 supply. The prescription, however could not originate from an emergency room.

Knowing that my doctor was Mariani, the oxygen supplier set me up with 2 portable units and an oxygen concentrator for the house. He would wait for the Rx.

To Madison

Yesterday we decided to get away from it all and go to Madison to see Todd, Lily and the boys. We took off soon after Lois's appointment with Dr. Akgulian. She wanted to get some anti-anxiety pills because she's really been wired lately and unable to sleep.

Because of my breathing problems and chest pains I haven't been able to do any work around the house. (At least now I have an excuse). Lois has picked up the slack and has completed my tasks that I wouldn't have even started yet. I don't know what I would do without her.

Lois, Lily and Felix were out bumming today. Todd was in the kitchen making Lasagna from scratch (even the ricotta). I was just laying around the house reading and enjoying my Felix and Oscar.

Chemo Class

As part of the program, Lois and I attended a class on chemotherapy. Anita, a teaching nurse, has the job of instructing both patients and staff at each of the Oncology Alliance facilities.

She went over each of the medications, listing their function and possible side effects. We were given literature on all of the potential side effects. Each covering description, causes, symptoms and treatment.

The treatment room has about a dozen recliners arranged in a circle. Each has its own IV pump. Books, DVDs, audio books and other sources of entertainment are available to help pass the time. (My first treatment will last about 9 hours).

Its not something I'm looking forward to.

Meet Dr. Haider

We met with Dr. Haider today. He started by giving us his background both personal and professional. He then reviewed my case and told us what to expect.

Surgery is not an option because the cancer is in the pleural fluid. Instead of a mass it is many small spots on the outside surface of the lung. For the same reason radiation won't work. The only choice, initially, is chemotherapy. The proposed treatment would include 3 drugs administered 6 times at 21 day intervals.

The drugs are:
Paclitaxel (Taxol): 1st infusion - 4 hours, next infusions - 3 hours
Carboplatin: infusion - 1 hour
Avastin (Bevacizumab): 1st infusion 90 minutes, next infusions - 30 minutes. Avastin is a newer drug that has gotten a lot of press lately. It apparently targets the tumor cutting off its blood supply
The first infusions are slower to see if reactions are going to occur. The treatments are scheduled to begin on Tuesday 11/18.

He also wrote prescriptions for pain medication. They included a Fentanyl Patch, Oxycodone Capsules and Celebrex.

And, of course, some more procedures were called for: a bone scan, MRI/Brain scan and insertion of a medication port.

I felt comfortable with the doctor and was impressed by the Oncology Alliance operation. (www.oncologyalliance.com)