Day 35 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Thursday, June 19th 2014

Mom woke up this morning extremely dizzy and light headed.  Dad called Dr. Gullett's office to find out what to do.  Mom said she didn't think she would be able to make the ride to Cancer Treatment Centers of America today.  Kathy McLaine, mom's Radiology Care Manager, told dad to take the patch off and bring her in.  Yesterday, Dr. Gullet upped the dosage of the Fentanyl patch to 50 and it's too much for her.  They changed the dosage from 50 to 37.5 and mom went in for radiation prep and treatment.

The Charm of the Day

A Crown of Red Hearts 

Day 31 at Cancer Treatment Centers Of America

Sunday, June 15th 2014

Today's schedule at Cancer Treatment Centers of America was the same as yesterday.  Just a very simple and a quick appointment for mom to have her Neupogen injection at 11:30 in Quality Of Life.  Today she seems to feel a little better.  She didn't sleep as much so we were able to talk on our way there and on our way home.  The nurse today was very easy and quick with giving her the injection and that's what mom likes.  As we were leaving she wanted to try pineapple juice but it burned her mouth and throat too much and she wasn't able to swollow it.

So instead she wanted to stop and try a chocolate milkshake from McDonald's together on our way home.  She was able to drink a little but said it was too thick and had no taste.  When we arrived at home she went in to rest for the afternoon.

The Charm of The Day

Day 30 at Cancer Treatment Centers Of America

Saturday, June 14th 2014

On today's schedule mom just had to go into Quality Of Life for her Neupogen injection at 11:30.  Even though today was a light day for mom, it wasn't an easy day.  She is extremely exhausted and in a lot of pain.  Mom is starting to have many sores and scabs around the outside and inside of her lips due to radiation.

On our drive up she rested the whole time.  As we waited for her injection to be delivered by the pharmacy, she slept.  The shot today burned going in but as always she is a very strong woman!  On our ride home she continued to sleep and went to bed when I got her home. 

The Charm of the Day; Gray Crystals

Day 29 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Friday, June 13th 2014

We arrived at CTCA earlier than our scheduled appointment today in order for Radiology to check and make sure the mask will fit with adjustments that were made yesterday.  Mom took the Hydrocodone, Lidocaine and the lolly pop to numb her mouth and throat pain so she could receive radiation treatment.  Unfortunately, she came back after the appointment and was too sore to have a treatment today.  She has appointments for tomorrow and Sunday for Neupogen injections in infusion.

The Charm of the Day

Black and White Crystals

Day 28 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Thursday, June 12th 2014

First on our schedule today at CTCA was mom's radiation prep and treatment.  We applied her Fentanyl patch this morning before heading to the center as directed.  Radiology was unable to get her into her mask due to the pain in her mouth and throat even though mom took Hydrocodone and Lidocaine.  Dr. Gullett and our Care Manager Kathy McLaine met with us to discuss going forward with radiation and some changes to be made to the mask.  Debbie, one of the Physicist is going to reconfigure mom's mask to keep it from cutting into her chin.  Radiation has been reschedule for tomorrow morning at 8:30.  Mom was also prescribed some Lolly Pops that mom is to start sucking on for the pain.  She is to continue with the hydrocodone and lydacain along with the Magic Mouthwash and salt water rinses.

Acupuncture was schedule for 10:30 for a duration of 45 minutes with Dr. Harris Frank, Doctor of Medical Qigong.  He asked mom again if she was sure she wanted to have acupuncture since she refused it earlier in the week.  Dr. Frank explained to mom the benefits of acupuncture and the fact that it is not required but it is an option.  She agreed to have it done in hopes that it will help with her pain.  Dr. Frank placed the acupuncture needles on her arms and legs as well as her forehead and chin.  He asked if the pain was getting any better and she said she could feel some relief.  He asked if I wanted to stay while mom went through the relaxation period and I decided to step out so mom could experience it in full.  Dr. Frank turned off the lights, started some very relaxing music and mom went into relaxation mode!

"What I love about Cancer Treatment Centers of America is that here you have a model of care where the entire team comes together to create a treatment plan for the benefit of the patient, and that includes the wealth of resources Chinese medicine has to offer."
                                                                              - Harris Frank, LAc, Dipl OM, DMQ

The Charm of the Day is Peace!

Day 27 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Wednesday, June 11th 2014

Today was our 27th day at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.  Radiation was scheduled at 8:45 this morning, followed by a meeting with Dr. Gullett and Kathy McLaine at 9:50 a.m..

Dr. Gullet ordered Silvadene to heal the scab on her chin that is bring caused from the radiation mask not fitting  Mom is unable to properly use the bite block in her mask for the daily radiation treatments due to the pain.  Dr. Gullett brought in a physicist to determine what changes are needed to be made to her mask for her to continue and complete the radiation treatment plan.   A Fentanyl patch was added to give mom a long acting Duragesic due mom's pain level is at a nine and Dr. Gullett wants her at no more than a two.  Mom is to continue using the Magic Mouthwash before and a salt water rinse directly following each meal.

Organic Pop Corn from 180 Degree Farm

The only other appointment was her weekly Speach Language Follow Up with Ms. Jennifer Cargile.  Ms. Cargile said mom's throat muscles are still working well even though she is in alot of pain.  She's able to swollow but it's very painful.  

The Charm of the Day 

Day 25 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Monday June 9th 2014

Today was our 25th day at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.  We arrived at 8:00 am for mom's scheduled Acupuncture Session at 8:15 with Dr. Harris Frank.  Within minutes, mom came back out and said she didn't need Acupuncture.  It seemed a little strange to me so we checked and mom got confused and refused treatment.  We rescheduled her session because we believe it will truly help with many of the things mom is experiencing.

Since mom didn't have acupuncture today she was early for her daily radiation prep and radiation treatment.  Radiology took her right back.  While mom was in treatment I called our Care Manager to have the Neupogen shots delivered to their home.  The out of pocket cost for the home delivery was more expensive than traveling back and forth to CTCA, so we canceled the order and decided to come on Saturday and Sunday instead.

The Charm of the Day; ΙΧΘΥΣ

Ichthys

Day 24 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Sunday, June 8th 2014

Today was mom's second Neupogen shot and her appointment was at 10:00 a.m.  We went up to Quality of  Life and the nurse showed me how to administer the shots to mom in either the back of her arms or even in her stomach.  These Neupogen shots are to be administered on Saturdays and Sundays following her Chemotherapy sessions on Tuesdays. The plan is to have the shots delivered to our parent's home and save her a trip over the weekends . Today the injection seemed to burn going into the back of her arm but our mom is amazingly strong and was fine right afterwards.

 Today, Steven was able to come and experience CTCA for the first time.  After the nurse in infusion was finished with mom's shot, we all went for breakfast at the wonderful cafeteria and then gave Steven a tour of the resort style campus. 

The Charm of the Day is Garnet,
Steven's Birthstone.

Day 23 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Saturday, June 7th 2014

Today was the first appointment for mom on a weekend at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.  It's quite a different place on the weekend.  The daily hustle and bustle was gone.  Our appointment in Quality of Life was at 10:00 a.m. for the Neupogen shot. We requested a blood pressure check because mom's blood pressure has been very low at times.  Luckily today mom's blood pressure was better, it was 113/63 and her pulse was 73.

Today was also Duane's first visit to CTCA and he found the center to be a little overwhelming.  It's not your usual medical facility, CTCA is more like a resort than a hospital. After the nurse taught us how to administer the Neupogen shot, we ran into our friend Denise Harris.  She said her tumors were shrinking and they had to do a new radiation simulation and altered her radiation treatment plan.  God is good!

The Charm of the Day is Amethyst, 

Duane's Birthstone.

Day 22 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Friday, June 6th 2014

Today at Cancer Treatment Centers of America we had a really short schedule!  Mom was just scheduled for radiation prep and treatment.  Today was her twelfth radiation treatment so we only have 23 more to go!

The Charm of the Day

A Simple Day