Day 58 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Wednesday, July 23rd 2014

Mom woke up this morning extremely nauseous and sick.  She was scheduled for radiation at 9:25 a.m., but was unable to complete today's treatment due to her constant vomiting.  We now have ten more radiation treatments to go and Dr. Norleena Gullett really wants to do what ever it takes to get mom through these last treatments.  Zofran was administered through her port to stop the nausea.

During the weekly Radiation Oncology follow-up with Dr. Gullett and Kathy McLaine, Dr. Gullett asked dad to go to the car and bring in mom's bag with all of her medications and supplements.  Magic Mouthwash needs to be used 3 times a day again.  Aquaphore is to be used on her neck after radiation treatments and before going to bed.  Silvadene is not needed while there are no open wounds or a  threat of infection.  Dr. Gullett discontinued 10 supplements and medications.

Although, Gullett believes that all of the supplements that she is currently taking are great for her overall health, since mom is experiencing nausea, it's best to eliminate some things.

During the Nurse Assessment in the clinic with mom's nurse Dee, mom was weighed as usual and mom has lost another pound, now she is at 106.  After mom's appointment with Georgianna to go over any changes, it was time to met with Letitia Price, Nurse Practitioner, to review mom's blood work.  Everything was good except her potassium is elevated.  Her blood levels were off a bit probably from vomiting so much this morning.  Letitia ordered an hour of fluids to see how mom's blood work looks tomorrow.  Unfortunately, infusion couldn't fit her in until 5:00 p.m. and mom said not today.   The infusion has been rescheduled for tomorrow during her appointment for Chemotherapy at 10:00 a.m..

Day 57 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Tuesday, July 22nd 2014

Yesterday, mom said she didn't feel well and decided not to go for her appointments at CTCA.  The schedule for yesterday was a full load including her next Chemotherapy Treatment and now the entire schedule has to be reworked.

Dad and I spoke with Dr. Gullett, mom's Radiologist, in the lobby about mom's progress.  Dr. Gullett and Kathy McLaine are two of the nicest people I have ever met.  She and Kathy corrected the insurance issues regarding mom's Fentanyl patches so she can start back using the long lasting Duragesic. She is to be on 37.5 micrograms of Fentanly now.  Her attitude is a lot better and she is less irritable when she has the patches.  

You can really tell she desperately wants to eat because she continues to try every time we go out or eat at the cafeteria.  Her tongue is still raw from the treatments and nothing is really providing relief at this point in the process.  We have our weekly meeting with Dr. Gullett and her team tomorrow as well as her nurse assessment and blood draw so hopefully everything continues to go well.  Graduation from Radiation is just a couple of weeks away!

Day 56 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Friday, July 18th 2014

ZEN LANDSCAPE III

Today was our 56th day at CTCA for another radiation treatment and mom is still handling the treatments well with the new mask.  We have nine more treatments to go before graduation day!

Kelli Dani Fitzpatrick and Studio El

There really isn't much else to report from today.  We will be back Monday for a full day's schedule including Chemotherapy and the fifth of nine more radiation treatments.

Day 54 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Wednesday, July 16th 2014

After four days off, we were back at Cancer Treatment Centers of America this morning early for a full day's schedule.  Mom had blood drawn at 8:00 a.m..  During the nurse assessment, mom weighed in at 107 pounds, she has lost 7 pounds since the last weigh in.  Now that she is properly nourished her body is using her nutrients to fight the cancer.  We were told to expect this.  Her blood pressure and temperature were normal.  

The Chapel

Mom's tongue was sore and raw which is a side effect of the Chemotherapy.  At 9:30 a.m., we met with Leticia, Dr. McKnight's nurse.  Mom's Hemoglobin is up to 9.4 and 6.8 for the white blood cell counts.  Dr. McKnight's team are planning on returning to Chemo treatments starting next week.  Mom will only have the Taxol and not the Carbo for the next two weeks and after that Dr. McKnight will evaluate her progress and decide on a plan going forward.  They don't want her blood levels to drop again.  Edra Spevack, mom's Naturopathy checked to make sure she is still doing well on the supplements that mom is on.  She must start using L-Glutamine again which will help her tongue and mouth going forward.

Mom went back to radiation at 10:45 a.m., to use the new mask and start radiation treatments again.  When she came out of treatment she was very happy with the new mask, no pain or aggravation.  Her last appointment today was with Ms. Jennifer Cargile, Speech-Language Pathologist.  Ms. Cargile said her throat muscles and her ability to swallow are both working really well.

We will back tomorrow for radiation.  Only eleven more radiation treatments!

Day 53, Coming Home from Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Saturday, July 12th 2014

Dad, Gabie and I drove to Cancer Treatment Centers of America to pick up mom this morning!  We arrived and mom was ready to go.  She was dressed, packed and waiting on us to check out. Gabie and I carried her belongings to the car so we could pick her and dad up at the front door, but mom decided to walk to the car instead.

When we got her home, Toni, Steven and Kayleigh were waiting for us.  Mom was so excited to see everyone and be home!  Duke, the family dog, was happy to see her too!  We had to put him on the leash to keep him from tackling mom because he has missed her so much!  When mom had the nose bleed and was admitted into CTCA, Duke went through the trash can and pulled all of her bloody tissues out and laid them in a pile in her bedroom.  Duke has never pulled anything out of the trash before.  If you were to sit in her chair at the kitchen table, Duke would nudge you with his nose and if you didn't move out of her seat he would try to bite at you!

Debbie and Mom

Mom had some surprise visitors after she was home.  Lifelong friends, Debbie and Gerald, came to see her this afternoon and brought her some new pajamas for when she is just lounging around.  We all reminisced and enjoyed hanging out together.  Mom had a great time and was so surprised when they pulled in the driveway.  They hadn't seen each for quite a few years.

Mom is doing much better and we are glad to have her home!
We are not scheduled for anything until next Wednesday, July 16th, which is when mom is scheduled to start her last twelve radiation treatments.

The Charm of the Day

Silver Dog Bone

Day 52 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Friday, July 11th 2014

We came to Cancer Treatment Centers of America to see mom in her new room this morning.  Mom hasn't eaten anything by mouth in a few weeks and she actually ate some breakfast this morning.  She looked better than ever.  Mom even went for a walk down the hall to get some exercise.  She hasn't been outside in over a week so if she doesn't come home soon, that's our next goal.  She has a nice view overlooking the pond at the cafeteria.  I'm sure the view would be beautiful at night.  This is truly a five star hotel room!

Finally out of bed!

After we got back home, dad spoke with a member of mom's team, Ms. Hearn, and was told that since she could commute back and forth for her schedule, mom could check out tomorrow morning.  We called and told mom she was coming home and she was so excited!

Yesterday, on our way to CTCA, the Newnan Police Department were at the intersection of what was about to become formerly known as Parkway North and Bullsboro Drive.  Dad, Kayleigh and I watched as the street sign for Parkway North could be changed officially to Celebrate Life Parkway!

Day 50 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Wednesday, July 9th 2014

We came to CTCA this morning to see mom and she looked really good today!  Her feet and left elbow are still swollen.  The nurse came in and released mom from isolation.  No more masks or gloves and mom is less susceptible to catching anything!  Her blood cell counts are on the rise, too. 

 ZEN LANSCAPE II

Kelli Danis Fitzpatrick and Studio El

This is very positive news!  Her mouth looks great with only a couple of sores left.  Her mouth has been steadily healing everyday due to her platelets rising and using Medihoney and DeramQOL.  She was told that she will be released from Inpatient Care and will be moving up to the 3rd floor tomorrow which is the hotel.

Day 49 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Tuesday, July 8th 2014

Dad, Kayleigh and I headed up to Cancer Treatment Centers of America a little early today in order to be there when mom meets with Radiation Oncology.  The Hospital Doctor came in and said mom's white blood cell counts and platelets are coming up.  Ms. Summer Baptist came in after the doctor and said that she and Stephanie from Wound Care spoke and they decided the Medihoney and DermaQOL are the best for her mouth.  

At 11:00 a.m. the nurse from Radiology came to get us to meet with Dr. Gullett.  Dr. Gullett peeled mom's lips apart and examined her mouth and said it looks like everything is healing great.  Kathy McLaine and Dr. Gullett cleaned all of the dead skin off of mom's neck.  Dr. Gullett stated mom only had nine more radiation treatments left.  Now that she has been without radiation over a week, they need to get the simulation complete today for the new mask.  To get the mask prepared and everything set up will take a week which will give mom another week of healing.  When radiation is on hold, the cancer becomes more aggressively.  Our outcome is still projected the same as it was, mom will just have a little longer to go before she is cured.  Dr. Gullett stated that originally we were going for a cure and we will not change the plan other than now we will have twelve radiation treatments left on our schedule.  We are completely fine with adding more treatments to the plan, especially now that mom will have a mask that will keep her lips away from the radiation.

Out with the old
and in with the new.

Mom came back from the simulation with her old mask and the nurse connected the feeding machine and all of her fluids.  Toni and Kayleigh came up to CTCA this afternoon and Dad and I headed home.  Mom's feet and left elbow have started to swell but she is improving in so many ways.  

We are hopeful she will be coming home soon!

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 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