Day 40 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Thursday, June 26th 2014

Today Kayleigh and I took mom to Cancer Treatment Centers of America to have radiation prep and treatment.  Her mouth was extremely sore and her lips are scabbed up pretty badly.  Right before we arrived, mom took the Hydrocodone and Lidocaine along with the lolly pop to try and numb her mouth and throat before the treatment.  Next on the schedule was wound consultation.  Stephanie reviewed mom's neck and chest area to see how the radiation is burning her skin.  Mom is using Silvadene immediately following each radiation treatment and each night before bedtime.



Stephanie said she was looking pretty good other than her lips.  Mom has been using Aquaphor on her lips to help heal from radiation treatments.  Stephanie added DermaQOL to be used on her lips too.

We had over an hour wait until mom's 2:00 p.m. appointment for the Blood Transfusion in Quality of Life so we decided to venture out and go for a ride to see the City Square of Newnan.

Once we had lunch back at the cafeteria we headed up to Quality of Life.  Mom's blood pressure was 98/55 but unfortunately she had a fever of 101.4 degrees so the blood transfusion couldn't begin.  A temperature of 100.5 or higher can lead to an infection.  A urine sample and blood cultures were ordered to try and find out where the fever is coming from and there was no sign of a urinary tract infection or anything.  She is not feel well due to her hemoglobin being so low.  The Blood Transfusion was rescheduled for 1:00 p.m., tomorrow and we were released from infusion at 4:00 p.m..

The Charm of the Day

A Silver and Amethyst Crown

Day 10 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Monday, May 19th 2014

Today's schedule started out with an appointment for a hearing test with Dr. Keith A. Kowal of Atlanta Allergy and Otolaryngology, in Peachtree City. Chemotherapy can effect a person's hearing so CTCA sent mom for a hearing test to get a base line of her hearing quality in order to monitor the effects going forward. She has been experiencing a swishing sound ever since her first chemotherapy treatment last week. According to Dr. Kowal, mom's hearing is pretty bad so he scheduled a follow up appointment in three months.

After arriving at CTCA for mom's nurse assessment, we found out that she had gained three pounds and her blood pressure and pulse are perfect too which is really great news!

Our spirits were high and meeting with Dr. Oliva Burks made the day even better.  Dr. Burks is a funny lady and explained a little more about mom's plan with the PEG/Feeding Tube. She also checked the healing of the tube and said everything seemed to be healing fine. She was happy that mom has maintained her weight but reminded us that soon due to her treatment, plan her body will start loosing weight because it will have work twice as hard and burn twice as many calories as usual. She recommended that mom start drinking the formula that is being delivered for her PEG Tube in between meals just to pack on as much weight and nutrients as possible. Luckily after we arrived home, she tasted one of the drinks and loved it.

Another day of information and hope!

The Charm of the Day is A Ring of Many Different Colors.

Day 7 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Tuesday, May 13th 2014 

Today was moms first chemotherapy appointment . We begin our day at "Quality Of Life" . They get her comfortable in a recliner and wanted to start a bag of magnesium and fluids because her magnesium was low the day before. After they accessed her port, we are informed because of magnesium level they wanted to postpone chemotherapy until tomorrow so her levels have a chance of becoming a normal range. Magnesium is what is in electrolytes and with chemotherapy you have to be very hydrated. Sitting there with mom watching Gilligan's Island (one of her favorites), a nurse came in to show a video of how to take care of her feeding tube that was scheduled to be inserted. She also used a model and instructed how to feed mom and flush care. With two hours of down time before moms scheduled surgery for the feeding tube we all enjoyed the terrace at the top of the hospital and went and looked at the two huge salt water tanks in the front lobby.

Surgery was scheduled for 1:00 pm. We waited with her while in preop. Met a new Lady Chaplin that came in and knelled by mom's bedside to hold hands and said a prayer together as a family. Once again things got a little emotional but our momma is the strongest women ever in this world. When we thought they had taken mom back for surgery we went for lunch and just to take a break . The power went out and the surgery had to be delayed. We waited longer in preop, close to 2 1/2 hours. By policy no procedures could be done until complete power was restored and not running off generators. At 4:20 they finally took mom back to surgery and it wasn't long we were being called back to see her in recovery . After more care instructions for the evening I began to get momma dressed, put her in wheelchair and we were headed out the door . After helping her to the restroom she says to me she's in a lot of pain . Before We drove am hour home I wanted to walk her back down to surgery to ask a doctor if the pain was normal and if so what can we give her. As soon as we made it into the lobby of surgery mom began feeling sick. She continued to get sick and there was blood. A nurse came to help and they checked everything out and mom seemed to just be having a reaction from the anesthesia . She hasn't been able to eat all day and was still instructed not to eat until the following morning . The car ride home was a little rough, mom was sore and just felt awful. Getting her home we put her in her bed and comfortable where she slept all night .


Charm choice is a silver star fish since she loves the saltwater tanks so much.

Day 6 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Monday, May 12th 2014

It's day six at Cancer Treatment Centers of America and we have had a full schedule today!  First on the list was Pulse Oximetry, Pulmonary Function Test and Echo Cardiogram. Mom's breathing and Oxygen Levels were great so we felt pretty positive about the rest of the day.  It has definitely been a blessing to have two days of uplifting news.

The next appointment on our schedule was to meet with mom's Medical Oncologist, Dr. McKnight. We really feel good about having Dr. McKnight on mom's team.  He explained the fact that we are not going to take it one piece at a time and wait to see what happens.  He said again that we are going to attack the cancer full force with the chemo and radiation running concurrently. We at length about what to expect with the type of chemotherapy that he believes is the best for mom and the fact that she had lost four pounds within the last week.  We knew the weight loss was because mom hasn't been able to eat the foods she normally would eat due to her oral surgery.  She ate plenty during the week but nothing solid. She had gained five pounds prior to the oral surgery so we, the family, were not too concerned with the weight loss. Dr. McKnight explained the possible need for a PEG/Feeding Tube during her plan of treatment. The PEG was something we knew could be a possibility after meeting with mom's team prior to today but still it was a shock to mom. Dr. McKnight gave me some very important questions the he wanted me to ask during mom's Gastroenterology Consultation that was scheduled for later today at 2:00 pm.

"Every patient and every family member deserves to leave a consultation with the hope that treatment will make them better rather than worse. They also deserve to feel confident they will be treated with respect and compassion through one of the most challenging journeys of their lives."     

- John E. McKnight, MD, MBA

We met with Amy Jones, Clinical Oncology Dietitian, and spoke about mom's nutritional needs during radiation therapy.  Ms. Jones stated that during mom's treatment she will need approximately four feedings a day through PEG Tube and other ways to keep her nutrition level up.  During the radiation treatment plan it is expected that at some point mom will probably be unable to eat normally.  Also while she is going through chemotherapy her body will be burning twice as much energy than normally so the caloric intake needs to double.  After meeting with Ms. Jones it was time for mom's Naturopathy Consultation with Edra Spevack, mom's Naturopathic Oncology Provider.  Mom has been experiencing some nausea and vomiting on occasion so Ms. Spevack suggested instead of opening the Thorne Meriva Curcumin and adding to water in order to swish and swallow, just take the capsules normally.  Magnesium Citrate supplements were added to her list of supplements due to her magnesium levels being low.

The last appointment on the schedule today was with the Gastroenterology Department.  We met with Olivia Burks, Nurse Practitioner.  We discussed mom's nutrition level, muscle mass and over all weight.  Ms. Burks explained in detail that it would be in our best interest to go ahead and schedule the PEG Tube procedure and mom wasn't too happy about that.  Mom said that she was eating just fine and once her throat became sore then she would consider the procedure. Ms. Burks explained to mom that once Chemotherapy and Radiation starts she may not be able to handle the procedure and it would be best to go ahead now and have it done.  Mom agreed and the procedure was scheduled for the following day.  Even though mom has been eating pretty well aside from the oral surgery, we knew that this was the best option.  Ms. Burks also stated that mom should continue to eat naturally and once the time comes to use the feeding tube we would need to feed five times a day.  We are back at it again tomorrow with a full day's schedule!  It's alot of information to take in and each day can sometimes seem longer than the previous day but we really feel like we are truly making serious progress in this journey.  We can't thank Cancer Treatment Centers of America enough for taking wonderful care of our mom and not just her, our family as well!

Mom chose today's Charm of the Day, Silver with Teal Crystals.