Day 42 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Tuesday, July 1st 2014

This morning on our way to Cancer Treatment Centers of America, mom's mouth and lips looked worse than they ever have.  They are continuously bleeding and she said she had another nose bleed this morning also.

First thing on mom's schedule was to have blood drawn and then to see Dr. Gullett at 10:00 a.m. When Dr. Gullett saw mom and us in the hallway, she took us straight into her office and started to look at mom and questioning how long she had been bleeding.  It was a bit alarming to meet with Dr. Gullett in her office instead of an exam room, we knew something major was about to happen.  You could see the concern in her as soon as she started talking to mom.  She immediately said she was going to admit mom into the hospital and explained why she thought this was the best way for her.  She said the chemotherapy is causing her red blood counts to drop to a low level which makes mom's body unable to form clots.  With the radiation attacking the tumors through her lips, she will continue to bleed.

Dr. Gullett wanted mom to be monitored around the clock to get her blood counts back up and to be able to form clots to stop the bleeding before we went forward with anymore chemotherapy or radiation.  Dr. Gullett said that mom has fought too hard and long and this was just another step in our journey.  We were aware things would get a lot worse before they would get better as almost everything in life.  As she said the words "admit you", you could see it in mom's face she was not only scared but also very upset.  We assured mom that she would never be alone.  It wasn't long before mom was put in a wheel chair and brought to her room.  The rooms here are more like huge hotel rooms and do not feel like a hospital room at all.  They ordered fluid therapy and pain management.  At around 3:30 pm, mom's temperature was taken and had a fever again of 101.9.  The nurse placed the leg sleeves on mom to prevent blood clots and started the Fentanyl patches for pain.  I spent the night with mom and she didn't sleep very much!

The Cross is the Charm of the Day

Day 21 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Thursday, June 5th 2014

Today we were back at it at CTCA for our 21st day.  Mom had her eleventh radiation treatment today and her mouth and throat are starting to get sore. She handled today's treatment with no problems. The raw natural honey really helps soothe her mouth and throat after radiation treatments; as well as the Magic Mouthwash which is a combination of three different medications. 

Yesterday my sister and I met a very young lady who also has been receiving radiation. Today, while walking my mom to her daily radiation treatment, the young lady walked with us.  Her name is Hope and today was her graduation day!  Hope is from South Carolina and has been receiving cancer treatments since October 2013, so she was thrilled that she was going home.  I waited for her to come out of treatment to join in her graduation ceremony and the ringing of the bell.  It was a great celebration and made me feel even more anxious for the day that mom graduates.

Normally, tomorrow would be the last day for the week but mom's schedule has been changed and now we have to come back on Saturday and Sunday for a Neupogen shot.

The Charm of the Day; Red Hearts

Day 18 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Monday, June 2nd 2014

Today was mom's eighth radiation treatment at 1:45 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America and so far everything seems to be going well. We have been informed that around the fourteenth radiation treatment mom's neck, mouth and throat will begin to get very sore.

Directly following radiation was mom's nurse assessment.  Everything went well!  We had to meet with Olivia Burks in Gastro to evaluate how mom is doing with the PEG Tube.  Ms. Burks directed mom to start drinking five cartons a day of ISOSOURCE.  So far mom has been maintaining her weight pretty well but in order to maintain her strength and nutrition levels she needs more of the formula each day.

Another great day at CTCA!

The Charm of the Day

Day 15 at Cancer Treatment Centers Of America

Wednesday, May 28th 2014

Today was a very easy day for mom but a very exciting day because "The Girls", (her grand daughters), were able to come to Cancer Treatment Centers of America for the first time and are now Meemaws new caregivers .

We started the morning out at CTCA with mom's radiation treatment and ended with a follow up appointment with Dr. Keith Kowal, ENT.  At her consultation Dr. Kowal wanted to check her hearing once again and mentioned having hearing aides added to her schedule . 

The Charm of the Day is Silver with Purple Crystals.
(Chosen by Kayleigh)

Today completes the first bracelet.

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.