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 20 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Wednesday, June 4th 2014

Today is moms twentieth day here at Cancer Treatment Centers Of America. On our way to the center, we received a phone call from Radiation Oncology that they wanted to start earlier with mom so as soon as we checked in we were called back.

We started our day off in radiation and she has gained 2 pounds!  Mom now weighs 113 lbs.  We first met with Dr. Gullett, mom's Radiation Oncologist and Kathy McLaine, mom's Care Manager.  They checked mom's blood pressure and it was dangerously low yesterday but today it seems to be a little better. They are still very concerned with her numbers and how dehydrated she is starting to get so early into treatment.  We were instructed to work our way up by giving mom 30 syringes containing 60CCs of water through her feeding tube along with Gatorade mixed with water by mouth.  Also rinsing her mouth with warm salt water after each meal and before bedtime.  Dr. Gullett took a look at mom's mouth and throat and said things look to be improving . She doesn't like to use the word "better" because everything is red and irritated from the radiation.  As we were leaving mom's radiation checkup, mom went in for her daily radiation treatment and we went for lunch.

After we ate lunch, mom came out of radiation and straight into her speech therapy appointment and then onto physical therapy where a few more exercises were added her daily routine. 

Since our day started out way before scheduled we were way too early for mom's chemo appointment scheduled for 4:00pm so she was finally able to eat some lunch and take a small break.  Today we started a new type of chemo cocktail because the previous chemotherapy was effecting her hearing way too quickly!  The sessions only last 4 hours which also includes the the fluids.

Me and Mom had a little organic snack during chemo.
Anytime mom wants anything to eat is a good time.
The cafe here at CTCA is unbelievable

The Charm of the Day is a Silver Horseshoe with Crystals.

Day 19 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Tuesday, June 3rd 2014

First thing on the schedule today was a lab draw followed by the nurse assessment.  Mom's blood pressure was 65/41 and her weight is at 110 lbs.

Dr. McKnight stated her blood pressure was extremely low due to her being so dehydrated.  So now she must have fluids today and tomorrow in Quality of Life.  He is concerned that the Cisplatin could destroy her hearing permanently so the chemotherapy type is changing to Taxotere, Carboplatin along with Neupogen which is a biologic response modifier. Neupogen is used to stimulate the production of granulocytes , (a type of white blood cell) in patients undergoing therapy that will cause low white blood cell counts.


Mom is not taking in enough fluids.  Her appetite has greatly decreased due to the changes in her taste buds from having radiation therapy daily.  She has also been experiencing some nausea.  Edra Spevack, Naturopathy, ordered that mom take Zinc Lozenges to counteract her changes in her taste buds. Also she must get at least one to two liters of water daily. She also ordered a liquid supplement derived from Mushrooms called Maitake Gold to help support healthy bone marrow function and to increase white blood cells and platelets.

We had to really hurry to make mom's appointment with Radiation Oncology.  Her appointment was scheduled for 12:10, and we were running late. Mom "took" her Clover Honey, another raw honey from Barley and Vine and went back for her treatment.  

Infusion was last today and then we headed home!

The Charm of the Day

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 17 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Friday, May 30th 2014

We arrived today at Cancer Treatment Centers of America and there was a Staff Bash going on!  This must be one of the best places in the world to work!  It's obvious that CTCA really takes wonderful care of not just their patients but their staff as well!

Dad and I watched a tug of war between what must of been at least 25 employees on each side of the rope. There was a dunk tank, a photo booth and many other activities.  Cody was there too and a few other dogs.

Mom had speech therapy with Jennifer Cargile and forgot to bring her exercises log book.  Ms. Cargile said she was doing well with her exercises and to continue doing them daily as recommended.






After her appointment with her speech therapist it was onto radiation treatment prep followed by her seventh radiation treatment.

The Charm of the Day; Amber Triple Crystal Crown

Day 16 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Thursday, May 29th 2014

There's not very much to report today.  Luckily it was a light day for mom at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.  Mom just had radiation treatment prep followed by her sixth radiation treatment.  So far so good with the treatments!  We are making progress each and everyday at CTCA.

The Charm of the Day
and the start of the second bracelet.

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 14 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Tuesday, May 27th 2014

We had yesterday off for Memorial Day which was nice for mom to have three days of rest.  We were back today at Cancer Treatment Centers of America for just a couple of appointments.  Mom had her routine blood draw in order for CTCA to monitor everything that is going on in her body.  Her appointment was at 10:30, which only takes a few minutes, and then our next appointment on today's schedule was radiation prep and treatment at 1:55.  We were expecting a long wait in between appointments but we decided to go onto radiation early just to check in and see if there was an earlier slot available.  Luckily they were able to take her back at 11:15.

CONTINUUM SERIES
by Tommy Moss

                                                   

As soon as mom came out of radiation we had lunch together at the wonderful cafeteria and headed home! Another day closer to graduation day!

The Charm of the Day is the American Flag 

in honor of Memorial Day.

Day 13 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Friday, May 23rd 2014

Today was our 13th visit to CTCA and we started the day in infusion at 10:00.  During mom's infusion appointment, Ms.Clare Whitlock one of the Chaplains came and prayed with us for mom's healing. There's so much love and support here at Cancer Treatment Centers of America! 

Today's schedule was very tight with our appointments running back to back so the infusion and radiation appointments ended up overlapping.  

To make sure we weren't late for mom's radiation treatment, the nurse said that we could take the infusion machine with us to mom's radiation appointment.  We had to leave infusion with the drips to get to radiation on time.  While mom was in radiation I met with our scheduler Ms. Kellogg to get an updated schedule of mom's daily appointment which changes almost daily.

Dad and I were taking a look at the model for the expansion here at CTCA when we met a woman that has been here for 8 weeks. Her name was Mrs. Singleton and when mom came out of radiation, she prayed with us.  I felt a bit overwhelmed by the faith and support we all share here at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.  Mrs. Singleton said they were going home today which is in Texas!  Another success story!

We headed back up to infusion so that the tubes from mom's port could be removed and within minutes we were on our way home.  Today was another wonderful day of excellent treatment and care.

The Charm of the Day is Faith.  Because Faith is what binds us together and surrounds all of us at CTCA!

Day 12 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Thursday, May 22nd 2014

Today we had a packed schedule with many different appointments and doctors to see.  We started out with mom's port being accessed and blood drawn for the weekly lab work. The results came back a little less than positive.  We were told mom's kidney functions are getting worse and her Sodium and Magnesium levels were very low.  After the nurse checked mom's blood pressure and the reading was 81/50 there was some serious concern.  It was obvious that mom was very dehydrated and was not drinking the amount of fluids that was ordered by her team of doctors.  Dr. McKnight's nurse requested that we call Dr. Scott, the family doctor to discuss her blood pressure and the high blood pressure medications she has been taking for many years.  Being that mom is no longer a smoker, her high blood pressure medicine would need to be altered.

The Beam of Hope

"This beam was signed by people who have been touched by cancer, just like you.  They are patients, survivors and family members who made the journey you are now making and signed this beam as proff that hope is real.  We will accompany you on this journey and will share your passion, acknowledge your courage and celebrate your tenacity of spirit

Cancer Treatment Centers of America is your home for healing and hope."

Mom was originally prescribed a form of chemotherapy known as Cisplatinum and due to the effects on her hearing from her first chemo treatment Dr. McKnight and his team are planning to change it. Being that mom is having one of the side effects from the Cisplatinum, which is permanent hearing loss including complete deafness Dr. McKnight doesn't want to risk it.

Next on the schedule today was Radiation prep and treatment.  We only had minutes to get to that appointment.  Mom took 100 percent raw natural Wildflower Honey that she bought from Barley and Vine. She is supposed to take one tablespoon of honey and swish 15 minutes prior to the radiation treatment and 15 minutes following the treatment.  The honey soothes her throat and mouth from the radiation treatments.

The view of the bottom floor from Quality of Life

Next it was up to Quality of Life form mom to have Infusion for two and half hours due to dehydration.  She was getting extremely restless and impatient so it was nice to get done and go home.

The Charm of the Day; Sky Blue.