Today went pretty good. I got there at 10:00am and had bloodwork, then went up to the fourth floor and was examined by my oncologist and he looked over my bloodwork results. He thought that my right side looked a little "puffy" and decided to not take the strips off the port yet.
Then I went into one of the three infusion rooms and I'm glad that I wore long pants and a long sleeved shirt (even on this summer day). One of the oncology nurses took me aside and inserted the needle into the mediport. It pinched a little, actually a lot! She suggested I use a mixture of Lidocaine/Prilocaine 2.5% each and I picked up the presciption on my way home. I'll use the numbing mixture in 14 days when I begin the second treatment session.
Other than that, things went very well. First I was given a double drip IV of two anti-nausea meds, (Aloxi and Decadron), which took about an hour or so. After that I was given another double IV drip of chemo drugs (Oxaliplatin and Leucovorin) for about two hours. I was able to eat a little food and felt okay after this was done.
Lastly, the gave me a short injection via IV of 5-FU (Fluorouracil) and "hooked me up" to a pump of the 5-FU which will continually inject me for 22 hours. I really don't feel too bad right now aside from a little fatigue, but will have a nap and watch the MLB All-Star Game tonight. I'm picking the American League to win!
Stay tuned as things progress...day 2 starts at 10:30am tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Mediport Surgery
I was a little surprised to find out that my surgeon wouldn't be doing the mediport implant, but rather a trained radiologist. I believe that the proper title is an interventional radiologist.
At any rate, it was about a 90 minute procedure where I received two incisions. One was a small one where the catheter (tube) connects to a vein near my collarbone and the other was in my upper right chest where they put in a Bard dual chestport.
I have to keep a Medical Alert card with me now that explains that I have this implanted port with catheter in me. It gives the product code, lot number, where located, date of implant and three procedures for flushing/cleaning depending on the use of it. It can only be accessed with non-coring needles.
So, at this point, I'm ready to begin chemotherapy in on July 15th and I'll update this as I go along or have my wife write some of the updates.
At any rate, it was about a 90 minute procedure where I received two incisions. One was a small one where the catheter (tube) connects to a vein near my collarbone and the other was in my upper right chest where they put in a Bard dual chestport.
I have to keep a Medical Alert card with me now that explains that I have this implanted port with catheter in me. It gives the product code, lot number, where located, date of implant and three procedures for flushing/cleaning depending on the use of it. It can only be accessed with non-coring needles.
So, at this point, I'm ready to begin chemotherapy in on July 15th and I'll update this as I go along or have my wife write some of the updates.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Oncologist
About a week after being discharged from the hospital, I returned to the surgeon's office and had the staples removed. We then talked about oncologists and I was referred to the chief of oncology at a nearby, hospital-affiliated clinic.
I met with the oncologist and was told about the diagnosis and treatment which he strongly recommended. I was also examined and had many questions answered.
My diagnosis was stage 3 colon cancer and the plan was to hit me hard for six months with chemotherapy. He told me that the surgeon had removed the malignant tumor and twenty six lymph nodes, of which only three had cancer cells in them, but because it had spread that far, I was staged as a 3.
The treatment plan is a curative one and is called "Folfox". It consists of Oxaliplatin, Leucovorin and 5-FU. He also said that I should have a "mediport" implant which would save me from a lot of needle pokes in my arms. An appointment was made for a "chemo training session" and the chestport surgery.
I met with the oncologist and was told about the diagnosis and treatment which he strongly recommended. I was also examined and had many questions answered.
My diagnosis was stage 3 colon cancer and the plan was to hit me hard for six months with chemotherapy. He told me that the surgeon had removed the malignant tumor and twenty six lymph nodes, of which only three had cancer cells in them, but because it had spread that far, I was staged as a 3.
The treatment plan is a curative one and is called "Folfox". It consists of Oxaliplatin, Leucovorin and 5-FU. He also said that I should have a "mediport" implant which would save me from a lot of needle pokes in my arms. An appointment was made for a "chemo training session" and the chestport surgery.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Hospital Stay
The hospital stay started out with some problems. My left leg had gone numb from the ankle to my thigh, but I could wiggle my toes, as the nurses asked, so it wasn't until they tried to have me move a bit that I discovered that my leg was numb. They tried to reduce the dosage of epidural but it didn't help, so eventually the put me on a different pain med (Dilauded) with a pain pump.
This caused me to lose a day and a half in the recovery process, as I couldn't stand for two days. I also had a bladder tube and a tube in my nose and stomache. My surgeon was in to see me every morning and evening while I was in the hospital.
I eventually got up walking and pushing my IV stand around the corridors while holding a pillow against my abdomen (as it felt like my guts were going to fall out!). The hospital staff was very helpful during my stay but after four days, I really wanted to get out of there.
I had been on the IV and only ice chips after that, so it was a real treat to have some toast and juice on the fifth day for breakfast. Soon after I ate, my surgeon came in and asked me if I wanted to go home. I said that I did as long as he thought I was ready. he said that I've been walking, had bowel movements and had eaten and felt that I could be discharged.
My wife came and picked me up with a prescription for oxycodone and discharge instructions. One of the nurses had me sit in a wheelchair and took me to the pickup area. It was about 95 degrees outside, but I felt no pain.
This caused me to lose a day and a half in the recovery process, as I couldn't stand for two days. I also had a bladder tube and a tube in my nose and stomache. My surgeon was in to see me every morning and evening while I was in the hospital.
I eventually got up walking and pushing my IV stand around the corridors while holding a pillow against my abdomen (as it felt like my guts were going to fall out!). The hospital staff was very helpful during my stay but after four days, I really wanted to get out of there.
I had been on the IV and only ice chips after that, so it was a real treat to have some toast and juice on the fifth day for breakfast. Soon after I ate, my surgeon came in and asked me if I wanted to go home. I said that I did as long as he thought I was ready. he said that I've been walking, had bowel movements and had eaten and felt that I could be discharged.
My wife came and picked me up with a prescription for oxycodone and discharge instructions. One of the nurses had me sit in a wheelchair and took me to the pickup area. It was about 95 degrees outside, but I felt no pain.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Surgeon and Surgery
We met with the surgeon, who was highly recommended, and discussed my situation. It was agreed that the sooner the better. I had a date for the pre-op and surgery in a matter of a few days.
The pre-op seemed standard procedure (bloodwork, blood pressure, lots of questions, etc) I had to start the "cleansing" that same day (I had just done this for the colonoscopy about a week ago, so I knew the routine). I then got my pre-admission instructions for surgery.
The next day we arrived at the hospital at 9:00am and registered. I was then eventually moved into the pre-surgical area to be hooked up to IV and vital signs taken, etc.
The surgery began about 10:00am and lasted until 2:30PM. They were waking me up as they were moving me to a recovery room where I was held for another two hours. I had severe chills and some discomfort from an epidural I was given along with the anesthesia and was wrapped in warm blankets.
The surgeon was able to perform the resection and told me that everything went fine. I was admitted and moved into a hospital room a little while later.
The pre-op seemed standard procedure (bloodwork, blood pressure, lots of questions, etc) I had to start the "cleansing" that same day (I had just done this for the colonoscopy about a week ago, so I knew the routine). I then got my pre-admission instructions for surgery.
The next day we arrived at the hospital at 9:00am and registered. I was then eventually moved into the pre-surgical area to be hooked up to IV and vital signs taken, etc.
The surgery began about 10:00am and lasted until 2:30PM. They were waking me up as they were moving me to a recovery room where I was held for another two hours. I had severe chills and some discomfort from an epidural I was given along with the anesthesia and was wrapped in warm blankets.
The surgeon was able to perform the resection and told me that everything went fine. I was admitted and moved into a hospital room a little while later.
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