Change of Plans

Today was our standard scheduled follow up appointment with Dr. # 4 prior to our least favorite activity to date...CHEMO. B and I had some pretty important questions that we have been waiting for answers for, and in our mind it was D Day. To start the Dr. asked how B was doing, and for the first time he actually told the Dr. "not good". Usually B tries to be so strong, and he is strong, but as I said in the last blog, B is not feeling good at all and he came clean.

There were several issues to address so lets began at the top of the list
A. The Lower Leg
The lower leg is a real problem, and we are back to sleepless nights and B being unable to get comfortable. It seems that Katie Perry has again entered the equation hot, cold, yes, no, and I am so over that song....time to move to a new track. So to address the issue Dr # 4 has ordered a MRI of B's entire right leg. Dr. # 4 said it would be exceptionally rare for B to have cancer in his lower leg, however the only way to rule this out is to do n MRI. Dr. # 4 actually suspects that the leg pain is related to the hip surgery, but time will tell. We also have an appointment scheduled with a new Orthopedic doc, who will review the images and we hope will get to the bottom of this issue.

B. The Genetic Test/ Where we are at with Treatment
We found out today that Dr. # 4 is changing B's chemo regimen. As it stands, actually as it always stood, Dr. # 4 felt that things were not adding up and he was never fully convinced that the lung was the source tumor. So we got the genetic test results back, and the test are pointing us in a new direction.....gastro intestinal, however we are cautious of putting this in writing because the genetic test % was so low. With the tumors being the same size, the genetic test results, and the look of the lung tumor, Dr. # 4 is cautious to classify B with stage 4 lung cancer, and said that we need to make a change. He did say that since B is not responding to the current chemo that he is a bit concerned, however that B looks pretty good. Whatever cancer B has, it is still stage 4 since it has spread to several different locations. B started this new chemo regimen today and it was really a kick in the gut and here is why.....B is now having chemo every 2 weeks for the next 6 months starting today. The only way things will change is that after his next 3 month scan the Dr. does not see some sign that the chemo is working......in which case we will change course again. B has to get a chemo port put in, and after every treatment he is hooked up to something that looks like a fanny pack. This is a medicine that has to run it's course 48 hours following chemo. Since B didn't have a port today they had to jam this thing into his arm and it was terrible. After the port is in, things will be much easier and pain free. I guess you could say that we both felt a bit shocked. The best I can describe is imagine running a marathon and getting to mile 22 and then having someone say to you that the marathon is in fact 44 miles long and you were only halfway there. And to think, you only trained for the 22 miles and you are left to wonder how you are ever going to finish that frickin race!!! It just seems like the road keeps getting longer and longer, and I know we are both wondering why!?! B has so many appointments and tests we may as well get a room at the cancer center...it is ridiculous!!!!!!! Not to mention he started radiation this week and it runs for the next 3 weeks, right with the Chemo. This just sucks plain and simple.

C. The Neck
B is still having terrible neck pain. He moves his head from side to side like he has terrible whip lash. Drivers beware!!!! It takes B so long to look in his blind spot due to these stupid neck lesions, I would tell you all to change lanes if you see him on the road in our new Forester. It is our hope that the radiation helps this issue but we are not sure....too early to tell. However there is a chance that B is going to get some pretty good burns and blisters on his neck.....awesome right? I just don't know how he does it, but both our hearts are broken right now.

I really wish I had better news to report but I am just being raw with all of you. No sense in painting a pretty image when the truth is B and my plate are more than full right now.