September 19, 2008 Update

Gus had an appointment with a dermatologist Thursday, September 18th.  The red, angry looking spots on Gus' hands, arms, and the top of his head were pre-cancerous areas reacting to the 5-FU chemo drug.  The doctor conferred with the medical oncologist and they chose to deal with the spots.  The dermatologist spent over 30 minutes burning all the areas.  When I asked Gus how many spots, he replied "too many to count".   In the past, doctors used the 5-FU chemo drug for women with breast cancer and their skin would react the same way.   Also, 5-FU is usually the ointment prescribed by doctors for pre-cancerous spots and is just applied to the skin to kill the abnormal cells.  Partly what we are dealing with is the skin of a redhead that reacts to everything. 

 

Gus also now has a yeast infection under the dressing for the PIC line.  As discouraged as we get with all the opportunities right now, we are thankful for prescriptions that can kill that yeast and for the trained nurse that immediately realized what she was dealing with.  The area on his forearm was just beginning to itch. 

 

The radiology department is performing another CAT scan on Gus this coming Monday, September 22nd.  It is to determine the exact location of the tumor for when they confine the radiation to just the tumor and no longer the surrounding area.  Of course, you would love for this test to show that the tumor is greatly reduced in size and now operable, but only the tests done in Seattle can determine that.  The endoscopic ultrasound is the one that is invaluable for that diagnosis.  The preparation for the CAT scan is what takes the fun out it.  By my estimation, this will be Gus' fourth CAT scan and he knows the routine by heart.

 

Gus so enjoys the members of "His Dream Team" that drives him to Bozeman each day.  Each one has been so uplifting and fun to be with.  I had so many people volunteering to drive Gus that I have never needed to ask the same person a second time.  I do have a few drivers who wanted at least two days of driving Gus.  I have even had to turn some people down because of not enough days left for the daily radiation.   Like I mentioned before, as the cancer walk intensifies, so do the blessings.  We are overwhelmed with all the love.