Changing Treatment Plan

Last week was an emotional time for us. The oncologist was more concerned with the CT scan results than we had realized. Gus met with a young PA for his appointment, so the oncologist came to the infusion room to visit with Gus.

The doctor had already changed Gus’ treatment regimen without discussing anything with us. We were not even aware the insurance had approved the new treatment plan.

Gus will no longer take the Xeloda chemo tablet. He now will be taking the Tarceva tablet. Gus will continue to have the weekly chemo infusions in Bozeman only now he has three weeks in a row before a week of rest. He also will take the tablet every day of the month with no break.

In the past, Gus always has low blood counts after the second infusion. I cannot imagine what the counts will be after a third infusion. Next Tuesday, the 27th, will be the first time starting with the new treatment plan. We are a little apprehensive about how Gus will tolerate something new.

Yesterday, I called the special pharmacy to set up payment and delivery instructions for the new chemo tablet. $12,816.00 was the amount they wanted to put on our credit card!! Even the person I was talking to was shocked. After my brain started functioning again, I realized they were sending a three months supply. I immediately requested only a 30 day supply for obvious reasons.

Gus is excited to see the month of May approaching. The reason is a four letter word starting with “G”. In fact, he won’t let the cancer center schedule him too far in advance for his appointments because everything must be fitted around his golfing. They are only too anxious to comply with their Poster Child’s wishes. That is no joke. He is known as their poster child there at the cancer center.

Through all the ups and downs of this walk, we still know that God is blessing us through it all. We cannot imagine going through this without our faith and our prayer warriors.

Test Results

Gus and I have avoided updating the blog until we knew results from tests. The first CA 19-9 that was done on March 16 was scary. The numbers had almost doubled in the three weeks of no treatment while we went to Mexico.

The CT scan done March 29th showed slight growth in the cancerous mass on the pancreas. Gus’ appetite had disappeared and he was at an all time low with his weight. Gus and I were doing our breathing techniques that we use when trying to control our fear . . . gulping in large amounts of oxygen.

Today we received the results of the CA 19-9 taken last Tuesday, April 6th. The number has dropped substantially. It has gone from 98 to 85. We were preparing ourselves for some bad news. Instead, we got good news. Gus just doesn’t feel well enough today to appreciate it.

Our oncologist is already making plans to change some of Gus’ meds in preparation for Gus getting worse. The hospital is presently checking to see if the insurance will cover a new med. It is Tarceva and there has been mixed results on its effectiveness. It is not your traditional chemo, but it is targeted therapy.

Gus’ appetite has improved in the last week and he has gained two pounds. Gus is back on the narcotic pain meds, though, because of the pain.

The surgeon was planning on putting the port in on the right side of Gus’ chest. He will not put a port in on the side where there has been a blood clot. The surgeon asked Gus as he was leaving the room if Gus was a hunter. You know Gus’ answer.

So the surgeon went against his own rules and put the port where the recoil of the gun can’t touch it. We so appreciated him even thinking of something so important to Gus. The port is working great. It has been used four times.

With all the negative events going on in Gus’ life, he must have decided to end things as painful as possible. The other day he smacked his shin with a hammer. Not just any hammer, but a sledge-hammer. His comment was if you’re going to hit yourself with a hammer, you want to use a big one.

Then last night, he attempted to cut off the end of one finger with his jigsaw. The big boy in this household is about to have his toys taken away.