Halfway there!

We had the third chemo Friday and it was non-eventful. Our nutritionist stopped by and was encouraging with more ideas for adding fat into Jim's diet.  The big news is the 'after-party'.  We had the regular pre-chemo meeting with oncologist on Thursday.  Dr. Wong is on vacation so we met with Dr. deBruin.  Like Dr. Wong, she was very accessible and helpful.  We told her our biggest concern was the nausea, which was lasting almost the whole 3 weeks.  So she laid out a coverage plan, essentially, for 4 different meds, to help ensure that nausea never gets a chance to take hold.  This is where our project management and teacher planning skills come into play.  First I made a little chart, then I modified an AM/PM weekly pill holder to be a 14 hour pill holder!  And the new regime is working!  So far, so good!  

The past two times, by Sunday the nausea was overwhelming.  Today Jim has been doing chores and even left the house a couple times! He's cooking dinner now! Yay!  Too soon to call it, but it feels like we have turned a corner.

We also talked to Dr. deB. about getting Jim off pain meds.  James had such bad withdrawal symptoms when he stopped the Vicodin, that Dr, Wong had told him not to try to quit the morphine yet.  Now that time has passed, we have a plan to ease him off the morphine over the coming weeks.

Finally, Jim asked for a second opinion on surgical options.  Both docs agree that at this point in time, surgery is not feasible for Jim.  They feel that chemo is the best treatment as it gets all the cancer cells, not just the ones they can see.  She feels that the risks of surgery far outweigh the benefits at this time.  

The next step is a mid-point CT scan on the 23rd.  We'll get a picture of the impact of the big boy chemo next time we see Dr. Wong in three weeks.

Sorry we haven't posted as much.  We are getting into a routine with Sandra back to school.  Please know we appreciate all of your love, concern and support.