Chemo's Over!!!

Tom finished his chemo a little over a week ago, but has been so wiped out I didn't want to update, for fear that he would need another trip to the hospital. We have avoided the hospital and Tom seems to be on the rebound. He has had to go to Dr. Tucker's office every day this week to get neupogen injections to increase his white blood count. We'll go back on Monday to get his blood counts and tumor markers checked and then go across the hall to get a CT scan. All of which will hopefully help us plan for surgery in a couple weeks.
Tom is feeling a lot better, and even ran a couple errands with me (he stayed in the car), I think it was the most he has been out of the house in a LONG time. He is still anemic and gets really tired, even just walking across the house (not that we have a large house at all). He's really getting better every day, and that is very encouraging to see.
Will keep you posted.
MB

Almost there

Well, it’s again been awhile since I updated on the Greenways, but here we go.
10/27 was scheduled to be Tom’s first day of his last round of chemo, but his white blood count, was too low. So they gave him a shot (Neupogen?)to increase it. He got it Monday and Tuesday when he got his weekly treatment. When he got home Tuesday he started having chills (temp 98.8), he called the doctor and me, I came home from clinical (temp 101.3), then I took him to the doctor’s office (temp 103.3), and then he was admitted to the hospital (after almost passing out again). When we got to his room, his temp was 103.1 under his arm. That night the temp broke and he hasn’t had any temp since. While in the hospital (from Tuesday-Friday) he got IV antibiotics and a new PICC (big semi-permanent IV) because the oncologist thinks it was why he got a fever, but I have my own theories ;).
His surgery date has likely been postponed for a week, to give him more time to recover from this last bad week of chemo. So surgery will be sometime mid-December.
We are back home now and planning to start the last bad week on Monday. He’s feeling pretty good and walking around the house and stuff.
We appreciate all your prayers and kind words!
MB

3 down 6 to go!

Some have been asking for a new update, sorry. Things have been a little crazy here.

We have made it through round 1 (of 3) fairly well I think. The weekend after week 1, Tom got dehydrated and passed out once and tried to several other times. After a quick (read: ambulance) trip to the hospital and 2 days later he was much better and got his second week's dose on the way home. This dose caused him to spike a 103.9 fever Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. All of that is much better now and he has finished up this first round and is feeling ok. A little nauseous,a good bit of fatigue, and a little thrush, but sitting up working on stuff for the church finance office (cause you cant keep a good auditor down).

I took last week off of clinical to deal with all his craziness, but have gone back this week for my last week at this rotation. Boy, time flies when you are having so much fun... (?) I have actually enjoyed this rotation when I have actually been there and haven't been worried about Tom. Next week I start a rotation in Gadsden which hopefully I will be able to work 3, 12 hour shifts a week and be at home more.

Again we cannot express how grateful we are to all of you for your support, prayers, emails, texts, hugs, warm wishes, food, flowers, candy bouquets, etc.

MB

One week down...

Well the first week of chemo is under our belt. He has done great. Very little nausea, a lot of fatigue. He gets really tired, especially in the evening and he's just not as sharp as he is normally.
These next two weeks will be "light" weeks, he only has to go on Mondays for about 30 minutes. (A lot less than the 4-6 hours he has spent there every day this week.)

Thank you so much for your prayers and words of encouragement.

MB

Update

Sorry, it has been awhile since I have sent an update. Tom is feeling a lot better from his surgery. He will start chemo either tomorrow or next Monday (we will find out in the morning). His chemo will be 3 rounds of 3 weeks each. Week 1 of each round will be the roughest with chemo for 3-6 hours Monday-Friday, then weeks 2 & 3 will be one treatment about 1 hour on Mondays. After his three rounds we will wait 3-4 weeks to let him recover before surgery to remove what is left of the tumor in his back and other surrounding lymph nodes.

Thanks again for all your prayers and concern,
MB

So we didn't hear on Thursday

but at least we didn't have to wait the whole weekend again. The preliminary pathology report came back today and Dr. Bragg gave us a call late this afternoon(actually I was still at clinical making up the time I had missed). It was testicular cancer, immature keratoma, which we will treat as we had anticipated, with a few (2-3) rounds of chemo and the big abdominal surgery (lymph node dissection) to remove whatever is left (after chemo) of the mass in his back, and whatever surrounding lymph nodes may have been affected.
Tom is really doing well, he has only had 1 lortab today and has been sitting up and doing more.
Thanks again for all the support and prayers.
MB

Surgery is over!

At least for now...

Tom is out of surgery, home and doing pretty well. We should get a pathology report back tomorrow sometime.