Providence Cancer System

Jim had cancer surgery last week. He's doing well, in a lot of pain. The dr. is pleased with how well he's healing. We saw both the oncologist and surgeon this week. Right now Jim needs to heal and in March he'll have a PET scan. So until then we'll enjoy our life and try not to think about the "what if's".

When we got home from the dr. appts. this week, there was a phone message (from the Adult Family Home where my mom lives) saying mom isn't doing well. Once again she has an infection and pneumonia. I had to have a long talk and make a hard decision. Mom is 97 and isn't going to get any better. We decided it was best not to intervene. Once again it brings the truth home, "It's LIVING with cancer!" Life and all those things contained therein doesn't stop with the diagnosis of cancer. We have to continue on. . . celebrating birthdays, planning vacations, looking forward to the spring planting and ... making the hard decisions. Cancer isn't our lives - just a part of them.

I agree with you 100% on the topic of LIVING with cancer. My husband has a rare type of cancer and has been through 3 surgeries and several chemo treatments. We know his life has been shortened and even amid the daily illness he experiences we are both trying to just LIVE, LAUGH, and LOVE. I find it very challenging at times. I am looking for outside support and maybe this blog is it.

Susan, we've got to take all the WINS we can. Who knows, maybe somehow we'll actually win the game. We had good news today and I'm still boggled by it. Jim saw the surgeon. No more treatment is needed for this cancer. He'll just need to have perodic checks. He'll still have the PET Scan in March, but until then - WHOOPEE!! Maybe we can get away for a couple of days next month, or maybe cancer won't be that cloud hanging there in the background behind us.

Oh! And my Mom!! When I saw her Saturday I didn't think she'd be with us much longer. Today, after we returned home from the dr. appt., there was a call from the group home. Mom has rebounded AGAIN!! She was in her wheelchair, smiling and talking to the girls.

Yes. I believe in miracles.

Well, it's been a l;ong time since I posted. So much has happened. Mom passed away January 14th. She passed peacefully.

Jim has had considerable pain with his healing, but still the dr. is pleased with his progress. Jim has a urosteomy with a stent in his right kidney (a nephrostomy.), We spent Monday from Midnight to about 4 pm at the hospital (ER)His stent had come out, and because of the holiday, an IR team needed to brought in to replace it. All was completed successfully and JIm's been doing much better. He has a PET scan next week. Another hurdle. Stay tuned.

Jim had his PET Scan last week and received the outcome on Thursday. He begins infusions this next week. He has continued to have pain and is on medication and is dealing well with the update. We're committed to celebrating each day we have. After all, the good Lord has given us more days that we expected five years ago when he was first diagnosed.

My nephew is staying with us now and he's a big help. He, and I worked to prepare the garden on Friday. He was tilling and I was weeding around the asparagus. I over did and now am fragrant with Ben Gay. I know it's a relief to Jim that Robert is helping to put in the garden. We do love the fresh vegetables.

Well this aspect of our life is in the forefront, once again. Jim has had two rounds of chemo. He tolerates it pretty well, some nausea, but mostly no energy at all. He tires so quickly. I did a little work in the garden yesterday. He wanted to help, but couldn't. That aspect bothers him the most.

We're looking at about three months of treatment. Jim is tired of feeling sick all the time. His appetite is still good.
I try to cook whatever sounds good to him and add a twist or turn to increase the nutrient values.

Jim is planning a trip for us this summer. A long one - 3 -4 weeks. Once treatment is over, amd he's feeling up to it, we're off to explore America. It's someting we've talked about for several years and now we're going to do it.

Jim's cancer is now being treated as a chronic disease. What that means? Well, I guess we'll find out more as we go along. He's doing pretty well. He still has a full head of hair, his appetite is good. He has diminished energy, but that's to be expected. He had another bout in ER, a UTI. He started feeling chilled and then his temperature spiked. My thanks to Dr. Hayden, ER dr., Providence Centralia. He got to the bottom of the matter.

Jim really surprised me yesterday. He booked a trip to London/Scotland for us this July. It's a trip we've always wanted to take, but there was always some reason or another we couldn't do it. Well, now we are.

Lynn--
This is so great. What a wonderful gift for the both of you. Enjoy.

Jim completd another round of chemo last Thursday. He'll have a CT in September. Funny thing, we were watching TV and there was one of those TV ads by a law firm saying, "if you've taken ACTOS and have developed bladder cancer call us ... blah, blah, blah," Well, Jim does have bladder cancer, does take ACTOS, and we're trying to keep it from recurring. We'll be seeing his GP tomorrow with information in hand. His GP treats him for Type II diabetes, for which ACTOS is prescribed. We think this is probably a medicine that he needs to discontinue. Another Oops in the journey, but hopefully one we can benefit from and others too.

The trip to the UK was absolutely fantastic. We did so much walking and sightseeing. We're ready to go back. The last placed we stayed, in Edinburgh, was a converted girls boarding school run by the Archdiocese. The facility was wonderful, but definitely a little more "rustic." We walked up a spiral stair case and down several halls to get to our room. Jim had to really push himself to make it up the staircase. But, I could see him getting stronger with each day. By the time we left, he climbed those stairs with no pause.

I have not been on the blog for sometime now and I just read about your trip. That is fantastic. Our little trip to Soap Lake for 4 days was very good for our soul, but my husband's energy level did not hold up well and he got upset with himself for not being able to do what he used to. I think it really hit him that he will never be what he used to be and that is hard to watch. But I found other smaller distractions to keep his mind off of it.