Last night Mr. Fixit suffered what we suspect is his first sign of side effects. He had pain in his shin and his feet swelled and the veins were popping out. His feet looked like a body builder's muscles pumping iron. I suggested Tylenol and propping his feet up in bed. He said this morning it took about an hour for pain relief and the swelling was gone when he got up.
I should have asked the doctor what to do about the possible side effects. The only thing he said was to use a body lotion if a rash develops. Of course, all this stuff happens on the weekends.
Other than that, he is feeling great. Today he is going to help our older son paint some of his rentals.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Getting It Right
When we received the first week's supply of Mr. Fixit's medicine, the instructions from the pharmacist and written on the medicine container indicated that he should take four pills at a time. Then we received from another pharmacist in another state a month's supply. The instructions on the container was to take "four tablets a day." The instructions could be construed to mean to completely different things. If the first pharmacist was wrong and he was meant to take four tablets during the day, then it could be if he took them all at the same time, it could cause an overdose or some such thing. However, if the second instruction was followed to take four daily (that could mean one every 4 or 5 hours), it could diminish its effectiveness.
I called our local doctor's office this morning for clarification. The call was placed at 9:12 am. I received an answer at 10 am. Now that's the way it should be! Hooray, for them!
Tip of the Day: After the cancer diagnosis, a pad and pencil should be available at every phone in your house. It is important to note the time, the person you are speaking with and his/her phone number, and the information imparted. It may be necessary to know the exact information at a later time, or just to refresh your memory.
Mr. Fixit is trying to keep busy. He's feeling very well so far.
I called our local doctor's office this morning for clarification. The call was placed at 9:12 am. I received an answer at 10 am. Now that's the way it should be! Hooray, for them!
Tip of the Day: After the cancer diagnosis, a pad and pencil should be available at every phone in your house. It is important to note the time, the person you are speaking with and his/her phone number, and the information imparted. It may be necessary to know the exact information at a later time, or just to refresh your memory.
Mr. Fixit is trying to keep busy. He's feeling very well so far.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Intro to "Cancer 101"
Since December, 2013, my husband (Mr. Fixit) and I have been living with the spector of cancer. A large tumor was found in his kidney, and now the doctor say it present in both lungs. The last few months haven't been easy; I decided to write this journal so I could have a record of the progression, or the non-progression, of his disease.
I can only write from my own perspective. No one can know what's in another person's mind when he is facing what could be a tortuous path. I don't know his fears; I only know mine. I can't know his anger; I only know mine. I can't imagine what he's feeling at this time. My one hope is that the medication he has begun will stop the spread. The doctors seems optimistic.
It began December 20, 2013. He was complaining of back pain. He later developed nausea. That's when I suspected that he had a kidney stone. At the emergency room, a stone was found in the tube leading from the kidney to the bladder. They also found a large mass in his kidney. After a scan was done, a doctor came into the room where I was waiting. He had a big smile. I was sure at that moment there was nothing to worry about. He then said, "Your husband has cancer." He still had the big smile. Needless to say, I was not smiling. This was the first of several disturbing events since that night.
The kidney oncologist recommended removal of the kidney. As a preliminary step, a stent was placed around the stone. That was done December 24. He came home the same day. The removal of the kidney was planned for 2 weeks later, but it was postponed until the beginning of February because that was the first date available. During that time we had doctor visits, scans, lab tests, etc. It seemed like there was something to be done every day. That's not factual, but it seemed like it at the time.
During that time-frame there were several other little disturbing incidents. Happily, none of them could be lain at the feet of the doctors. Their staffs proved to be a little lax on the details, like sending us to a therapy session that was not necessary and side-stepping the truth when mistakes came up. It's call CYA. I don't care for it.
The kidney was removed and there was no spread in the abdomen. However, there was spread to the lungs. The doctors said that was the usual course of kidney cancer; it metastasizes to the lungs. Instead of chemotherapy, the doctor recommended an oral medication. The literature accompanying the medication described it as "chemotherapy." The doctor says that there was few side effects, but the literature suggests that all the side effects of regular chemo are possible.
He started his first dose today. So far, so good.
I can only write from my own perspective. No one can know what's in another person's mind when he is facing what could be a tortuous path. I don't know his fears; I only know mine. I can't know his anger; I only know mine. I can't imagine what he's feeling at this time. My one hope is that the medication he has begun will stop the spread. The doctors seems optimistic.
It began December 20, 2013. He was complaining of back pain. He later developed nausea. That's when I suspected that he had a kidney stone. At the emergency room, a stone was found in the tube leading from the kidney to the bladder. They also found a large mass in his kidney. After a scan was done, a doctor came into the room where I was waiting. He had a big smile. I was sure at that moment there was nothing to worry about. He then said, "Your husband has cancer." He still had the big smile. Needless to say, I was not smiling. This was the first of several disturbing events since that night.
The kidney oncologist recommended removal of the kidney. As a preliminary step, a stent was placed around the stone. That was done December 24. He came home the same day. The removal of the kidney was planned for 2 weeks later, but it was postponed until the beginning of February because that was the first date available. During that time we had doctor visits, scans, lab tests, etc. It seemed like there was something to be done every day. That's not factual, but it seemed like it at the time.
During that time-frame there were several other little disturbing incidents. Happily, none of them could be lain at the feet of the doctors. Their staffs proved to be a little lax on the details, like sending us to a therapy session that was not necessary and side-stepping the truth when mistakes came up. It's call CYA. I don't care for it.
The kidney was removed and there was no spread in the abdomen. However, there was spread to the lungs. The doctors said that was the usual course of kidney cancer; it metastasizes to the lungs. Instead of chemotherapy, the doctor recommended an oral medication. The literature accompanying the medication described it as "chemotherapy." The doctor says that there was few side effects, but the literature suggests that all the side effects of regular chemo are possible.
He started his first dose today. So far, so good.
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