Today was a scheduled appointment for radiation planning in case surgery wasn't an option. We hadn't gotten the results of last Friday's functional MRI (fMRI) so off Bev and Kelly went to Emory this morning. Good thing they did, too! Since they were already there, they took the opportunity to ask about the fMRI and results, etc., and since our intrepid patient and her escort did that, they got to see the surgeon to find out that YES, surgery is an option!
Risks, benefits, recovery time, next steps - all were reviewed today and Bev has decided to go for it. Surgery will be next week sometime, the rest of this week will be spent doing preop testing and generally getting things planned out for surgery and convalescence. She'll definitely stay in the hospital for a few days after and then come home with lots of TLC and man-on-man coverage. A few weeks after that, the prep will start for radiation and chemo, and she'll go from there.
We're excited that it is going to happen, and we're eager for great outcomes, and to be able to get to the next step in this journey!
Once we have the specific date and time, we'll let everyone know so you can fire up your prayer chains, think majorly good thoughts, and cross your fingers and toes just for extra effect.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
The First Emory Visit - July 22
We'll start here: Today was a very good day. We had an amazing experience at Emory today, and that's good cause Bev's gonna be spending a lot of time there for the next few months!
We started with the visit to the Neurology Oncologist. (After a walking tour of the Emory Clinic, we finally found the right place but that happened more than once today, so we're kinda used to it at this point!). First hint that this is the right place for Bev - when they called her name, and all 6 of us stood up to go into to the appointment, they didn't even flinch. They're used to large groups, apparently. We prefer the term "posse" in case you're interested.
This physician confirmed much of what we already knew - the type of cancer, the treatment options, and so on. He also very patiently answered our many questions and described how the treatment will work. He talked with us about nutrition, supplements, driving restrictions - on and on. He helped us all decide that aggressive chemo and radiation is the only option for this (the survival rates without treatment are really awful). Then he went and got the Neuro Oncology Surgeon to come visit with us - and as it turns out, they believe that there is a possibility of doing surgery to remove a large part of the tumor. So here's the rundown...
This coming Friday, Bev will do a Functional MRI. This will help them decide if the tumor is fully involved in the part of her brain that controls speech, language processing, and her ability to paint (they said her right hand but we all know that means her painting hand). The Functional MRI will involve Bev having to read, count, move her fingers and all sorts of stuff while they're watching her brain light up.
Early next week, she'll get the results from this MRI. There are two possible outcomes:
1. Surgery IS an option: if this is the case, then after she gets the results, surgery will be scheduled as quickly as possible. After surgery, she would have to heal for 4 weeks before starting radiation and chemo.
2. Surgery IS NOT an option: if this is the case, then on Tuesday, Bev will go for her "Planning Session" to get her markers placed for radiation. She also gets her very own custom mask thing that will help hold her head in the same position every session of radiation. The following week, she'll start the radiation and chemo.
Radiation and chemo will go like this:
The chemotherapy is an oral drug that she will take every day for 6 weeks (42 days). The side effects are mild, and rumor has it, she'll even be keeping her hair! Yippee!!!! Radiation will be 5 days a week for 6 weeks at Emory Hospital. Each appointment will take about 30 minutes, so her commute back and forth each day will take about 4 times as long as the actual appointment. But that's ok, she gets free valet parking while she's doing radiation!!! (It's the little things, don'tcha know?).
The Radiation Oncologist spent at least an hour with all of us today, and he won the prize for Beverly's favorite doctor so far. He was very dear, and very kind, and made us all feel much better about the road ahead. He talked through every little detail of all of this until we could understand it, and that meant a tremendous amount to the whole family.
SO. Lots of info, lots to process, there are a million details not included here because it would take a week to write it all down and we're trying to get something out so that Beverly's adoring public can see how today went.
Next stop - Functional MRI, Friday!! We'll keep you posted!
We started with the visit to the Neurology Oncologist. (After a walking tour of the Emory Clinic, we finally found the right place but that happened more than once today, so we're kinda used to it at this point!). First hint that this is the right place for Bev - when they called her name, and all 6 of us stood up to go into to the appointment, they didn't even flinch. They're used to large groups, apparently. We prefer the term "posse" in case you're interested.
This physician confirmed much of what we already knew - the type of cancer, the treatment options, and so on. He also very patiently answered our many questions and described how the treatment will work. He talked with us about nutrition, supplements, driving restrictions - on and on. He helped us all decide that aggressive chemo and radiation is the only option for this (the survival rates without treatment are really awful). Then he went and got the Neuro Oncology Surgeon to come visit with us - and as it turns out, they believe that there is a possibility of doing surgery to remove a large part of the tumor. So here's the rundown...
This coming Friday, Bev will do a Functional MRI. This will help them decide if the tumor is fully involved in the part of her brain that controls speech, language processing, and her ability to paint (they said her right hand but we all know that means her painting hand). The Functional MRI will involve Bev having to read, count, move her fingers and all sorts of stuff while they're watching her brain light up.
Early next week, she'll get the results from this MRI. There are two possible outcomes:
1. Surgery IS an option: if this is the case, then after she gets the results, surgery will be scheduled as quickly as possible. After surgery, she would have to heal for 4 weeks before starting radiation and chemo.
2. Surgery IS NOT an option: if this is the case, then on Tuesday, Bev will go for her "Planning Session" to get her markers placed for radiation. She also gets her very own custom mask thing that will help hold her head in the same position every session of radiation. The following week, she'll start the radiation and chemo.
Radiation and chemo will go like this:
The chemotherapy is an oral drug that she will take every day for 6 weeks (42 days). The side effects are mild, and rumor has it, she'll even be keeping her hair! Yippee!!!! Radiation will be 5 days a week for 6 weeks at Emory Hospital. Each appointment will take about 30 minutes, so her commute back and forth each day will take about 4 times as long as the actual appointment. But that's ok, she gets free valet parking while she's doing radiation!!! (It's the little things, don'tcha know?).
The Radiation Oncologist spent at least an hour with all of us today, and he won the prize for Beverly's favorite doctor so far. He was very dear, and very kind, and made us all feel much better about the road ahead. He talked through every little detail of all of this until we could understand it, and that meant a tremendous amount to the whole family.
SO. Lots of info, lots to process, there are a million details not included here because it would take a week to write it all down and we're trying to get something out so that Beverly's adoring public can see how today went.
Next stop - Functional MRI, Friday!! We'll keep you posted!
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Emory Next Tuesday!
After much persistence, Kelly got Bev scheduled at Emory with a great doctor there at 9 on Tuesday! We're very excited to have the appointment and are eager to hear what he has to say. This particular physician is also a very big researcher on this kind of cancer, so that's exciting too.
So, Tuesday 9 a.m. Eastern - channel all your prayers and good thoughts and anything else you can think of to Beverly's doctor's office at Emory...
...and we'll keep you posted.
So, Tuesday 9 a.m. Eastern - channel all your prayers and good thoughts and anything else you can think of to Beverly's doctor's office at Emory...
...and we'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Doctor Visit and update - July 15
This morning, Bev went back to the doctor to get the staples from the biopsy removed. Seth and Sue accompanied her. The doctor was pleased with how good Bev looks (we all know she's a cutie!) and has reduced some of her medications based on such good progress. So, she no longer looks like she belongs in the Road Warrior movies!
We continue to wait (trying to be patient) for the referral to Emory. Kelly is on it, so we're pretty sure it will happen post haste. And when it does, we'll update here.
Please keep those prayers and good thoughts going!
We continue to wait (trying to be patient) for the referral to Emory. Kelly is on it, so we're pretty sure it will happen post haste. And when it does, we'll update here.
Please keep those prayers and good thoughts going!
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
The Beginning of Bev's Battle, and Blog
This is how we'll provide updates on Bev's diagnosis and treatment. This way, we can keep everyone up-to-date and not miss people as we try to call multiple folks every day with news. Check back often, and we'll keep you posted.
Now for today's news.
This morning, Bev was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer in her brain. It is in an area that makes it impossible to surgically remove it. Over the next days, she'll be reviewing treatment options with a radiation oncologist, oncologist, neurologist, and her family. And then she'll have some decisions to make on what path to choose.
What can you do for her? Well, you can pray for her to have the best doctors *ever*, the best outcomes possible, and to keep her chin up through it all. You can send her good thoughts and well wishes! You can check back here for regular updates and leave comments for her to read while she convalesces. You can be in her corner as she takes on this fight!
We'll keep you posted.
Now for today's news.
This morning, Bev was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer in her brain. It is in an area that makes it impossible to surgically remove it. Over the next days, she'll be reviewing treatment options with a radiation oncologist, oncologist, neurologist, and her family. And then she'll have some decisions to make on what path to choose.
What can you do for her? Well, you can pray for her to have the best doctors *ever*, the best outcomes possible, and to keep her chin up through it all. You can send her good thoughts and well wishes! You can check back here for regular updates and leave comments for her to read while she convalesces. You can be in her corner as she takes on this fight!
We'll keep you posted.
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