Cancer and how it spreads...

As I have posted before, Ed's dad has cancer.  At first we thought that the lung cancer from last year had spread.  But evidently that is not the case.  Soon after the lung cancer was taken care of last year, Rich was diagnosed as a diabetic.  Little did we (or the doctors) know then, that he had developed pancreatic cancer.

So a year later, we all thought he was cancer free until a month or so ago, a blood clot loosen itself from his lungs and caused him to have a little mini stroke.  More and more testing revealed more and more bad news.  Spots on the liver turned to cancer, which we then found out was pancreatic cancer.

Some good news in all this, they check his stomach and lower GI tract and those areas are cancer free so far.  So no colostomy bag and he can still eat what he wants!

The following are parts of email updates from Karen:


April 28:
"The oncology department called yesterday requesting that we return a day earlier than what had been scheduled for additional tests.  This morning Rich is having his stomach scoped because they are concerned about possible tumors.  Rich has been extremely tired - now sleeping most of the day on and off.  After the tests this morning we will see the nurse practitioner, Erin, in oncology this afternoon to review the test results.

Rich was to begin chemotherapy tomorrow but the results today may change the type and frequency of his treatments, as well as when he will begin the process.  We will just have to wait for more information."


April 29:
"This morning we arrived by 6:30am and tests began at 7am on the lower GI and die cast CT so he will be back for more than 2 hours.  ASAP upon coming out he will want COFFEE and something to eat.  We see the doctor and nurse pracitioner at 1:30pm today.  They still have him scheduled for chemotherapy at 2:30pm today but will learn more at 1:30."


April 30:
"Well, as you all know when dealing with cancer it can be a roller coaster ride for all of us!  We were called by Mayo to return as soon as possible on Wednesday afternoon for early morning test on Thursday.  So packed and off we drove to Rochester.  On Thursday, as I shared, we received news from the upper GI tests that there was no cancer in his stomach or esophagus.  Early Friday morning, Rich went back, ALL cleaned out, for the die scans of the lower GI.  These tests revealed more of the story, his colon was clear but they found a tumor at the base of the pancreas.  Now, a new team of "GI" doctors were injected into the picture to evaluate the results of Rich's tests.  Rich has pancreatic cancer so that means that the tumors on his liver moved from the pancreas.  Rich does not have lung cancer.  Both teams, lung and GI specialists, confirmed that the surgeon of January 2010 did in fact get all of the tumor in his lung.  These doctors informed us that pancreatic cancer is the "silent cancer" and in Rich's case he has had it for about 6 to 9 months thus it has reached stage 4.

The chemotherapy treatments for this cancer is taken one day per week for three weeks in a row, then one week off.  Because of this schedule we will be doing the treatment as recommended by Mayo which is gemcitabine chemotherapy. The most fact is that Rich's tumor is located at the tail of the pancreas which means that we can explore surgery BUT we have to find out how large the tumor is before proceeding.  There are options to consider which is so important even though we know that pancreatic cancer is very serious.  We proceed with optimism and hope."


May 3:
"Yesterday, we received word from all the doctors; the Mayo GI specialists, our family doctor, local surgeon, and oncologist, that Rich's tumor is not operable.  At this time we are planning to go ahead with chemo treatments locally.  The Mayo Clinic doctors all recommended that he stay home for these treatments because he must go one day per week for three weeks then off the fourth week and he must reserve his energy to battle the cancer not for traveling 285 miles one way. The June Nylen Cancer Center of Sioux City will be utilizing the very same chemo that Mayo would have at their clinic.  Currently, these treatments will be indefinite but every two weeks there will be scans to see if the treatments are holding and/or making the tumors smaller.  Both teams will review the scans and if Mayo concludes that is beneficial to return then they will indicate that finding and we will head north again.

Rich is extremely tired each day and rests on and off throughout the day.  Currently, he is experiencing a little pain in the area of the pancreas but the doctors all say that is to be expected.

The sunshine and warmer temps have helped to lighten our spirits as we continue with hope down this road to battle Rich's pancreatic cancer.  Again, your many emails/texts of support and prayers means the world to the entire family."


May 4:
--After a phone call from Karen and Rich, we decided to go ahead and by plane tickets to go see them.  We will be heading to Sioux City, IA, May 13-23 and may return soon after.  They need all the support right now that they can get.  Ed will be able to work some remotely and I can continue my classes and job search from there.  Ebba will be staying at one of Ed's co-workers house while we are gone.--


May 5:
"When are you are coming?"


Although cancer is already serious by nature, you can see the escalating seriousness that has quickly followed in the last week or so.  


So that should get everyone up to speed about the situation and give you an idea of how we're all feeling.