Steve’s Story

Well, what we hoped wouldn’t happen…has happened. Yesterday, Steve’s blood pressure was so low and he was so dehydrated from the nausea, that his treatment plan had to be altered. Radiation has been postponed for at least one week, possibly two. (more…)

Yesterday wasn’t a good day. Steve went Sunday afternoon to have his chemo pump removed for this round of treatments. (more…)

Steve got his chemo pump. He wears the pump four days a week then he will get a radiation treatment. He had a radiation ‘test run’ where they did his body mold and markings. They make a silicon mold that leaves only the area to be irradiated exposed and they ‘tatoo’ a target for the radiation. I believe he has another ‘pre-treatment’ visit on Tueday. Then it will be the real thing. They have already given him a whole array of anti-nausea medication that will hopefully alieviate the worst of the symptoms.

Yesterday, Steve spent most of the afternoon having the pic line put in. This was to facilitate the Chemotherapy treatments which start today. I think this was a good decision. In my mother’s case they waited until they couldn’t find any good veins to use. With the strong drugs that are used in Chemotherapy, the veins become irritated and inflamed. Eventually, they more or less ‘go on strike’ and begin to spasm so much that they can’t find one they can put a needle into. By starting off with a line, they avoid this difficulty later one and there is less chance he will have to miss a treatment. It is easier on the patient. A lot of people say they don’t like Kaiser Permanente, but I’ve always received excellent care. I think, because they are a teaching hospital, you receive the newest treatments and they have the newest equipment.

Yesterday was a kind of ‘throw away day’. I was trying to stay away from the guys because I think I am coming down with a cold (or it might just be allergies) and I know if Steve catches it they won’t give him Chemotherapy. I just don’t want anything to prevent him from getting treatment.

Just spend running around, getting various things done that needed to be done. Taking care of the storage space, etc. Steve met with the radiation therapist and found out that the actual treatment will start next week, either Thursday or Friday. The treatments will hopefully shrink the tumor and therefore make him more comfortable. Keep your fingers crossed. I’m not sure what is up for tomorrow.

Today was paperwork day. Filling out and filing the necessary forms with Social Security, State Disability, County Support, the hospital and creditors. Fortunately, Steve’s employer is going to continue to pay his medical premiums. Bless him for that because most employers would drop these once he could no longer work. They certainly did in my mother’s case, they couldn’t drop her fast enough. Thankfully, Steve doesn’t have to worry about medical care.

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Woke up early this morning but the guys were already gone. I believe their plan was to drive up and play the Carmichael course today. I think they said they hadn’t played it before and wanted to check it out. They were going to stay up there tonight and hit another couple of courses (Sierra, Sacramento, Vacaville?) tomorrow. If anyone is from that area, drop by and play a couple of holes with them.

Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments will start next week. These are going to be a combination of In-office treatments (weekly), intravenous pump and in-office radiation. The Oncologist has stated that they will be employing “aggressive treatment”. The reaction to this has been ‘let’s play as much golf as we can while we can’.