Steve’s Story

On March 9th, 2008, Steve Werner, long time UFOS member and avid sports fan, was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer. Today, March 18th, we learned that the tumor has spread and he is not considered a surgical candidate at this time. (more…)

Big thanks to Steve’s former co-workers at North Bay Landscape. They took up a collection and sent him a box of bucks! <–more–>I know he hated leaving that job. It’s hard to leave when you like the people you work with. So thank you guys!

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Today is Steve’s re-evaluation. They will evaluate the results from the previous radiation and chemotherapy rounds and decide what to do from here. Presently, tomorrow, Wednesday, is scheduled to be the last of the current round of radiation. He should have a period of rest now. He seems to be feeling ok, none of the horrendous side effects he had with the first chemotherapy attempt. He is tired, understandably, from the radiation, but he seems to be eating a bit better. Still some problems sleeping at night thought. He has to use the Morphine Sulphate at night for the discomfort. We will see what they say at today’s re-evaluation.

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Today was the third radiation treatment and Steve hasn’t had any side effects, so far. In fact, he’s been able to eat a little better which is just what we were hoping for. I turned off the lights for a minute, and he hasn’t started to glow in the dark yet. We were hoping to save a little on the electric bill but no luck yet. Maybe he’ll glow a little bit better next week. He has another radiation treatment on Monday, then it is chemotherapy time on the 29th. I’m not sure if he will have a radiation treatment that day or not.

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, 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.