Yvonne is resting comfortably in the emergency room at PeaceHealth hospital as of this writing. She woke with some chest pain, and the folks at her radiology appointment sent her on over to the ER. According to Dad, they're pretty certain it's not her heart, and she's currently getting a CAT scan to check for blood clots in her lungs (pulmonary embolism). I'll post an update when I hear more.
Update @ 7:18 pm: Yvonne has been sent home from the ER. The EKG, chest x-ray, and CAT scan were all negative for blood clots, so while they don't know what was causing her pain, it appears not to be immediately emergent, and they sent her home.
Support for Yvonne & Tom
subhead
Or, the Adventures of Chemo-Sabe and Tomto.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
What We Can Do to Help
The purpose of this blog is to connect our friends and family and create an active, loving, contributing network of support for Yvonne, Tom, and Steffi throughout Yvonne's cancer treatment. This is an extremely difficult time for their family, but we can help make it better. I have some ideas on how we can help.
Be vocal in your love and support. Let them know you are thinking of them. You could:
Be vocal in your love and support. Let them know you are thinking of them. You could:
- Call
- Send a text
- Send Yvonne a Facebook message
- Send a card (check these out--Yvonne, don't look!) or a letter
- Comment on this blog--they'll be checking it and it would be nice to see an active community here
- Clean house
- Help pack (don't know why they're packing? see this post)
- Make dinner
- Mow the lawn
- Do some laundry
- Drive Yvonne or Steffi to appointments
- Tell jokes
- Read aloud
- Stand on your head
Send money. No kidding, this is expensive: the cancer treatment itself, of course, but there are a lot of other new costs, too. You could contribute money for any of the following:
- Moving. I'd really really like to see us get these guys a moving service. They shouldn't be doing this right now. Can you help? (See this post for more about the move.)
- Gas. Round trip to the Cancer Center is 30 miles x 5 days a week x 7 weeks = over 1,000 extra miles.
- House cleaning. I have volunteered to send my wonderful cleaning lady over to do floors, bathrooms, etc. to save them the time and energy.
- Food. I have this notion of filling their freezer with easy-to-prepare meals and snacks that Yvonne will find appealing even when she's not feeling so hot.
- Prescriptions. There are a lot, and Medicare doesn't cover everything.
- Medical bills. According to this article, the average monthly cost of a brand-name cancer drug is $10,000. Medicare covers 75%. This is only chemo, not including 7 weeks of daily radiation treatments. You do the math.
A quick Google search revealed a couple of websites with other ideas about what we can do to help.
- Cancer + Careers has some great thoughts about sending written notes and more.
- Cancer.net has a great article including Do's and Don'ts about what to say, gift ideas, and more
- I love the "go ahead and do something" advice on GiveForward's list of five ways to support a cancer patient
- This HuffPo article repeats some of that advice with a fun tone
We have to pull together to make sure the Kenyon family knows we love them and we're there for them. Pick something and do it today, won't you? And then tomorrow. And then...You get the idea.
Thank you!
A Sense of Humor is So Important
Dad told me today to start calling Yvonne "The Lone Ranger."
So he can call her "Chemo-Sabe."
And he will be "Tom-to."
So he can call her "Chemo-Sabe."
And he will be "Tom-to."
By ABC Television (eBay front back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
When It Rains, It Pours: the Kenyons Are Moving
Some of you may not have heard the news: the Kenyon family is facing an imminent move. Great timing, huh?
On Monday, April 27, after they got home from a very long day (Yvonne's first day of chemotherapy and radiation), the landlady came to visit. She informed the folks that she's going through a divorce and will need to move into their house herself. She gave them a 30-day notice to move.
As of this writing (May 5), as far as I know, their destination is still being considered, but the fact remains that the Kenyon family must pack their belongings and vacate their home.
On Monday, April 27, after they got home from a very long day (Yvonne's first day of chemotherapy and radiation), the landlady came to visit. She informed the folks that she's going through a divorce and will need to move into their house herself. She gave them a 30-day notice to move.
As of this writing (May 5), as far as I know, their destination is still being considered, but the fact remains that the Kenyon family must pack their belongings and vacate their home.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Packing Begins
Yesterday I went over to Dad and Yvonne's house to help out for a bit. I had made a big batch of spaghetti sauce and some banana bread that morning, and I brought a gallon of sauce and a loaf of bread. I also cut lilacs from our tree and brought those.
On the way to Lynden, I stopped at the U-Haul store on the Guide Meridian and bought some moving boxes and some tape. I had promised to save the moving boxes they'd lent us last summer, but I didn't. I remember thinking, "They aren't moving any time soon." Hardy har har.
When I arrived, Yvonne was just settling in for a nap, and Dad was at the grocery store. (Steffi was rumored to be upstairs, although I didn't see her while I was there.)
Yvonne said she was feeling okay, but very tired; this was her third nap of the day. The more napping, the better, I say! I tucked her into bed and started in cleaning the kitchen. Dad soon got home and we unpacked the groceries, then had a glass of iced tea in the sun and talked about options for their impending relocation. Then we packed a set of china, and pretty soon it was almost seven and time for me to scoot home.
On the way to Lynden, I stopped at the U-Haul store on the Guide Meridian and bought some moving boxes and some tape. I had promised to save the moving boxes they'd lent us last summer, but I didn't. I remember thinking, "They aren't moving any time soon." Hardy har har.
When I arrived, Yvonne was just settling in for a nap, and Dad was at the grocery store. (Steffi was rumored to be upstairs, although I didn't see her while I was there.)
Yvonne said she was feeling okay, but very tired; this was her third nap of the day. The more napping, the better, I say! I tucked her into bed and started in cleaning the kitchen. Dad soon got home and we unpacked the groceries, then had a glass of iced tea in the sun and talked about options for their impending relocation. Then we packed a set of china, and pretty soon it was almost seven and time for me to scoot home.
Friday, May 1, 2015
The Indiscriminate Hugger
Yvonne sure needed a hug yesterday, and I felt bad that I couldn't be there--the first call from the Cancer Center asking me to come down there right away ("she's okay, but..."), and I was in Seattle for the day. But Dad hurried over.
Today, as the nurse, David, was changing the IV fluids, Yvonne told me what had happened when Dad arrived. "David came in and found me sitting in your dad's lap," she said, then turned to me conspiratorially: "I asked David, but he wouldn't let me."
The nurse took the teasing well. "You sure did need a hug," he said mildly.
"That's right, and I'll take one from anybody," Yvonne agreed. "I'm what you would call a cuddle slut."
Today, as the nurse, David, was changing the IV fluids, Yvonne told me what had happened when Dad arrived. "David came in and found me sitting in your dad's lap," she said, then turned to me conspiratorially: "I asked David, but he wouldn't let me."
The nurse took the teasing well. "You sure did need a hug," he said mildly.
"That's right, and I'll take one from anybody," Yvonne agreed. "I'm what you would call a cuddle slut."
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Meeting with the Medical Oncologist
From Yvonne's appointment with Dr. Kominsky, a medical
oncologist, on Wednesday, 4/15/15:
On the way in to the appointment, the nurse mentioned that Y
will need to remove shoes for every visit because the chemotherapy dosage is
determined based on weight.
We waited quite a long time for Dr. Kominsky, who finally
joined us and began the appointment with several "getting to know
you" questions, asking Y about her retirement, her kids, etc., and then
got into some family history and medical / "how are you feeling"
questions.
He mentioned that her condition is unusual because of the
size of the tumors but also because there are two of a similar size but that
they don't appear to be metastatic (my interpretation).
Adding chemotherapy to radiation treatment potentiates the
radiation, i.e., makes it stronger. (Later adds that chemo probably improves
the kill rate of the cancer by 5% to 10%.) He says "these cancers are
potentially curable. The cure rate isn't as good as with surgery for a cancer
this large." He describes cancer as one cell that's gone mad and has
forgotten how to die; it's cloning itself and dividing. "These are weeds
that tend to grow if you don't pull out every root."
He describes the treatment with radiation and chemo as
beating the cancer down and then continuing to attack it while it's down, and
this is why it's important to do the whole treatment cycle all at once, rather
than taking a break in the middle. He "recommends we treat optimally--if
you allow [the cancer] some recovery phase [treatment is] not as
successful." Says he'd rather treat it continuously (than allow Yvonne to
go on vacation in the middle of the course). She agrees this is the best course
of action.
He says it's not the standard of care to deliver this
therapy (I believe he means to give chemo during radiation) but that her
situation isn't standard.
Yvonne agrees that she will undertake the chemo at the same
time as radiation and will do the whole course all at once, postponing their
planned cruise.
Dr. K describes the process. She will receive chemo over the
first week and then again for another one-week course about halfway through the
7-week radiation course. The primary drug she will receive is cisplatin. It is
delivered via IV.
Side effects may include nausea (they will give her some
strong anti-nausea medication via IV at the same time, and also have prescribed
her some to take at home). There may be some hair loss, but not necessarily.
Sometimes sores in the mouth. There's a potential drop in blood count, they will
take labs every week to monitor. Sometimes diarrhea, they sometimes have to
hydrate patients via IV. Cisplatin causes kidney failure in less than 1% of
patients, and high-frequency hearing loss in 30%. Other side effects can
include ringing in the ear, hiccups, feeling like the ears are underwater, a
metallic taste in the mouth, "taste perversion" where you no longer
like foods you usually like, and fatigue.
Yvonne will also receive etoposide on alternating days with
the cisplatin. The delivery doesn't take as long for this drug.
Dr. K concludes the visit making sure Yvonne and we know
that this is tough, he knows it's tough, but "you can't make an omelet
without breaking some eggs." And he says "there is a significant
chance of cure."
Nurse Teresa comes in to talk to Yvonne about treatment and
scheduling. The first day will be very long because she will receive lots of
fluids, anti-nausea medicine, etc, plus both cisplatin and etoposide. Y should
wear comfortable clothes and can bring a snack or lunch. She will have access
to TV and a computer and can also bring a book or nap if she likes.
Yvonne will get a picc line inserted in her arm through
which the medicine, fluids, etc. will be delivered and blood will be
drawn--this means she won't have to keep getting "pokes" throughout
the course of treatment, but just the one time when this line is inserted. That
will be at the hospital on Thursday (this week). She should return to the
hospital Friday for a dressing change, and then subsequently the dressing will
just be changed once a week.
Cisplatin can cause you to lose magnesium and potassium;
they will check for that in the weekly blood draw and replenish via the picc
line if necessary; they will also rehydrate her via that line if necessary.
This can be helpful if she's feeling especially tired.
The chemo can cause constipation; Teresa recommends starting
Miralax the day treatment begins to get a handle on that. They can prescribe
her a sleep aid if necessary. Gatorade is a great way to keep yourself
hydrated.
Teresa or one of the other nurses are always available by
phone at 360/788-8211, Monday through Friday, 8-5.
Next steps: Yvonne will have "walk-through" of
radiation treatment on Monday (today). Get picc line on Thursday, dressing
change on Friday. First day of chemo and radiation on Monday, 4/27.
My notes:
My friend Bonnie suggests you ask for this anti-nausea
medication by name: Zophran. She says it's really good. She also recommends you
pop an anti-nausea pill in the car on the way home from treatment; that it is
important to stay ahead of it and not let the nausea creep up on you because
it's hard to make it go away once it's there.
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