So what will Laurie's treatment look like?
In about a week or so, she will begin a regimen of 6 weeks of daily radiation doses at the hospital, and daily doses of chemo therapy - which is actually in pill form. Hah! Whodathunk?
To try and maintain any semblance of normalcy, we think the bext course of action will be to still have her live at home awe drive her to the hospital every day. We will figure it out.
Once the six months of radiation is compelted and they have zapped the perimeter of the tumor occupancy where they beleive it is possible some 3 still might live, Laurie will then get a month reprieve.
This will be an intensive time. Many of you have had friends who have undergone radiation, and it is hard on the body: vomiting, hair loss, weight loss, nausea, and so on. The chemo has its issues, but they seem fewer. Possible problems with blood counts is one of the main ones.
Once the radiation is over, chemo will be around for some time. A daily pill is not too hard. The doctors hope this will have a good effect; if for some reason remission seems to not be long lived, they apparently have options in their arsenal. And being a teaching hospital, these guys are aware of and are involved with the cutting edge stuff if needed.
So, for now we go with radiation and chemo, and have our sights set on a CURE! It may be unlikely, but anything is possible when your hope and faith is in the Lord!
Why else do you think they are called 'miracles'and not 'routines'.... ;)
In about a week or so, she will begin a regimen of 6 weeks of daily radiation doses at the hospital, and daily doses of chemo therapy - which is actually in pill form. Hah! Whodathunk?
To try and maintain any semblance of normalcy, we think the bext course of action will be to still have her live at home awe drive her to the hospital every day. We will figure it out.
Once the six months of radiation is compelted and they have zapped the perimeter of the tumor occupancy where they beleive it is possible some 3 still might live, Laurie will then get a month reprieve.
This will be an intensive time. Many of you have had friends who have undergone radiation, and it is hard on the body: vomiting, hair loss, weight loss, nausea, and so on. The chemo has its issues, but they seem fewer. Possible problems with blood counts is one of the main ones.
Once the radiation is over, chemo will be around for some time. A daily pill is not too hard. The doctors hope this will have a good effect; if for some reason remission seems to not be long lived, they apparently have options in their arsenal. And being a teaching hospital, these guys are aware of and are involved with the cutting edge stuff if needed.
So, for now we go with radiation and chemo, and have our sights set on a CURE! It may be unlikely, but anything is possible when your hope and faith is in the Lord!
Why else do you think they are called 'miracles'and not 'routines'.... ;)
Comments
What you are describing sounds eerily familiar to what the Neuro Oncologist went through with us. The frequency and intensity will vary by what the cancer is affecting its type; but the treatments - at least the first and main line of defense - would seem to be variations on the same theme.