Good Check-up

Today's check went well, Round 6 of chemo will begin on Monday, January 6. About 6 weeks later, another MRI will be done and the next piece of the plan put into place.

Round 5

Treatments are continuing as planned, so tonight is the last night of round 5.

The 5 days of Temodar do make Conan very tired. He also feels a bit nauseous, so he doesn't want to eat. And its hard to not feel tired when you aren't eating well. But by the middle of next week, we will expect him to start to come around again.

Mini-Vacation

Gretta & Conan came to Minnesota for 5 days as a post-chemo break.

Last dose of round 4 was Friday, Nov. 14. Saturday morning they headed to Iowa City: Gretta went to the football game and Conan slept at Jennifer's house. That night they drove north with Mike & I.

Conan slept or rested most of Sunday & Monday, but Gretta & I did a little shopping and made some Christmas treats. Wednesday we ran up to Minneapolis for a Timberwolves game.

I think they had a nice break from their routine. Conan isn't always sleeping well and he tends to drop a few pounds during the chemo, but he continues to amaze me with his overall healthiness throughout this process.

Further Shrinkage

The oncologist is pleased with the progress.

Gretta & Conan looked at the scans from today (they hadn't done that last time) and the oncologist pointed out where part of the tumor was removed during surgery, and what has shrunk since August's scan.

There is a chance chemo might extend past the original plan of January, but that will be addressed later.

Blood numbers were also good, so chemo starts again tonight.

Numbers up . . .

Chemo starts tonight; blood counts were better so he can start again.

He was more worn out after round 2 than after round 1, so they expect him to be a little more tired this time around, but he is tolerating the meds well.

Round 3 will wait until next week

Conan had blood work today and his platelet count was low, so the oncologist is delaying the next round of chemo for a week.

A low platelet count is a common side effect of chemotherapy. Chemo works by destroying cells that grow rapidly; cells in the bone marrow that generate platelets grow rapidly and so are at risk. There are drugs that can be used to help increase the platelet count, and that might be necessary for later months.

He has been rather fatigued the last couple of weeks, and the low platelets are likely part of the cause. His stomach is better, though still not to pre-cancer comfort levels.

Continue to keep Gretta & Conan in your prayers. We have watched them stand strong against many onslaughts. They have been very fortunate in Conan's ability to withstand his treatments: he has not been hospitalized at all since his surgery.

Derelict Blogger!

I haven't reported much lately, in part because there haven't been many changes recently.

Conan's blood work was good on Monday, so round 2 of chemo began on Tuesday.

His biggest complaint remains his stomach discomfort. He had an abdominal CT performed: it confirmed that his stomach is completely full of air, but no reason was found. He started a different med for his stomach, and got some reduction in his discomfort, but they are still looking for more relief.

First 5-Day Round Completed

The first of 6 planned sets of high dose Temodar treatments are complete. Conan again responded well, with no bouts of nausea. He started boys soccer practices this week in the midst of treatments and didn't miss a one! There will be some blood tests in the next three weeks to watch for and avoid infection.

We held a graveside service for Isabella yesterday. We miss her. Gretta has a follow-up appointment with her doctor this week and that will determine when she goes back to work.

Progress

Conan's appointments went well today. The tumor is smaller and is not pressing on his brain as much as before. He will have another scan in 2 to 3 months, and the doctors fully expect the tumor to continue shrinking.

He is to start the 6 4-week rotations of high dose temador tomorrow. It will still be in a pill form, and he can take it at home. The higher dosage will cause greater side effects (nausea among others).

Unfortunately our joy at a positive progress report was lost in our grief. Gretta went into premature labor on Friday. Their daughter Isabella Rose was stillborn on Sunday morning at 2:38 am. She weighed 8.5 ounces and was 8.75 inches long. Gretta & Conan were able to hold her and there was a short naming ceremony with a baptism. Physically, Gretta is healing well, and came home from the hospital Sunday afternoon. They have not finalized plans, but a short service will be held at the cemetery.

Straight Line Winds

Short update:

Monday morning (July 21) straight line winds knocked out the electricity for much of the Illinois Quad-Cities and surrounding area. Of course, Gretta & Conan lost power. Today (Friday, the 25) their house is one of about 8000 in Rock Island still without power. So if you sent an e-mail or tried to leave a message at the house, you will have to wait a bit longer for a response.

Conan is feeling well. He ran a soccer camp this month and took a short trip to Texas with a friend.

Gretta & the baby are doing well too. Gretta's clothes are getting a little snug, and the nausea she experienced has subsided.

PS: Power was restored on Saturday afternoon.

Some answers . . .

The radiation was scheduled for 34 treatments. And those 34 treatments are complete. It's neither good nor bad, it just is the step in the journey.

If you've ever watched a sci-fi movie about nuclear energy or nuclear war, you know that exposure to excess radiation damages cells. The radiation oncologist (and this is true of any cancer that receives radiation therapy) tries to harness that power to target malignant cells and at the same time reduce damage to healthy tissue. That's why Conan had to keep still during treatments. But its also why there is a point at which more radiation will do more harm than good.

As to the chemotherapy hiatus, by studying other patients through the ages, pharmaceutical companies establish patterns for distributing their medicines. The current protocol for Temodar is to treat with a low dose during radiation therapy and then increase the dose as I explained in my last post.

Radiation -- DONE

The radiation treatments are complete. The small dose chemotherapy is also done.

Conan had a bit of a letdown when the radiation finished -- a feeling that now he isn't actively fighting the tumor. And while he will not miss that daily round trip to Iowa City, it did help define his days.

The next big step will be the middle of August. There will be a CT scan and the big dose chemo will start. It will be the same medicine, still pill form, but a larger dose. The current plan is to have 6 sets of 1 week on, 3 weeks off.

The other big news in the lives of Conan and Gretta is that they are expecting a baby (due date January 2). They've heard the heartbeat and had an ultrasound about two weeks ago; Gretta and the baby are doing well.

Travel getting easier

Conan has 7 more treatments -- there will be 2 treatments on July 3. (6 hours apart)

For the most part he doesn't feel ill, but he doesn't feel good either. He is so thankful he hasn't been hospitalized since the surgery, but he gets frustrated because he doesn't feel good either.

The roads in and around Iowa City are opening up, but the two main routes from 80 to the hospital are still closed.

CAUTION: Water on Roadway

No medical changes, but there is travel information I thought you might be wondering about.

Sunday night Conan & Gretta drove to Iowa City via Burlington. It made the trip 3 times longer, but they arrived safe and dry. They stayed in Iowa City Sunday and Monday nights with Gretta's sister Jennifer.

I-80 opened back up on Monday afternoon, so Tuesday's drive home was normal. The bridge they used to cross the Mississippi at Burlington has since closed.

In Iowa City, the routes in and out of town are still extremely limited. Today is the first day the hospital is having non-essential staff and patients, so traffic will be unpleasant. The rest of the University is closed to students and staff all week.

They did see both the radiation oncologist and the medical oncologist on Monday and Conan had a plain MRI and a contrast MRI. As I had mentioned earlier, the doctors didn't expect to see much change on the MRI at this time. Everything is looking all right and so treatment will continue as planned.

Long Day

I don't usually post twice in one day, but I thought you should get an update.

Conan's trip today took 11 hours. He left Rock Island today at about 8:30 am with his friend Chris behind the wheel. It was about 11:30 when they got to University Hospitals. (usually an hour trip) They left the hospital at noon, but kept trying roads and then would have to turn back. (It sounds like many law enforcement officials tried to be helpful and offer alternate routes all day, but roads kept closing) Around 4:00 pm they were back to Iowa City to restart their detours. They are just now getting home at 7:30 pm.

Also, Conan & Gretta got water in the basement of their house during last night's storm. A number of helpers (Eric, Jim, Joseph and some others) came over and cleaned things out this afternoon. BIG THANK YOUS to them.

Water Water Everywhere

Conan did get to University Hospitals today for his radiation treatment but it was not without difficulty.

Travel to Iowa City was greatly hampered with the closure of the I-80 bridge over the Cedar River. The first alternate, Hwy 6 just south of I-80 was also closed, so they continued further south to 218, and then headed west to Iowa City.

Travel within Iowa City is a mess. (there is just no other way to describe it) There are only 2 bridges open to cross the Iowa River: the I-80 bridge and the Burlington Street bridge. The traffic jams are horrendous.

The staff at the hospital told him to call before he comes on Monday. Travel into Iowa City is now being discouraged.

Start, Reset, Continue

Conan's sinuses have been pretty bad this week. Yesterday and today during radiation, he moved, so the treatment halted. The radiation is very carefully aimed to minimize damage to the healthy cells. Getting him situated takes 10 to 20 minutes before treatment starts, so if he moves, it takes 10 minutes to reposition, and then the treatment continues. The radiation lasts for 10 minutes. If it stops, it restarts where it left off.

He is now on antibiotics for a sinus infection, so hopefully tomorrow will go better.

And by my calculations radiation is half over!

The route to the hospital has changed (and may have to change again) because of road closures due to Iowa City flooding, but the hospital is on top of the hill and is dry.

So, while we continue to pray for Conan's strength to defeat his tumor, let's also remember the many victims of this spring's thunderstorms and the battles they are fighting.

To and Fro

The higher temps and higher humidities (not to mention flooding & wild weather) are tough on Conan's sinuses, but he managed to keep still for treatment today. He expected to travel through big storms today, but the clouds parted and let him travel across I-80 in peace!

Also, a continued thank you to all the volunteer drivers. It helps out sooo much.

Busy Busy Weekend

Conan overdid it a bit this weekend, with graduation parties and Gretta's birthday gathering at her parents. He also played with his truck. (He called it cleaning, but I called it playing!) It was a fun weekend, about enjoying time with our loved ones, and we are thankful for that.

On Monday, he began to lose some hair at the site where the radiation is focused. Initially it was a bit of a shock, but he recovered quickly and on Tuesday afternoon he had his head shaved. He had been waiting for the incision to be a little more healed (there's still a bit of a scab line) before he got his hair cut again, but Tuesday was it!

Every Tuesday is an appointment with the radiation oncologist. Everything is proceeding according to plan. Conan & Gretta got a few questions answered:
1. Driving: Conan is clear to drive if he feels up to it. While he needs to be cautious and aware of fatigue, this is one more piece that makes him feel more like himself, and less like a patient.
2. Next MRI: There will be an MRI in a couple weeks, before the end of the radiation treatments. The oncologist stressed that they will not expect to see much reduction in the tumor's size at this time, but will be verifying the placement and targeting of the radiation treatments so far. Another MRI will be performed about 5 weeks after radiation ends.

A little more steroid tweaking (1 mg daily), but this battle continues without complications.

Week 2 is done

One more week down, 5 to go.

Conan was able to do his radiation treatment without valium today. He was pretty proud of himself! He listens to music during the treatment and has really settled into his routine.

He does think he is starting to feel some fatigue from the radiation, not a lot, but some.
Although you do not feel anything during a radiation treatment, the effects of radiation build gradually over time. Most patients have very few side effects at first; however, many experience fatigue as treatment continues. When other side effects occur, they are typically limited to the areas receiving treatment. - Caring4Cancer.com

But he also thinks the reduction of the steroid is allowing him to sleep better at night.

Blog Business

I changed some of the settings for the comments area. You no longer need a google id, or need to create one, to leave a comment.

You will need to type in a verification word; this helps prevent spam postings.

Any questions? vjbhawk@gmail.com Enjoy your weekend!

Nothing New to Report

Conan is feeling mostly fine: no headaches, no nausea. He considers himself fortunate in that his only problem at this point is some insomnia. Most nights he is waking around 2:30, and has trouble falling back to sleep. He has some daytime fatigue, but he is attributing that to the sleepless nights rather than the radiation.

As we wind up week 2 of radiation, no news is good news, and treatment is continuing without complications.

Week 2 Begins

At today's appointment, the steriod amounts were reduced again (2 mg per day). And starting Saturday, it will go to 2 mg every other day.

Things are going along steadily. Conan & Gretta were able to enjoy the Memorial Day weekend, spending time with friends, running errands, and doing chores around the house.

1 week down -- 6 to go!

Everything has gone smoothly this first week of radiation and chemotherapy, and Gretta & Conan are looking forward to the 3-day weekend.

If you want to volunteer to be a driver, drop me an e-mail at vjbhawk@gmail.com and I'll pass on your name and number. Otherwise, continue to pray for healing and give thanks that treatment has begun and is progressing smoothly.

Also, Monday June 2 is Gretta's 30th Birthday. Please send along your best wishes to her for a Happy Birthday!

Things going well . . .

Conan met with the radiation oncologist on Tuesday. The doctor said he had studied the biopsy and thinks he can categorize it as nearer grade 2 than grade 4 within the grade 3 spectrum. This is good news. Lower grade means slower growth, slower growth means a better chance for the radiation and chemotherapy to destroy more cells before they grow.

There have now been 4 radiation treatments, and Conan is starting to settle into a routine. He has had different drivers every day this week (thank you to all who have volunteered their time behind the wheel!!) and that helps keep the drive down I-80 a little less boring.

The radiation techs told him he is getting better every day at sitting still. He hasn't moved so much they have to halt the treatment, but sitting still is not his strong suit. :)

The steriods have started to cause some puffiness in his face, but otherwise he is feeling better than he expected. The docs have also lowered his steroid dose a bit too.

Is it the same as Senator Kennedy's?

The short answer is we don't know yet if Kennedy's is the same.

As you can imagine, we have viewed the recent news headlines involving Senator Kennedy much differently than we might have just 6 weeks ago.

Here's what I know:

Kennedy’s tumor has been diagnosed as a glioma, so has Conan's. Kennedy only had a small incision and biopsy performed. Conan had a larger incision and a craniotomy.

But, glioma is not a specific type of cancer. It is a general category of brain tumor that includes astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, ependymomas and gliobastoma multiforme. They are named according to the specific type of brain cell affected. Gliomas can be high-grade, which are more dangerous, or low-grade, which are often slow-growing and require little or no treatment.

A glioblastoma is the most common brain tumor that affects adults. It is also the most rapidly growing malignant tumor of the brain, with the shortest survival rate. (from msnbc.com)

Conan’s tumor has been identified as an astrocytoma, which is a type of glioma. My father-in-law had a gliobastoma multiforme in 1991, also a type of glioma.

Like Conan did two weeks ago, Kennedy is now waiting for pathology reports to give doctors more information about the type of tumor. Conan's age and general health give him a definite edge over Kennedy. And when I hear the statistics journalists are throwing out with regard to Kennedy, it makes me cringe. But the stats take into account all grades of glioma tumors, all ages and all levels of general health. Conan has many more factors in his favor.

You can e-mail me with any questions you might have. I will try to find the answers.

Or if you want to leave a message for Gretta & Conan, use the comment link or send me the note and I will forward it.

Also please share the blog address with others that are interested in Conan's progress.

Radiation -- Day 2

Today was the second (of 34) radiation treatments.

Last week, the radiation oncology department fit a special pillow and, for lack of a better description, a face cage to keep him place for the radiation treatments. He also has a mouthpiece to wear that will sense if he moves.

The radiation treatment lasts about 10 minutes.

During the 7 weeks of radiation, Conan will also take Temodar. It is an oral pill, taken once per day and has a lower incidence of side effects than the many other types of chemotherapy.

He is also taking some steroids. (Corticosteroids are not the same as "anabolic steroids" used by body builders -- so no, he won't join the major leagues to hit the long ball!) So far, it seems to be the side effects of the steroid that are causing the most discomfort.

Please continue to pray for Conan & Gretta. Pray for healing and eradication of the tumor. Pray for their physical and mental strength as they engage in this battle. Also pray that they will feel God's love wrapped around them.

Here's How it Started

April 23: MRI that showed a brain tumor.

April 30: Surgery revealed a much more invasive and aggressive tumor than first suspected. One doctor described as like a plant with roots. The part of the tumor identified originally was outside the brain. But it turned out that was only the 'leaves' part of the tumor and that the 'roots' were into the brain, like roots into the soil. The underground portions of the weed (it's not a tree or a flower, but a noxious weed) couldn't be removed without huge concerns for causing brain damage. As much tumor, as judged by the surgeon, that was safe to remove was removed and sent for testing.

May 6: Pathology report indicated a grade 3, astrocytoma.

Through a series of doctor appointments in Moline and Iowa City, Gretta & Conan have decided to use the treatment offered at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. This is a serious tumor, but Conan is young and in good health, and the doctors believe they have caught it pretty early.