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.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
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.
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.
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