Joe is still in the German Home and is improving. He has physical therapy, speech therapy, etc. on a daily basis. He is currently in a private room because his white blood cells were so low. The blood counts have improved and, luckily, he is still in a private room. And getting stronger every day. Today was a scheduled chemo treatment day. The chemo was cancelled but the oncologist wanted to see Joe. So John and I brought him to the doctor. Dr. Jackman indicated Joe was beaten up by the chemo and the radiation and is currently pretty weak with low energy. Although the radiation made the mass in the chest area a bit smaller, the tumor on the adrenal got larger. If the chemo had worked, the tumor on the adrenal would not have gotten larger. Even though the tumor on the adrenal is growing, the doctor indicated it's not an immediate threat. So, after 2 cycles, this particular chemo protocol did not work. Dr. Jackman indicated they could do something different but that 3 things are of concern: will it work?, can Joe handle it?, and does Joe want to try something different (a different chemo). Doctor also indicated that sometimes when a person is away from chemo and radiation, folks get better. The Doctor worries that if Joe is given some other chemo, it may not work and the chances of it working are not high. Have to take quality of life into account. Doctor indicated he doesn't know if will work and he's not sure if Joe can handle it. But what does Joe want to do? After the initial chemo beat up Joe, does Joe want to focus on quality of life or, if Joe gets stronger, try another chemo. Joe wants to go for it. He wants to get stronger and try another chemo. So starting tomorrow, Joe will start taking steroids to give him more energy, more appetite (he's on a feeding pump), and maybe improve his breathing. This could bring him closer to trying a different form of chemo. If he doesn't get stronger, or if he gets the chemo and it doesn't work, then the Doctor indicated we have to consider that chemo is not an option any more.
Joe has an appointment on November 24th and, if he's strong enough, he will have the chemo that day. It's also possible if he's not strong enough, we may re-schedule the appointment for the following week. I talked to Dr. Jackman about the difference in this chemo vs. the previous chemo he had. The previous chemo was made up of 2 "cocktails" (one first and when it was finished, the second one) and it was at least a 4 hour process (not including the blood work, meeting with the doct, etc). . The doctor indicated they try to start with the chemo that has the best chance of working. The first didn't work, doesn't mean this next one won't work, or that one was better than the other. It's just different. However this treatment has a much shorter infusion time: it's 15 minutes. He will go in once a week for 2 weeks, then have a week off. I asked how long this would go on, and the Doctor indicated as long as it's working and/or Joe can tolerate the treatment. That's the oncology report.
As for the rehab at the German Home, Joe is getting stronger and he WANTS TO COME HOME (did I say that loud enough?). Although the staff there indicated they review patients every 2-3 weeks, they also indicated it is family driven. If Joan feels that Joe is strong enough, she can request he come home. If the staff feels he will be safe....then they will release Joe. If he does come home, the German Home will work with Dr. Jackman's office on the transition and get the visiting nurse and therapists back on schedule to visit Joe at home. The way it looks now, after talking to Joan today, might start pushing that button the middle of next week, assuming Joe continues to get stronger!
The picture on the side was this morning (probably around 8:00am). He was already to go to his doctors appointment! All week he was looking forward to escaping this joint and heading to the doctors!!
Joe wore his Elwood Strong sweatshirt and hat into Dana Farber today. Dr. Jackman thought it was pretty cool. Elwood Strong!!
Joe has an appointment on November 24th and, if he's strong enough, he will have the chemo that day. It's also possible if he's not strong enough, we may re-schedule the appointment for the following week. I talked to Dr. Jackman about the difference in this chemo vs. the previous chemo he had. The previous chemo was made up of 2 "cocktails" (one first and when it was finished, the second one) and it was at least a 4 hour process (not including the blood work, meeting with the doct, etc). . The doctor indicated they try to start with the chemo that has the best chance of working. The first didn't work, doesn't mean this next one won't work, or that one was better than the other. It's just different. However this treatment has a much shorter infusion time: it's 15 minutes. He will go in once a week for 2 weeks, then have a week off. I asked how long this would go on, and the Doctor indicated as long as it's working and/or Joe can tolerate the treatment. That's the oncology report.
As for the rehab at the German Home, Joe is getting stronger and he WANTS TO COME HOME (did I say that loud enough?). Although the staff there indicated they review patients every 2-3 weeks, they also indicated it is family driven. If Joan feels that Joe is strong enough, she can request he come home. If the staff feels he will be safe....then they will release Joe. If he does come home, the German Home will work with Dr. Jackman's office on the transition and get the visiting nurse and therapists back on schedule to visit Joe at home. The way it looks now, after talking to Joan today, might start pushing that button the middle of next week, assuming Joe continues to get stronger!
The picture on the side was this morning (probably around 8:00am). He was already to go to his doctors appointment! All week he was looking forward to escaping this joint and heading to the doctors!!
Joe wore his Elwood Strong sweatshirt and hat into Dana Farber today. Dr. Jackman thought it was pretty cool. Elwood Strong!!
