Today Kathy had her first chemo treatment! The chemo is called FOLFIRI, where a round consists of 3 days of chemo followed by 11 days off. The first day consists of a 4 hour drip administered in the doctor's office. On the second day, chemo is administered at home through a pump. The pump is removed on the third day, and a shot administered. After two rounds of chemo, Kathy will be retested.
Kathy has been very weak and extremely nauseated (before the chemo), so her oncologist, Dr. Wendy Breyer (she was Jim's chemo doctor too!) was going to delay starting the chemo, until they found elevated CEA levels, and thought it best to not wait.
There was hope that Kathy would also be able to participate in a colon cancer trial with the Huntsman Institute, but she was disqualified when the KRAS test came back positive for an abnormality in the DNA that prevents the treatment from being effective.
Friday Jeannette flew down from Seattle to see Kathy, and help in any way she could. Jeannette is also an invaluable resource in cancer related treatments.
Last week, Friday February 27th, Kathy had a port surgically implanted, to make it easier to administer the chemo.
Kathy, we love you and think about you, and pray for you all the time!
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This blog has been created to help all of Kathy's friends and family keep in touch and stay updated, as she undergoes her latest... what should we call this? Adversity? Experience? Trial? ...Kathy, we want you to know our thoughts and prayers are with you & Larisa & Dad!
Message From Kathy, April 4, 2009
To my dear family and friends,
This diagnosis hit me like a speeding train from nowhere. I was not expecting this when I went to the Emergency Room. To say the least I have been quite overwhelmed. I am so thankful for all your well wishes and prayers. I am doing better each day and as Jim says, I'm keeping my toes pointed forward. I have chemo every other Wednesday and it wipes me out for about 4 days. Remarkably I still have my hair although it is starting to thin. Thank you again for all your words of encouragement it has helped more than you know. I love you all.
Love, Kathy
This diagnosis hit me like a speeding train from nowhere. I was not expecting this when I went to the Emergency Room. To say the least I have been quite overwhelmed. I am so thankful for all your well wishes and prayers. I am doing better each day and as Jim says, I'm keeping my toes pointed forward. I have chemo every other Wednesday and it wipes me out for about 4 days. Remarkably I still have my hair although it is starting to thin. Thank you again for all your words of encouragement it has helped more than you know. I love you all.
Love, Kathy
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Timeline of Events
Saturday 6/27/09 Second visit to ER for weakness. With the first visit, Kathy was given blood transfusions.
Monday 5/18/09 Chemo treatments recommenced.
Friday 5/1/09 Tests showed the chemo shrank the tumors by 25%. Kathy entered the hospital for a week to battle an infection. While there, a new port was surgically installed.
Monday 3/9/09 Folfiri chemo treatments began.
Friday 2/27/09 A port was surgically installed to ease administration of chemo.
Tuesday 2/17/09 Home from the hospital, Kathy is resting comfortably.
Monday 2/16/09 Kathy remains in the hospital, but is recovering well from the surgery.
Friday 2/13/09 During surgery, 30" of the small intestine is removed, and 10" of the colon.The doctor noted prolific cancer seeds in Kathy's abdominal cavity, small but visible, and3-4 main spots of cancer on the liver. The doctor felt it would take a specialist to work with the liver.
Thursday 2/12/09 The diagnosis: Stave IV colon cancer that has metastasized to the liver!
Wednesday 2/11/09 Another trip to ER. Tests.
Tuesday 2/10/09 Kathy was taken to ER, but released.
Monday 2/9/09 Kathy was experiencing a lot of stomach pain.
Monday 5/18/09 Chemo treatments recommenced.
Friday 5/1/09 Tests showed the chemo shrank the tumors by 25%. Kathy entered the hospital for a week to battle an infection. While there, a new port was surgically installed.
Monday 3/9/09 Folfiri chemo treatments began.
Friday 2/27/09 A port was surgically installed to ease administration of chemo.
Tuesday 2/17/09 Home from the hospital, Kathy is resting comfortably.
Monday 2/16/09 Kathy remains in the hospital, but is recovering well from the surgery.
Friday 2/13/09 During surgery, 30" of the small intestine is removed, and 10" of the colon.The doctor noted prolific cancer seeds in Kathy's abdominal cavity, small but visible, and3-4 main spots of cancer on the liver. The doctor felt it would take a specialist to work with the liver.
Thursday 2/12/09 The diagnosis: Stave IV colon cancer that has metastasized to the liver!
Wednesday 2/11/09 Another trip to ER. Tests.
Tuesday 2/10/09 Kathy was taken to ER, but released.
Monday 2/9/09 Kathy was experiencing a lot of stomach pain.
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Hang in there! I'm so sorry that you are going through this. We love you are praying for you, too. We'll check back often to get updates on you and Larissa.
ReplyDeleteKathy, I just heard what you are going through and I just want you to know that you are in my prayers. I know that we have only known each other briefly through school and work, but I want you to know that I will help you with anything you may need. Stay strong and feel better.
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