Happy St. Patrick's Day. My family had a little celebration on Sunday for St. Patrick, the Saint who brought Catholicism to Ireland, who is more notably remembered by drinking green beer and wearing green. My daughter had a girlfriend over, and my wife made the best corned beef, cabbage, and roasted carrots/potatoes. My daughter Maggie (age 9) made green colored cupcakes with buttercream frosting...home made ! I'm so proud of them both. My two boys and I did what the boys do, we ate the great food and then laid around. :)
l wish to extend many thanks to those who have provided food cards, gas cards, and other support for me and my family. Your blessings are wonderful. A special shout out goes to my patient and friend Bob Verrill for repairing two leaks in our roof at home and replacing metal-facia panels that blew off in recent wind storms. Thank you to all.
6th chemotherapy dose was Tues March 12th. It was the toughest yet! I was feeling beat up all week, into the weekend. Nausea was pervasive and I'm dealing with an intense cold-sensitivity, which is neuropathy (nerve damage) caused by one of the chemo drugs, oxaliplatin. Fatigue is accumulating too, so I'm feeling less and less like normal by the next chemo session. Good news though, we're half-way through chemo !
We completed 6 out of 12 chemo treatments! I feel like the medication is working and my cancer pain has all but gone away. I do not require any pain medication, just an occasional ibuprofen.
The next restaging scans are less than a month away at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota April16-17. I'll be gone from the office Apr 15-18 for travel and doctor visits. We see patients Tues Apr 16 (Dr Karmes covering) and Thurs Apr 18 (Dr Comstock covering) . I'm seeing patients Friday Apr 19th.
The plan remains for radiation therapy to start 2-4 weeks following the close of chemo (June 4th). Surgery should follow 4 weeks after radiation sometime in August. The Whipple-procedure is a major operation removing pancreas, gall bladder, portion of small intestine, portion of stomach, and many area lymph nodes. There is no bigger gastrointestinal surgery.
Dr. Aaron Karmes is covering the office in-person Tues of chemo weeks: March 26, Apr 9, 23, May 7, 21, and finally Jun 4.
Dr. Kevyn Comstock is covering the office in-person Thurs of chemo weeks: March 28, Apr 11, 25, May 9, 23, and Jun 6.
Thank you for following, for your support, your prayers and your positive energy.
Sincerest regards,
Adam L.