First post:
Apr 15, 2013 Latest post:
May 24, 2018
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Steve has Stage IV Lung Cancer.
The story begins. . .Steve has Rheumatoid Arthritis, an autoimmune disease that allows the body to attack its own joints and organs.
In Dec., 2012 we suspected Lymphoma because of Steve's chronic fatigue, weight loss and use of immune suppressing drugs.
January 2013, he underwent a lymph node biopsy (thoracotomy, not arthroscopically) confirmed no Lymphoma.
Yet, major fatigue persisted.
By March 2013, he was sleeping 20 hours a day and confused. Tuesday, 3/19 white blood cell count at 37,000.
At DMC Huron Valley Hosp. ER, X-Rays showed right lung infected AND blood infection.
3/22/13 bronchoscopy to flush right lung; discovered blockage in airway. Biopsy confirmed Non-Small Cell Carcinoma = cancer.
Suggested treatment: surgically remove the lower 2/3 of his lung. He would not have survived the surgery.
Steve was put on vent because of mucous blocking his airway. He is VERY WEAK from the infection Actinomycosis; we postponed surgery.
4/4/13 we took him to Henry Ford Hospital, who concluded the same. Eventually was able to come off the ventilator and breathe on his own.
4/10/13 Steve must be stronger to survive surgery. He came home after several weeks at a specialty hospital to help him to walk again.
After visiting Oncologist, diagnosis: Stage 4 Lung Cancer . . incurable. We took a Bucket List trip to Disney World in July with all 4 grand-kids and Steve's daughters.
After returning, Steve started chemo & radiation treatments. Only palliative at first. He tolerated treatments pretty well and the cancer responded - shrinking.
MARCH 2014. . .
Steve has gone through several courses of chemo and radiation treatments since August 2013.
