Journal entry by Kristine Gorson —
Hi Family and Friends of Bill Pequigney. I thought it would be easier for everyone to create this site where I can post updates and news about what is happening with Bill over the next couple of months. I am going to start with his cancer story to this point and I will post whenever there is news or something either of us wants to share. THANK YOU to all of you for caring and supporting Bill through this and for your prayers, positive thoughts and good vibes...we will take them all!!
This past spring/summer Bill had nagging ear/throat pain. He went to his primary care Dr. and they gave him a course of antibiotics. The pain and discomfort did not go away. Bill even thought he could feel a lump deep in his neck. About 6 weeks later he went back to the Dr. with the same complaints. This time the Dr. felt the lump too and sent Bill to have a CT scan. He told him it was HIGHLY unlikely that this was cancer (that is what Bill had self diagnosed) but they would take a look. The CT scan came back positive...that was Sept. 24 or so. Later that week he went to an ENT in Greensboro who confirmed the diagnosis and sent him to a specialized ENT at Baptist Hosp. for a biopsy. The guy at Baptist was unable to get a biopsy that day as the lump was too deep and in a very difficult to reach place, so they scheduled surgery for Oct. 14 to get the biopsy. He then had a few more appointments such as a swallow study, EKG, and other various health tests to determine the course of action the team at Baptist would take and what kind of shape he was in physically as treatment can be grueling. On Nov. 6 we met with the team at Baptist. First we met the Radiologist and his intern. They were awesome! Dr. Hughes, the intern, really laid it all out and explained everything very well. It was determined that surgery would be very invasive and ultimately ineffective in Bills treatment. The cancer was already in lymph nodes on both sides and radiation is just much more effective for this type of cancer. They keep saying the goal is CURING it and they feel very confident that they will cure it and that Bill will be totally well and cancer free after all of this. Its gonna suck for a little while though... So, radiation will be Monday-Friday for 7 weeks. Bill went to Baptist on Nov. 11 to have a mask made for the radiation. they put this large white plastic mesh over your face and it is warmed up and melts to make an imprint of your face, neck, head, etc. There are holes for clips in it and they will use those to secure his head down on the table when they do the radiation. They also did a scan to determine EXACTLY where they want to shoot the radiation and made marks on the mask. They are able to target very specific areas, and hopefully spare other areas, such as the salivary glands. One of the big side effects of radiation in this area is loss of those glands and the dry mouth that comes as a result which can also cause tooth problems in addition to just discomfort. He also saw an oncologist dentist who made him fluoride trays that he will use to keep his teeth strong. He will use the trays every day, quite possibly forever. They also made trays to use while he is getting radiation to protect his teeth then. After we met with the radiologist, we met with the hematologist, the chemo doc.s. They were pretty great too! Radiation is the workhorse in Bills treatment, but chemo is going to help it along! Because he is healthy and strong, they are going to do only 3 heavy duty chemo treatments, rather than 9 lighter ones. Each treatment will be a triple dose of a nasty drug. He will probably feel crappy but they do put a lot of anti-nausea meds in the chemo, so hopefully it wont be horrible. First Chemo and radiation treatments will be Monday November 25. Jack (my youngest) and I will be in Houston that week visiting Sam (my middle son) for Thanksgiving. Ellen, Bills sister, is going to go with him and stay with him that week. All of his siblings have been amazing through this. Tomorrow, Nov. 15, Bill will have surgery at Baptist to put a port in his chest. Next Friday, Nov. 22, he will have surgery to put in a feeding tube. Both are mostly precautionary, but much better to have and not need than to need and not have and then have to go through surgery when you are in a very weakened state. Bill is a trooper and in great spirits with all of this. He fully believes, as do I and the doctors, that he will be FINE after treatment. His positive attitude is amazing and awesome! I will post again when there is news. Thanks y'all, for your support and your prayers and your friendship.
This past spring/summer Bill had nagging ear/throat pain. He went to his primary care Dr. and they gave him a course of antibiotics. The pain and discomfort did not go away. Bill even thought he could feel a lump deep in his neck. About 6 weeks later he went back to the Dr. with the same complaints. This time the Dr. felt the lump too and sent Bill to have a CT scan. He told him it was HIGHLY unlikely that this was cancer (that is what Bill had self diagnosed) but they would take a look. The CT scan came back positive...that was Sept. 24 or so. Later that week he went to an ENT in Greensboro who confirmed the diagnosis and sent him to a specialized ENT at Baptist Hosp. for a biopsy. The guy at Baptist was unable to get a biopsy that day as the lump was too deep and in a very difficult to reach place, so they scheduled surgery for Oct. 14 to get the biopsy. He then had a few more appointments such as a swallow study, EKG, and other various health tests to determine the course of action the team at Baptist would take and what kind of shape he was in physically as treatment can be grueling. On Nov. 6 we met with the team at Baptist. First we met the Radiologist and his intern. They were awesome! Dr. Hughes, the intern, really laid it all out and explained everything very well. It was determined that surgery would be very invasive and ultimately ineffective in Bills treatment. The cancer was already in lymph nodes on both sides and radiation is just much more effective for this type of cancer. They keep saying the goal is CURING it and they feel very confident that they will cure it and that Bill will be totally well and cancer free after all of this. Its gonna suck for a little while though... So, radiation will be Monday-Friday for 7 weeks. Bill went to Baptist on Nov. 11 to have a mask made for the radiation. they put this large white plastic mesh over your face and it is warmed up and melts to make an imprint of your face, neck, head, etc. There are holes for clips in it and they will use those to secure his head down on the table when they do the radiation. They also did a scan to determine EXACTLY where they want to shoot the radiation and made marks on the mask. They are able to target very specific areas, and hopefully spare other areas, such as the salivary glands. One of the big side effects of radiation in this area is loss of those glands and the dry mouth that comes as a result which can also cause tooth problems in addition to just discomfort. He also saw an oncologist dentist who made him fluoride trays that he will use to keep his teeth strong. He will use the trays every day, quite possibly forever. They also made trays to use while he is getting radiation to protect his teeth then. After we met with the radiologist, we met with the hematologist, the chemo doc.s. They were pretty great too! Radiation is the workhorse in Bills treatment, but chemo is going to help it along! Because he is healthy and strong, they are going to do only 3 heavy duty chemo treatments, rather than 9 lighter ones. Each treatment will be a triple dose of a nasty drug. He will probably feel crappy but they do put a lot of anti-nausea meds in the chemo, so hopefully it wont be horrible. First Chemo and radiation treatments will be Monday November 25. Jack (my youngest) and I will be in Houston that week visiting Sam (my middle son) for Thanksgiving. Ellen, Bills sister, is going to go with him and stay with him that week. All of his siblings have been amazing through this. Tomorrow, Nov. 15, Bill will have surgery at Baptist to put a port in his chest. Next Friday, Nov. 22, he will have surgery to put in a feeding tube. Both are mostly precautionary, but much better to have and not need than to need and not have and then have to go through surgery when you are in a very weakened state. Bill is a trooper and in great spirits with all of this. He fully believes, as do I and the doctors, that he will be FINE after treatment. His positive attitude is amazing and awesome! I will post again when there is news. Thanks y'all, for your support and your prayers and your friendship.
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