Journal entry by Nicole Green —
One thing no one thinks to tell you is that life doesn't stop even when you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. The bills continue, the kids have sports, your marriage needs fed, work demands still exist, and everyone has their own individual needs. Because of this revelation (which should be obvious), we are often caught up in the day to day and the thought of cancer takes a back burner. Maybe more so for me (Nicole) than Doug as he deals daily with physical side effects of treatment - lymphedema, loss of taste, fatigue, dry mouth, etc. There are also the mental side effects that we both carry regularly. "What is next? What if it isn't gone? What if it spreads?" My constant worry is enough for all of us so thankfully Doug has the ability to focus on what is his current status and not what might come.
We met with the oncologist and ENT a few weeks ago (and promptly fell back into "life" and failed to update you all). The overall feedback of Doug's PET scan is positive - there is no evidence of cancer in his lungs, abdomen or bones. Praise God! The left side of his neck and the area where his tonsils previously were are also showing no sign of cancer. Wahoo! There is a "level 2 lymph node with mild hypermetabolic uptake" on the right side of the neck. The expectation is that this is related to postradiation change but we will return at the beginning of July for a CT scan to confirm it is not disease. Per our oncologist, it is not likely the cancer jumped the midline as it was localized to the left side of the neck prior to surgery/radiation. Radiation was also done on the right side of the neck which should have killed any cancer cells. So, outlook is good but there is still the "what if?" that lingers. We are encouraged by the fact the oncologist is comfortable waiting 3 months before testing further.
So what's next? We await the delivery of Doug's head and neck pneumatic compression therapy device to help with the lymphedema (fluid buildup) in his neck due to the removed and radiated lymph nodes. This will be a long term used device as lymph nodes will not regenerate. He will have a CT of the troublemaker right lymph node in July with results to follow the next day. We then go to a schedule of meeting with the oncologist and/or ENT every 3 months for a scope and to confirm no new issues present themselves. A PET scan may also be done late this year depending on the results of the CT scan.
Ways you can pray:
(1) For insurance to cover the lymphedema device. It is absolutely necessary but is not cheap and we have enough medical bills to balance as it is.
(2) For Doug's fatigue, lack of taste and other side effects to continue to improve.
(3) For no concern with the CT scan in July.
Thank you all for taking this journey with us and for the support you have provided in so many ways.
We met with the oncologist and ENT a few weeks ago (and promptly fell back into "life" and failed to update you all). The overall feedback of Doug's PET scan is positive - there is no evidence of cancer in his lungs, abdomen or bones. Praise God! The left side of his neck and the area where his tonsils previously were are also showing no sign of cancer. Wahoo! There is a "level 2 lymph node with mild hypermetabolic uptake" on the right side of the neck. The expectation is that this is related to postradiation change but we will return at the beginning of July for a CT scan to confirm it is not disease. Per our oncologist, it is not likely the cancer jumped the midline as it was localized to the left side of the neck prior to surgery/radiation. Radiation was also done on the right side of the neck which should have killed any cancer cells. So, outlook is good but there is still the "what if?" that lingers. We are encouraged by the fact the oncologist is comfortable waiting 3 months before testing further.
So what's next? We await the delivery of Doug's head and neck pneumatic compression therapy device to help with the lymphedema (fluid buildup) in his neck due to the removed and radiated lymph nodes. This will be a long term used device as lymph nodes will not regenerate. He will have a CT of the troublemaker right lymph node in July with results to follow the next day. We then go to a schedule of meeting with the oncologist and/or ENT every 3 months for a scope and to confirm no new issues present themselves. A PET scan may also be done late this year depending on the results of the CT scan.
Ways you can pray:
(1) For insurance to cover the lymphedema device. It is absolutely necessary but is not cheap and we have enough medical bills to balance as it is.
(2) For Doug's fatigue, lack of taste and other side effects to continue to improve.
(3) For no concern with the CT scan in July.
Thank you all for taking this journey with us and for the support you have provided in so many ways.
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