Radiation to start

Cathy will be starting radiation therapy ASAP! Originally the plan was to do radiation as an outpatient at Phelps Memorial where she goes for chemo. However, her pain management has been a major issue while she has been an inpatient at MSK. Fortunately, she is in the hands of the doctors and nurses at MSK where she is receiving excellent care. So, care in the hospital, pain management and radiation is the current plan of action. The doctors are optimistic that the radiation can be very effective for Cathy.

Carrigan is handling all of this like her mother - like a champ. She tucks her Abby Cadabby doll into mommy’s bed every night to keep it warm for her and writes her notes daily.

Please continue to keep Cathy in your thoughts and prayers through this most challenging time.

Stumbling blocks

It’s been a real roller coaster ride recently as Cathy has run into some stumbling blocks. She has had issues with bladder/kidney, low blood count, and pain. Cathy has tackled each challenge in her quiet, resolute way. Her list of specialists now include a urologist, nephrologist, hematologist, and radiologist. The plan by the radiologist is to target the area near her bladder to relieve tumor burden which may be giving her the pain. The plan is for treatment five times a week for three weeks. The catch-22 is that while she receives radiation, she cannot be on Oxaliplatin.

One of the ‘numbers’ monitored while receiving chemo is hemoglobin count. Up until this past week-end, Cathy’s numbers were in an acceptable range. However, this Sunday she had to have a blood transfusion in the hospital. The transfusion went well and she’s feeling tired but better. While in the hospital her pain is being addressed with a pain pump that she controls and she is finally getting some much needed sleep. Next step is we are hopeful the radiation treatment can be started shortly.

Thanks for all your support as you continue to keep us all in your prayers and good thoughts.

Change in chemo

Although Cathy’s last scan showed stabillity, her oncologist was looking for some improvement. Since the Irinotecan (latest chemo drug) was causing more side effects (such as nausea, hair loss), the decision was made to revert back to Oxaliplatin (earlier chemo drug) which gave improvement with less severe side effects while Cathy was on it. We’re hopeful the oxali works as before.