Friday, August 03, 2007
Kick in the Ass
Wednesday was the most upsetting and hopeless day yet. The doctor arrived early and although Mark thought the final procedure was supposed to take place that morning, without explanation, the doctor said it was Thursday. Mark continued to run a high fever. The supervisor of nurses spent hours listening to and attending to our concerns and was prompt in investigating where the breakdowns in communication had occurred and that was satisfying. Much of the problem stemmed back to one particular nurse and poor communication from the world reknown doctor and his team. But, at nighfall Mark was just totally burnt out and weaker than ever. We were scared that the antibiotics still weren't addressing the pneumonia symptoms and therefore he would not be eligible for treatments that were vital to ridding him of tumors. We had a sad, pessimistic night.
He finally had the final step in the photodynamic therapy Thursday morning. The doctor called me when it was completed and delivered the shocking news that the tumor blocking the airway had grown back again in LESS THAN A WEEK and was COMPLETELY blocking the airway again! Gary and Mike drove up and we all had a meeting with the doctor at 5 pm Thursday. He drew pictures on the blackboard, explained exactly what the problems were and addressed all our questions. The kicker was that what had transpired with the regrowth of the tumor had negated the benefits of the photodynamic therapy HOWEVER because it had been injected into his system, he still had to stay out of direct sunlight for 6 weeks!!!
The new course of action is to get radiation ASAP and chemo when he is cured of the pneumonia which should now able to escape since his turmor and airway have been cleared again. He didn't even spike a temp. today. However, with the quick growth of the tumor, he must get radiation IMMEDIATELY. So, we are headed home and are hoping to start radiation either Friday or Monday. He has also been prescribed a new antibiotic in pill form which should better address the pneumonia.
Mark felt so much better after the airway was cleared again and has a renewed respect for the many oxygen patients he has treated over the years because it is so scary to not be able to breathe. So, although he swore he would never, ever endure radiation again, he is willing to undergo another rigorous round in hopes that it will clear his right airway and lung as well as it did his left armpit last year. Now, he swears he will never, ever return to the hospitals in Boston for treatment again no matter what the doctors recommend after the horrendous week of calamity we endured.
We are looking forward to Kevin's return for a visit next week and I will update the blog with the treatment plan at the beginning of the week. We will be back on an erratic schedule, sleeping late, erratic naps for Mark and running around to doctors on the Cape so it would be appreciated if communication was limited to e-mails and any messages you want Mark to receive will be printed out for him if you write to me at sheehan@cape.com I have a list of people that I e-mail whenever I update the blog and if you would like to be added to the list, please send me your e-mail address.
We are elated to be returning home and keeping Scooter company!
Nancy
He finally had the final step in the photodynamic therapy Thursday morning. The doctor called me when it was completed and delivered the shocking news that the tumor blocking the airway had grown back again in LESS THAN A WEEK and was COMPLETELY blocking the airway again! Gary and Mike drove up and we all had a meeting with the doctor at 5 pm Thursday. He drew pictures on the blackboard, explained exactly what the problems were and addressed all our questions. The kicker was that what had transpired with the regrowth of the tumor had negated the benefits of the photodynamic therapy HOWEVER because it had been injected into his system, he still had to stay out of direct sunlight for 6 weeks!!!
The new course of action is to get radiation ASAP and chemo when he is cured of the pneumonia which should now able to escape since his turmor and airway have been cleared again. He didn't even spike a temp. today. However, with the quick growth of the tumor, he must get radiation IMMEDIATELY. So, we are headed home and are hoping to start radiation either Friday or Monday. He has also been prescribed a new antibiotic in pill form which should better address the pneumonia.
Mark felt so much better after the airway was cleared again and has a renewed respect for the many oxygen patients he has treated over the years because it is so scary to not be able to breathe. So, although he swore he would never, ever endure radiation again, he is willing to undergo another rigorous round in hopes that it will clear his right airway and lung as well as it did his left armpit last year. Now, he swears he will never, ever return to the hospitals in Boston for treatment again no matter what the doctors recommend after the horrendous week of calamity we endured.
We are looking forward to Kevin's return for a visit next week and I will update the blog with the treatment plan at the beginning of the week. We will be back on an erratic schedule, sleeping late, erratic naps for Mark and running around to doctors on the Cape so it would be appreciated if communication was limited to e-mails and any messages you want Mark to receive will be printed out for him if you write to me at sheehan@cape.com I have a list of people that I e-mail whenever I update the blog and if you would like to be added to the list, please send me your e-mail address.
We are elated to be returning home and keeping Scooter company!
Nancy
# posted by The Sheehan Family @ 1:14 AM 
