Dearest Friends and Family,
As you know, Lynn has been struggling with pain for quite awhile, so she was “teamed” with oncology, radiology and palliative care all participating. The consensus was that Lynn should get vertebralplasty, which is an injection of a cement substance into her thoracic vertebrae where it had collapsed (T-3) much like a compression fracture with the hope that it would give the spine more structure. It would also take some of the pressure off the nerves which they believed was a source of some of the pain. It was also suggested Lynn undergo a pain medication change as she had reached the top end of the therapeutic levels of the fentenyl without much relief. Both procedures had to be done inpatient.
Lynn and I decided to move forward and undergo both at the same time for the long haul and she checked into Froedtert last Monday. She underwent a battery of tests and after some delay, the spinal procedure was done Thursday. It was very successful according to the radiologists. It will take some time for the nerves to “quiet down” before she sees the total benefit but we are optimistic.
After that was done, they began the process of changing her over to new meds. Again, it will take some time but she is doing well…extremely tired, but well. Her pain is already significantly reduced and we are hoping for more improvement.
We would like thank you all for the extra good thoughts and prayers during this time. We would also like to thank the entire Froedtert staff from the very talented doctors and nurses to the techs who gave us wonderful care.
She is back on the chemo schedule of two weeks chemo on, and one week off and then will be scanned periodically to see if the chemo is stabilizing the cancer from growing and spreading.
We will continue to meet with the doctors to explore any and all options available for her continued care and treatment. We love you all!!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Belated Update!!
Sorry we have not updated lately. We know many of you rely on the postings and don’t call because you don’t want to bother. We will try to be more prudent.
Throughout the summer, Lynn’s condition remained relatively stable. She continued to receive chemo, Gemzar which is a targeted agent. She did pretty well on it with. Although she still has affected areas, at least the treatment seemed to keep the growth controlled. It is also more tolerable than some of the harsher drugs. We had a recent scare which had us believing chemo may be winding down but we are reevaluating this issue this week.
The problem we are dealing with is pain management. Lynn’s cancer has infiltrated in some bones including her ribs and some vertebrae. We are working with the palliative doctors to try to address this and we are currently examining options. We are confident these good doctors will come up with some solutions for her pain.
With the chemo, the pain meds and her body fighting this disease, she is tired, really tired so if we haven’t attended a function, we are sorry. We love to see all so we do the best we can. Lynn also still hits the office as much as she can because she wants to. She loves her clients and everyone at the office is like family.
The kids are doing well. Jake continues to live large in Chicago, Danny is headed to Denver to network to try to find something more permanent after his MUHS gig and Abigail is back at St. Mary’s for her junior year. Their strength is a beautiful thing to see.
Our love to each and every one of you. The love, support and continued prayers have been unending. Words truly cannot thank you. We could never have made it this far without you all. For all those we owe a thank you note for the gifts and flowers, please accept this as our sincere thanks.
Lynn and Tim
Throughout the summer, Lynn’s condition remained relatively stable. She continued to receive chemo, Gemzar which is a targeted agent. She did pretty well on it with. Although she still has affected areas, at least the treatment seemed to keep the growth controlled. It is also more tolerable than some of the harsher drugs. We had a recent scare which had us believing chemo may be winding down but we are reevaluating this issue this week.
The problem we are dealing with is pain management. Lynn’s cancer has infiltrated in some bones including her ribs and some vertebrae. We are working with the palliative doctors to try to address this and we are currently examining options. We are confident these good doctors will come up with some solutions for her pain.
With the chemo, the pain meds and her body fighting this disease, she is tired, really tired so if we haven’t attended a function, we are sorry. We love to see all so we do the best we can. Lynn also still hits the office as much as she can because she wants to. She loves her clients and everyone at the office is like family.
The kids are doing well. Jake continues to live large in Chicago, Danny is headed to Denver to network to try to find something more permanent after his MUHS gig and Abigail is back at St. Mary’s for her junior year. Their strength is a beautiful thing to see.
Our love to each and every one of you. The love, support and continued prayers have been unending. Words truly cannot thank you. We could never have made it this far without you all. For all those we owe a thank you note for the gifts and flowers, please accept this as our sincere thanks.
Lynn and Tim
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Battle Continues!
Well the battle continues. Lynn finished radiation for the second time and unfortunately it did not reduce the pain like it did the first time and as we were hoping for. She got scanned on Monday and it looks like he radiation is beginning to shrink the 3 tumors and lymph nodes which were targeted but the other tumors have grown somewhat in size.
The second reason for the scans was to get a “baseline” now that Lynn has started another round of chemo last Thursday. She will receive a drug commonly called “gemzar” (http://www.gemzar.com/Pages/index.aspx) . It will be given as a single agent. Lynn’s red count is quite low so Dr. Choong wants to keep a very close watch on all her blood counts. He said she will most probably need transfusions during this round to keep the red counts up (and we are hopeful the transfusions will help with her energy level). Gemzar is infused but it will go pretty quickly. The “cycle” includes receiving the chemotherapy during the first and second week and then a week off. She will be rescanned after the second “cycle”. She is also getting a shot to help with bone growth in the thought that this will help with the pain.
Her two major issues now are her pain and her fatigue. As to the pain issue, she will be seeing Dr. Marks, a pain specialist to explore options next Tuesday. Hopefully the chemo will also knock down some of the pain. As indicated, the transfusions will increase her red blood count which should help.
Life continues. Lynn continues to work as much as she can to keep her life "normal" and has just returned from Houston from a national SEBS conference where she got to spend time with her long time friends in the business. We are looking forward to our first spring visit to the Lake House and spending time with friends. The kitchen and first floor remodel is essentially done and we are enjoying the “beverage center” on MORE than a regular basis. The kids are doing well. Abbey finished her second year at St. Mary’s and is home for the summer. Danny’s gig at Marquette High is coming to a close so he is searching for opportunities. Jake continues with UNUM in Chicago and he is enjoying life in the big city.
As always, thanks to God and to all of you for the continued thoughts and prayers. Our love to all!
The second reason for the scans was to get a “baseline” now that Lynn has started another round of chemo last Thursday. She will receive a drug commonly called “gemzar” (http://www.gemzar.com/Pages/index.aspx) . It will be given as a single agent. Lynn’s red count is quite low so Dr. Choong wants to keep a very close watch on all her blood counts. He said she will most probably need transfusions during this round to keep the red counts up (and we are hopeful the transfusions will help with her energy level). Gemzar is infused but it will go pretty quickly. The “cycle” includes receiving the chemotherapy during the first and second week and then a week off. She will be rescanned after the second “cycle”. She is also getting a shot to help with bone growth in the thought that this will help with the pain.
Her two major issues now are her pain and her fatigue. As to the pain issue, she will be seeing Dr. Marks, a pain specialist to explore options next Tuesday. Hopefully the chemo will also knock down some of the pain. As indicated, the transfusions will increase her red blood count which should help.
Life continues. Lynn continues to work as much as she can to keep her life "normal" and has just returned from Houston from a national SEBS conference where she got to spend time with her long time friends in the business. We are looking forward to our first spring visit to the Lake House and spending time with friends. The kitchen and first floor remodel is essentially done and we are enjoying the “beverage center” on MORE than a regular basis. The kids are doing well. Abbey finished her second year at St. Mary’s and is home for the summer. Danny’s gig at Marquette High is coming to a close so he is searching for opportunities. Jake continues with UNUM in Chicago and he is enjoying life in the big city.
As always, thanks to God and to all of you for the continued thoughts and prayers. Our love to all!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
We Are Sorry for the Delay
We are sorry for not updating the blog for a while, but the days seem to get away from us. Lynn has rehired me to help with updates so you have to put up with me again.
In February, the pain returned after a successful round of radiation. Scans showed the cancer had not only returned but had progressed to lymph nodes which previously had not shown any signs of disease. Lynn was accepted into a Phase II Clinical Trial through University Hospital in Madison. They were testing different agents that target enzymes that allow cancer to grow. Unfortunately, after two “cycles” the cancer continues to progress. After consulting with a number of doctors, the current treatment program is going to be a return to radiation first and then a return to chemotherapy. Radiation to hopefully address the pain which is escalating way too quickly. Once the pain is controlled, it is the hope that systemic treatment will keep things “at bay” because the good news is the cancer still has not spread to any vital organ or to her brain.
Our continued thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts. Your continued love and support have been unending.
We are enjoying our new kitchen and keeping the new beverage center active.
All of our love
We are sorry for not updating the blog for a while, but the days seem to get away from us. Lynn has rehired me to help with updates so you have to put up with me again.
In February, the pain returned after a successful round of radiation. Scans showed the cancer had not only returned but had progressed to lymph nodes which previously had not shown any signs of disease. Lynn was accepted into a Phase II Clinical Trial through University Hospital in Madison. They were testing different agents that target enzymes that allow cancer to grow. Unfortunately, after two “cycles” the cancer continues to progress. After consulting with a number of doctors, the current treatment program is going to be a return to radiation first and then a return to chemotherapy. Radiation to hopefully address the pain which is escalating way too quickly. Once the pain is controlled, it is the hope that systemic treatment will keep things “at bay” because the good news is the cancer still has not spread to any vital organ or to her brain.
Our continued thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts. Your continued love and support have been unending.
We are enjoying our new kitchen and keeping the new beverage center active.
All of our love
Friday, January 8, 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 !!!!!
Thank you to all whose prayers have kept my miracle of life continuing into 2010. My family, friends, neighbors, community, Christian women’s group, prayer chains too numerous to recall have been in daily prayers of which I am the recipient. I often receive letters and emails from people who know some of you...but whom I have never met...wishing me well and offering prayers and hope.
God has blessed me once more and allowed me to continue this great gift of life for a while longer. My 4 weeks of radiation targeting three tumors has been successful in shrinking them on my last set of scans. There is no new evidence of cancer returning to my liver and my brain remains free of cancer to this day (although some question this). I am STABLE and will not have to undergo more chemo for at least 8 weeks. My FIRST treatment free period in a year! I will be scanned again in March for further evaluation, and no matter what occurs then, I have planned a trip to Mexico with our Producer’s group from work and a trip to Florida to visit my mom and whatever else I can fit in!! Party time is relative, limited by my continuing daily fatigue.
I continue to pray daily for all of you and your challenges in life and hope you are the recipient, as I have been, of strength to continue down our respective paths. All roads lead to heaven which has its own comfort amidst the speed bumps and potholes slowing our journey. I continue to fully enjoy each day on earth and hope our paths cross often.
I stay warm each day with my prayer shawls and hand knit items.
I had a surprise fireworks display put on my exclusive enjoyment at our lake house on New Year’s Eve to ring in this glorious New Year! Thank you Ertz’s and Machi’s. It was a glorious display.
CHEERS TO YOU UNTIL I WRITE AGAIN IN MARCH!
God has blessed me once more and allowed me to continue this great gift of life for a while longer. My 4 weeks of radiation targeting three tumors has been successful in shrinking them on my last set of scans. There is no new evidence of cancer returning to my liver and my brain remains free of cancer to this day (although some question this). I am STABLE and will not have to undergo more chemo for at least 8 weeks. My FIRST treatment free period in a year! I will be scanned again in March for further evaluation, and no matter what occurs then, I have planned a trip to Mexico with our Producer’s group from work and a trip to Florida to visit my mom and whatever else I can fit in!! Party time is relative, limited by my continuing daily fatigue.
I continue to pray daily for all of you and your challenges in life and hope you are the recipient, as I have been, of strength to continue down our respective paths. All roads lead to heaven which has its own comfort amidst the speed bumps and potholes slowing our journey. I continue to fully enjoy each day on earth and hope our paths cross often.
I stay warm each day with my prayer shawls and hand knit items.
I had a surprise fireworks display put on my exclusive enjoyment at our lake house on New Year’s Eve to ring in this glorious New Year! Thank you Ertz’s and Machi’s. It was a glorious display.
CHEERS TO YOU UNTIL I WRITE AGAIN IN MARCH!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
OVERDUE Health Update
All I can say is I am sorry for not updating my information when I have so many people looking for my status and wondering at what 'prayer level' we currently are.
Okay, let's get right to the update. The oral chemo drug did not well enough for me to stay on it. The side effects were pretty yuck also so I was okay with stopping it. My recent CT scans showed similar results to the last time---the tumors still remain in the same three areas (lymph nodes near my removed lung, in the lining of an area near my removed lung, and in my adrenal gland) and all three tumors have grown slightly. The tumor in my removed lung lining has spread and permeated my right 4th, 5th, and 6th ribs which is causing some constant pain, similar to fractured ribs. They are controlling this with medication.
All of my MD's were in agreement that I should start radiation on my ribs to shrink the tumor and mitigate the pain. I have also received a PET scan and a brain MRI. Very good news that there were no tumors in my brain, or liver, or anywhere else for that metter!! Celebration!! Because my tumors are currently confined to only 3 areas, my MD's have agreed (reluctantly) to radiate all 3 areas simultaneously. The treatments are over 4 weeks. I have just begun week 2 yesterday and all is going well.
My MD's have stopped my oral chemo drug in search of a different systemic treatment with better results. These options are being further explored while I am in radiation and I hope something can be implemented soon after my radiation ceases. I NEED a successful systemic treatment (chemo) to survive.
The current prayer status is therefore changing from orange to red! Please pray my MD's find something that helps keep my tumors controlled. I was diagnosed last December 1st and I feel I have been successfully 'living with cancer' which was the goal all along. I feel good about this past year.
Now on to the social and family aspects of 'living'. Some of our dearest friends took care of ONE of only two items on my bucket list...and I can't think of the second item! We took a luxurious private jet to the ROCK 'N ROLL hall of fame and besides a great tour, we had FRONT row seats to a Janis Joplin musical tribute which was fantastic! A private post-performance party with all the musicians lasted way past my bedtime--we had a nice conversation and pictures with the lead singer of SANTANA! WOW summaries the trip.
I was also healthy enough to make a quick trip to Dallas where an SEBS associate was getting married. I stayed with friends who hosted the wedding...and came back and changed a number of items on my current remodel job to incorporate what I saw at their lovely home. I call my first floor remodel job 'The Jaki Project' as her home was the inspiration for redoing my kitchen and first floor.
My kids are all doing well and were home for Thanksgiving. Son Dan shot his first deer which will help feed him and his roomates who are teaching down at MUHS. Jake is busy selling to make his year end goals and Abbey is studying hard for some good grades this semester @ St. Mary's in Winona, MN.
In my second week of radiation, I am feeling a decrease in the 24/7 pain I had been experiencing. All your prayers have kept me successfully 'living with cancer' for an entire year!! I pray to God everyday for ALL of you who so generously keep me in your prayers. God thinks I am a VIP when he looks at the number of prayers coming into my name. THANK YOU and I promise to provide updates when there is news to report. I will be getting scanned after I complete the radiation therapy. Hugs & Kisses to all of you. Lynn
Okay, let's get right to the update. The oral chemo drug did not well enough for me to stay on it. The side effects were pretty yuck also so I was okay with stopping it. My recent CT scans showed similar results to the last time---the tumors still remain in the same three areas (lymph nodes near my removed lung, in the lining of an area near my removed lung, and in my adrenal gland) and all three tumors have grown slightly. The tumor in my removed lung lining has spread and permeated my right 4th, 5th, and 6th ribs which is causing some constant pain, similar to fractured ribs. They are controlling this with medication.
All of my MD's were in agreement that I should start radiation on my ribs to shrink the tumor and mitigate the pain. I have also received a PET scan and a brain MRI. Very good news that there were no tumors in my brain, or liver, or anywhere else for that metter!! Celebration!! Because my tumors are currently confined to only 3 areas, my MD's have agreed (reluctantly) to radiate all 3 areas simultaneously. The treatments are over 4 weeks. I have just begun week 2 yesterday and all is going well.
My MD's have stopped my oral chemo drug in search of a different systemic treatment with better results. These options are being further explored while I am in radiation and I hope something can be implemented soon after my radiation ceases. I NEED a successful systemic treatment (chemo) to survive.
The current prayer status is therefore changing from orange to red! Please pray my MD's find something that helps keep my tumors controlled. I was diagnosed last December 1st and I feel I have been successfully 'living with cancer' which was the goal all along. I feel good about this past year.
Now on to the social and family aspects of 'living'. Some of our dearest friends took care of ONE of only two items on my bucket list...and I can't think of the second item! We took a luxurious private jet to the ROCK 'N ROLL hall of fame and besides a great tour, we had FRONT row seats to a Janis Joplin musical tribute which was fantastic! A private post-performance party with all the musicians lasted way past my bedtime--we had a nice conversation and pictures with the lead singer of SANTANA! WOW summaries the trip.
I was also healthy enough to make a quick trip to Dallas where an SEBS associate was getting married. I stayed with friends who hosted the wedding...and came back and changed a number of items on my current remodel job to incorporate what I saw at their lovely home. I call my first floor remodel job 'The Jaki Project' as her home was the inspiration for redoing my kitchen and first floor.
My kids are all doing well and were home for Thanksgiving. Son Dan shot his first deer which will help feed him and his roomates who are teaching down at MUHS. Jake is busy selling to make his year end goals and Abbey is studying hard for some good grades this semester @ St. Mary's in Winona, MN.
In my second week of radiation, I am feeling a decrease in the 24/7 pain I had been experiencing. All your prayers have kept me successfully 'living with cancer' for an entire year!! I pray to God everyday for ALL of you who so generously keep me in your prayers. God thinks I am a VIP when he looks at the number of prayers coming into my name. THANK YOU and I promise to provide updates when there is news to report. I will be getting scanned after I complete the radiation therapy. Hugs & Kisses to all of you. Lynn
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