Prince George's Serial Killer Part 7

 So , this will be my last blog for a litte while. no matter what life throws at you, some things just continue on as usual, and hopefully we can take some time to try and get our little "I think I can" train back on it's tracks. 

  So update. radiation treatments are all done. We were "lucky" he did not suffer many of the pre-warned side effects. However he is indeed struggling with the lack of energy. He can do normal things, but definitely not for the same amount of time as before. Stairs, lifting, even walking has been downgraded 50-60%. That is apparently very common, and as he goes into week 2 without treatment, hopefully he regains more ability. 

  We did drive out to Prince George on Sunday, sadly we did not get to stay at Kordyban Lodge, we were put up in a hotel. I can't believe how disappointed we were not to go back to this wonderful place. No fear, we did indeed visit on the Monday after his appointment. Brought a few very tiny tokens of appreciation for some of the amazing staff, and a couple of jars of our honey to our new friends still on their journey. Somehow they have become so very important to us, and we will keep in touch for our lifetimes with these beautiful folks, who we share this roller coaster of Cancer with.

  Our reason for the trip was to meet the oncologist who will be the one to plan out Chuck's future battle. I know, I mentioned my horror of being told we would have to deal with the same Dr. my beloved sister-in-law had, and the relief when the director of the center was able to give us one from Victoria, what a blessing this was! First, of course I would have been extremely uncomfortable with Dr. Ho and second we would have had absolutely no trust in her plan, so this meeting was eagerly anticipated. We were not disappointed. Every thing through the appointment seemed comfortable. His nurse who did the pre- stuff was very pleasant, and also very professional, that was such a relief. Dr. Saltman came in and once he closed the door, we were his main focus. He actually did a hands on check with Chuck, that is a first since we started treatment, both of us felt a weight drop off. Then he sat across from us, on the table and began to explain everything. He provided options, and followed each one with an explanation of how they could be done. He had clearly read Chuck's file, which was another weight that dropped off of us, unlike Dr. Padma, who clearly was not up to date on anything! He explained that Chuck's cancer cells were a specific type, he is one of 15% of patients with his type of cancer cell in regards to his type of cancer, and that there is a specific medication that targets these specific cells. His cells are very common with many breast cancer patients.He gave us different ways the treatment could be offered, ie. IV or pills . Then he explained what we could clearly tell was the option he favoured. He said that Chuck needed a bit more time to recover from the radiation. He also needs an echocardiogram to ensure his heart is up to what is to come, along with an EKG , tumour marking blood test, and another blood test, which he would be requisitioning from Terrace and Smithers, marking them URGENT. Then after these are all done, and he has a chance to go over them, Chuck will start on a 21 day cycle. He will have chemo on day one, along with one of the specific cancer cell targetting pills. Then 13 more days at home with the pills, then a week off to recover. This will go on for 9 consecutive cycles. Dr. Saltman then told us, he will follow the progress and reports from the Smithers Cancer team, during which time he will be calling us himself. Yep, we were warned this was going to be a long road. He also assured us, if for some unknown reason Chuck did not take to this treatment, there are others to try. The nurse stayed for the whole appointment, taking notes, and when he was sure he had answered all of our questions he was out the door stating the nurse would get us a print out of everything they had decided to do. She did indeed print out pages for us, explaining the whole cycle routine, and what to expect in the way of side effects, etc, how to set up a calender for ourselves so we could mark every day down. Extremely helpful! It was a great change from our meeting with the radiology oncologist. 

  So off we headed the next morning to home. We made it to Fraser Lake when the phone rang. It was the nurse. She told me that she had sent all the requisitions in, to Terrace, Smithers and Hazelton, and that she wanted us to stop at the hospital in Smithers to get the tumour marking blood test done! Holy cow, moving fast!!Paper work was there when we stopped, test was done, and home. Today, Chuck got a call from the hospital in Burns Lake???? Apparently Terrace referred him to Burns Lake for his echocariogram, and he has an appointment there December 21st. Kind of sucks the big one, instead of an hour and 1/2 drive to Terrace, we now have a 2 1/2 hr drive to Burns Lake I imagine we will be very tired that day, as I have had an echocardiogram, and it is a fairly long test, Oh well, that will be one more thing off our list. We figure he can get the other two tests done here in Hazelton, so we can have all the boxes ticked before Christmas. Next appointment will be January 12th from the radiology oncologist from Vancouver, So I promise to continue keeping you all updated next year. 

  Guess this is my chance to Wish each of you following along on our journey a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS  and trust me WISHING EACH AND EVERYONE OF US THE HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS!!!!