jclegg
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Mary,
I hope things continue to go well for your husband. Thanks for reading my blog and sending the encouraging comment when he was very ill. We still would do it again – Dr. Gamblin and his team are wonderful – but – as you know – the hospital has its’ problems – probably all hospitals do today, with the nursing shortage, etc.Joyce
It is true that having this rare cancer is difficult, if not impossible – having this site is the bright spot in an otherwise gloomy situation. The people are wonderful, brave, caring, and – funny too!
Joyce
Sophie – your smoothies taste somewhat like the blender mix I was making for Butch before the operation – lots of healthy stuff, and lots of calories, but – I think yours taste better! I am so happy for you – about the baby, I mean – grandchildren are God’s reward to us for living through tough times.
Joyce
Charlene,
We are all thinking of and praying for you and Jhn. You are not alone. May God’s peace sustain you.Joyce C.
Our prayer is for strength and peace for you and your family, in addition to comfort for your husband.
Joyce C.
Dear Patti,
I am so sorry about your Mom, but glad that she was peaceful at the end. She sounds wonderful, and I am sending you warmest thoughts.Joyce C
Yes – Butch started on Xeloda (and gemicitabine), and was horribly sick at first – stomach bad, terrible nausea – it did straighten out after a couple of weeks and several medication changes. It is not easy, but – it did get better. Good luck, Sophie – perservere.
Joyce
Haiminh,
Stay strong – my husband is in UPMC – just had 3/4 of his liver out on the 16th of July. We have had MANY complications – including sepemia (a bacteria infection that got into the blood), and heart complications stemming form that – temporary, we hope. He is doing better , however, and I am hoping the worst is over. It is hard to trust the doctors, so I rely on the Great Physician! Hopefully, your Mom will continue to improve.Joyce
All excellant suggestions – In addition, I am playing cd’s with a portable player with earphones – his favorite – Johnny Cash! We are still at the hospital because of a nasty infection – Dr. Gamlin says 2 more days (he is an optimist, I have found!), and he has an irregular heart beat, which they said will go away, and one weak kidney – Jeff is right – we need the numbers to be good before we leave, BUT – the longer we stay, the more work to do when we get out. We do have one of those funny little breathing things – he plugs away at it, and – we are walking the halls. Right now, he is a wee bit confused – they say it is from the infection, but – all in all, he is still a trooper.
God’s Strenth,
Joyce
Wests,
Where are you? I am the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, in a GI recovery room – my husband had a liver resection last week – was refused surgery at the Mayo Clinic – Dr. Clark Gamlin here at UPMC did it. If you e-mail him – from the UPMC web site – liver cancer – he will probably have you send all cd’s, records, etc. and review them to see if it is worthwhile for her to make the trip. That way – she only has to come if they (UPMC) are going to do something. I wrote an e-mail explaining Butch’s condition, sent everything & he reviewed it & told us to come for an appointment. I am sure there are many other places – depending on where you are – that would review records before a visit.Good luck and God Bless,
Joyce
Jeff,
ou are our inspiration – you are also a walking encyclopedeia of CC info!Joyce (From Butch recovery room here at the UPMC hospital – good wishes from him, too)
Joyce
You may have seen my posting, but my Husband Butch just had a liver resection at UPMC – had 3/4 of his liver removed. The surgeon was Dr. Gamblin, assisted by Dr. Marsh. We went to Mayo, but they did a laproscopy and found lymph node involvement in the diaphragm area. They stopped the operation, and when we got home , I wrote to other places. UPMC responded, and they have done the operation. So – your family should write them a letter – they will ask for copies of the reports, scans, etc. They won’t know until they try. I did tell Dr. Gamlin last week that I would be telling people on this website about him, so it is fine to tell him that you saw it here!
Joyce C.
Thanks to all of you for the good advice – I do know that nutrition is the key here. And hospitals are the WORST place to be for nutrition – I should have brought the protein powder – will have to buy more. Have been taking in things like V8 Fusion, and extra food – protein bars, etc. I will look into the PDT treatments, and am going to be talking to the Doctor tomorrow about the chemo plans. As of this afternoon, I think Butch has another infection, though – so – that will slow everything down. He did walk the halls with me today, though – and sit in the chair for all meals, so we are making progress. Thank God I have you all to glean experience from.
Joyce
Hi Irene,
I am writing from a hospital room in UPMC Montefiore Hospital. My husband – Butch – had a resection last Wednesday , done by Dr. Gamblin. Took out 3/4 of his liver – an 8.3 centimeter tumer on the right, small tumor on the right. It had metatasized to the diaphragm, so Mayo had closed him back up again. He is terribly weak, and has had two infections, but he thought it was the way to go and – he is recovering very slowly (he is 66 years old). I think we are leaving the hospital tomorrow. Even though this was the scariest thing we have ever been through (12 1/2 hurs of surgery), it is what he wanted, and he considered it as a fighting chance. He was in good shape when we got here – now – not so much! But – we talked the other day – and we are going by what John Wayne said –“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
You must make the decision that is right for you. I think each decision made by anyone of this board takes great courage, and they continue to amke them each day.
Joyce
