Sometimes Chicken, Sometimes Feathers
- Thread starter jmgratz
- Start date
jmgratz
Original Owners Club Member
UPDATE -
Yesterday I met with my Chemo and Radiation Doctors....finally got the treatment plan...
I will have Chemo/Radiation treatment for 5 1/2 weeks or 28 treatment days. The Chemo will consist of two drugs...Capecitabine in pill form and Docetaxel in IV form. I will take the pill every day I have radiation treatment and get the IV every Monday. I will get radiation every day except weekends and holidays. The treatment will last for 28 treatment days (not counting weekends and holidays) which will be about 5 1/2 weeks. After that treatment I will have about a 5 week rest be retested (re-staged) and then surgery to remove the affected areas. Looks like we are finally getting the show on the road. Thankfully I won't have to take as many drugs as it could have been. I will be going to MD Anderson, Houston, for the radiation and Chemo. We will attend the Houston Fall Rally at Rayford Crossing and then move to Lakeview RV Park on S. Main in Houston. We will stay there during the treatment. Thank you eveyone for all of your thoughts and prayers as we know God listens. Keep them coming as I feel his Blessings. May God Bless all and we will see you down the road.
Yesterday I met with my Chemo and Radiation Doctors....finally got the treatment plan...
I will have Chemo/Radiation treatment for 5 1/2 weeks or 28 treatment days. The Chemo will consist of two drugs...Capecitabine in pill form and Docetaxel in IV form. I will take the pill every day I have radiation treatment and get the IV every Monday. I will get radiation every day except weekends and holidays. The treatment will last for 28 treatment days (not counting weekends and holidays) which will be about 5 1/2 weeks. After that treatment I will have about a 5 week rest be retested (re-staged) and then surgery to remove the affected areas. Looks like we are finally getting the show on the road. Thankfully I won't have to take as many drugs as it could have been. I will be going to MD Anderson, Houston, for the radiation and Chemo. We will attend the Houston Fall Rally at Rayford Crossing and then move to Lakeview RV Park on S. Main in Houston. We will stay there during the treatment. Thank you eveyone for all of your thoughts and prayers as we know God listens. Keep them coming as I feel his Blessings. May God Bless all and we will see you down the road.
leftyf
SSG Stumpy-VA Terrorist
kakampers
Past Heartland Ambassador
Hey Guys...we'll be arriving on Tuesday!
Jim, glad to hear things are moving along in your treatment, and it's not as much chemo as you thought...good news!! We're still praying each day for you, and for Judy Atkinson...she'll be going to MD Anderson too for her treatment. Looking forward to seeing you and Sheila again at the rally..
Jim, glad to hear things are moving along in your treatment, and it's not as much chemo as you thought...good news!! We're still praying each day for you, and for Judy Atkinson...she'll be going to MD Anderson too for her treatment. Looking forward to seeing you and Sheila again at the rally..
Tom of Ypsi
Well-known member
We wiil be at Rayford on Tuesday. We are in Robinsonville, Ms (Hollywood Casino) resting. Two days of traveling in the rain has tired me out. Heading out Sunday morning going south on 61 or 55 to I-10 then to the rally. Still undecided on what park to go to while Judy receives treatment at MD Anderson. Safe travels everyone and God Bless. See you in Tx
jmgratz
Original Owners Club Member
Hey Tom, Sheila picked up some info about the various RV Parks around MD Anderson for you. They have the locations and rates. You can get it from us on Wednesday.
BTW I will be beginning treatment on the 19th. Instead of regular Radiation I will be getting the Proton treatment. It is less damaging to normal tissue. We are excited about the Proton therapy option. For those who don't know about this type of therapy here is the link that tells about it. Very informative.....
http://www3.mdanderson.org/streams/MDACCFlvPlayer2.html?xml=patientEd/config/ProtonQandA_CFG
BTW I will be beginning treatment on the 19th. Instead of regular Radiation I will be getting the Proton treatment. It is less damaging to normal tissue. We are excited about the Proton therapy option. For those who don't know about this type of therapy here is the link that tells about it. Very informative.....
http://www3.mdanderson.org/streams/MDACCFlvPlayer2.html?xml=patientEd/config/ProtonQandA_CFG
TXBobcat
Fulltime
OK.. It has started.. Pickin on the Bobcat.. Just remember I am fixin breakfast on Friday 16th. Who knows what goes into the Burrito's.
And Lefty when I see you next year I am going to bend your foot. They will call you hookfoot.. Hee Hee....
Jim & Tom.. We are looking forward to seeing you both.. Travel Safe and we will keep you in our prayers...
BC
And Lefty when I see you next year I am going to bend your foot. They will call you hookfoot.. Hee Hee....
Jim & Tom.. We are looking forward to seeing you both.. Travel Safe and we will keep you in our prayers...
BC
cjbearden
Visitor
Jim and Judy, our hearts and prayers are with you during your treatments. Jim, we pray all goes well with your post-treatment surgery.
We really miss not getting to see everyone at the rally but we are in sunny southern California enjoying wonderful cool weather and plenty of sunshine.
We really miss not getting to see everyone at the rally but we are in sunny southern California enjoying wonderful cool weather and plenty of sunshine.
jmgratz
Original Owners Club Member
Update - Here we are going on 2 weeks here at Lakeview RV Park on S. Main in Houston. This is a beautiful RV Park, all concrete roads and pads, fishing lake in the middle, gated entry, heated pool and 2 hot tubs, workout room, laundry and discounted prices for hospital patients. Free shuttle to the Texas Medical Center.
My treatment started last Monday on the 19th with IV Chemo. I started my Proton Radiation treatment on Wednesday the 21st. I take pill Chemo every day I have Proton treatments (Mon-Fri). I only have IV Chemo on Monday. My IV Chemo takes 2 hours. I take Benedryl, a steriod, and Hydrocortizone via IV to counteract the Chemo side effects (takes an hour) and then the Chemo medicine which takes an hour. So far I have tolerated the IV Chemo very well. The pill Chemo I take two pills in the morning and 2 in the evening everyday I have the Proton treatment. The Proton treatment is less damaging to normal surrounding then regular radiation. Since my cancer has metesized to a node close to my heart I chose the Proton radiation to prevent radation damage to my heart. So far I have not had any issues with the Proton treatments either. Each Proton treatment takes about 15-20 minutes and all I do is lie on the table while the machine does the work. I will have 28 Proton treatments and will finish up these around the first week of December. MD Anderson Hospital is an amazing facility and have nothing but praise for their professionalism in patient care. There are many others at this RV Park who are receiving treatment for their cancers there too. Met a guy from the Dallas area staying in the site across from us who has brain cancer. He left this morning after receiving his last Proton treatment yesterday. His prognosis is great and he says he is doing wonderful. Thank God.
Yall take care, God Bless and thank you for all of your prayers. BTW Tom and Judy Atkinson are here also several sites down from us. Keep Judy in your prayers also as she goes down here path toward full health.
My treatment started last Monday on the 19th with IV Chemo. I started my Proton Radiation treatment on Wednesday the 21st. I take pill Chemo every day I have Proton treatments (Mon-Fri). I only have IV Chemo on Monday. My IV Chemo takes 2 hours. I take Benedryl, a steriod, and Hydrocortizone via IV to counteract the Chemo side effects (takes an hour) and then the Chemo medicine which takes an hour. So far I have tolerated the IV Chemo very well. The pill Chemo I take two pills in the morning and 2 in the evening everyday I have the Proton treatment. The Proton treatment is less damaging to normal surrounding then regular radiation. Since my cancer has metesized to a node close to my heart I chose the Proton radiation to prevent radation damage to my heart. So far I have not had any issues with the Proton treatments either. Each Proton treatment takes about 15-20 minutes and all I do is lie on the table while the machine does the work. I will have 28 Proton treatments and will finish up these around the first week of December. MD Anderson Hospital is an amazing facility and have nothing but praise for their professionalism in patient care. There are many others at this RV Park who are receiving treatment for their cancers there too. Met a guy from the Dallas area staying in the site across from us who has brain cancer. He left this morning after receiving his last Proton treatment yesterday. His prognosis is great and he says he is doing wonderful. Thank God.
Yall take care, God Bless and thank you for all of your prayers. BTW Tom and Judy Atkinson are here also several sites down from us. Keep Judy in your prayers also as she goes down here path toward full health.
SouthernNights
Past South Carolina Chapter Leader
Jim thanks for the update. I pray the treatments will continue to go well.
Flying Dutchman
Virginia Chapter Leaders - Retired
Good to hear from you Jim and thanks for your update. I am glad to hear that you are handling your treatments well. I know that it is a long and difficult road. You as well as Judy are in my prayers for a speedy and complete recovery.
jmgratz
Original Owners Club Member
Well it has been awhile so it is time for an update. The chemo and radiation treatments are finished. I finished them a week ago. The treatments went very well and I tolerated them without any major issues. Didn't even lose my hair (what little I have). Thank all of you for your prayers and continued support. I now have to wait until my follow-up appointments which will be in the middle of January. At that point they (my medical team) will schedule surgery to remove half of my stomach and esophagus. A heck of a way to go on a diet. Anyway, so far I have lost 35 pounds since April (which I needed to lose anyway) and am beginning to get my appetite back. So thanks to everyone for their support and please continue your prayers not only for me but for all of us suffering from medical issues. God is Good and He does answer your prayers. BTW here is more info on Esophageal Cancer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oF-Hp6yhkM&feature=related
MD Anderson Cancer Hospital here is Houston is the place to be for cancer treatment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oF-Hp6yhkM&feature=related
MD Anderson Cancer Hospital here is Houston is the place to be for cancer treatment.
Ray LeTourneau
Senior Member - Past Moderator
Thanks for the update Jim. Keep the Faith my friend!
