Rick jumps another hurdle

We were in the cancer center last Tuesday for Rick's 40th chemo treatment for Gastric Cancer. While he walked in under his own power, 30 minutes later he left in an ambulance to the Emergency Room on the other side of the building. Thank God we were there as I don't think he would have lived if we had been at home. His fever had jumped to 102.5, he was throwing up, and was blue as a Smurf. Even the doctor had tears in her eyes, as she thought he was a goner. As it turns out, he had a sepsis infection. It looks like patients with compromised immune systems from chemotherapy have about an 80 percent death rate when they contract sepsis.

We were able to get him home yesterday afternoon, with a supply of IV antibiotics (Primaxin) geared to his specific bacteria "bug". We will infuse that every 8 hours for 14 days, along with his daily hydration, and then back to the chemo regimen. It did take the Infectious Disease docs 6 days to arrive at the final bacteria and of course it was a rare one (surprise, surprise). The infection most likely came from the port in his chest, so it was removed, now he has a PICC line. The CT scans they did while in ICU have now unfortunately picked up metastases to the pelvic bone and tailbone. It looks like we will treat that development with Zometa. After the antibiotic treatment ends, we will have a new port installed on the other side of his chest and continue the "Cancer" battle.

Keep an eye out for fever and/or temperature, now I know why the docs want you to call if a patients' temp ever reaches 100.3 as it could be a sign of something VERY serious.

Thanks to all of you for your continuing prayers and thoughts, we are now 31 months into this battle and looked to have dodged another bullet. Keep up the good fight and know that our prayers are with all of you as well.

Peace and Love,  Scott

While I was on chemo my oncologist told me to go immediately to ER if my temp went above 99.5.  During one cycle it went above 100.  I forced myself to sleep, thinking it would go down.  I woke up two hours alter and it was 102.  By the time I got to ER it was 104.5.  I spent a week in the hospital.

My first big lesson - don't wait until you are really sick to get help.  

Glad Rick made it through the crisis.

Scott,

Rick is truly one amazing guy !   Recently I've come across (through reading and on this site and others) so many people that have survived Stage IV Cancers - its very uplifting.   If you haven't done so already, read Life Over Cancer - or visit their site www.lifeovercancer.com  The Block Center for Integrative Treatment or check-out some of Jeanne Wallace's publications  - http://www.nutritional-solutions.net/

All the best to both of you.

Karen

Scott:

Thanks for the update.  Lisa and I are very glad you were so close to available care services and that he is again on the road to recovery from this event.  We are not as thrilled to hear about the metatisis but remain hopeful that he will succeed in treating this new development too. 

Best to you both and we will continue to pray for you both.

 Steve

aka momwithkids

ps to others:

Lisa remains in remission since August of 2007.  She remains on chemo and begins her new career as a high school teacher this year.  Thanks for all of you that have kept her in your thoughts; it is much appreciated.

Scott:

How complex is it to remove the port and can they reinstall it.  Lisa is getting tired of having it flushed since we do not use it anymore (we have not for about a year now).  Also, it no longer gives any blood back when they flush it so it is not useful for getting blood samples. Also, can they put another one back in if necessary???

Hope Rick is ok.  Let us know. 

Thanks

STEVE

Hey Steve,

It is about a 20 minute procedure to remove that old port. Yes, you can always have another one installed just as easily as the first one, we will just have it put in on the other side in about another week. Just have to make sure the infection is gone, so we will have to have
Tuesday's chemo through the PICC line in his arm (boy is the port a better alternative to the PICC, and less chance for infection). I would vote for a big yes on having her old port removed, always time later for a new one.

Rick has been doing OK up until today, seems to be having some pain in the kidney area (one of the issue areas on the latest CT scan) and Percocet doesn't seem to be doing the trick this time??? Was trying to skip doing a litre of saline today, but came home from the movies, took two pain pills and hung a hydration bag. We will see what the doc says on Tuesday. Until then, we will just keep up the fight.

Take care..........Scott

On 8/22/2009 Eliot1 wrote:

Hey Steve,

It is about a 20 minute procedure to remove that old port. Yes, you can always have another one installed just as easily as the first one, we will just have it put in on the other side in about another week. Just have to make sure the infection is gone, so we will have to have
Tuesday's chemo through the PICC line in his arm (boy is the port a better alternative to the PICC, and less chance for infection). I would vote for a big yes on having her old port removed, always time later for a new one.

Rick has been doing OK up until today, seems to be having some pain in the kidney area (one of the issue areas on the latest CT scan) and Percocet doesn't seem to be doing the trick this time??? Was trying to skip doing a litre of saline today, but came home from the movies, took two pain pills and hung a hydration bag. We will see what the doc says on Tuesday. Until then, we will just keep up the fight.

Take care..........Scott

 

Thanks Scott, always forget to ask the doctor when he is standing there doing not much of anything.  Sorry to hear about his increased pain but glad to see you out and about.  Hope things get better for you two.

STEVE

Scott,

I am glad to see you are stil on here but sad at the same time. I hope Rick gets better. I will say a prayer for you guys and everyone else on here fighting this horrible disease. On the 26th it will be a year that I lost my Popa and it still hurts as much as it did then! My prayers go to all the families on here, God Bless!

Erin

Scott,

So happy to hear that Rick is doing well. It must have been a scare for sure.

Thanks for always posting updates and giving so many the hope that is so needed when facing the disease.

Hope that Rick continues to do well.

Peace and love to you both!!!   Kris