BROTHER'S GOT THRUSH

Transported my brother to his appointment with the Medical Oncologist.  He told him it looks real good that the cancer is gone.  He looked in his mouth and saw that he had Thrush.  Gave him a prescription for it.  Wants to see him back in 2 weeks.

He was very weak today and his lab work showed his white blood cell count was low and his potassium and magnesium were low as well.  He received his infusion of fluids with nausea meds, and potassium and magnesium.

He will be receiving one more week of fluids on Monday and Thursday then it will be cut back to once a week.  He was told that he would have to start hydrating himself at home.  He needs to take sips of water by mouth which he is not doing.  Says it hurts to swallow but tells his doctors that he is not in any pain and won't take any pain meds.  Does not gargle like he should with the magic mouthwash which contains Nystatin for prevention of Thrush and mouth sores.

Not sure why he is non compliant.

HOW I LOVE BACON

Just finished a wonderful breakfast of bacon and egg, English Muffin and hot chocolate.  Of course I was only able to eat half of the egg, one quarter of the muffin, and a couple of strips of bacon that I chewed till all flavor gone then spit out.  It was great.  I've come a long way in these last two years since treatment.  

Still don't have 100% saliva back but do have a small amount that helps me break down foods and swallow easier.  Meat and bread are always going to be a problem it seems.  However, after almost 2 years of being a vegetarian I can once again enjoy the taste of bread and meat with an occasional ability to swallow.

Today is a good day.

I'm enjoying this cool 60 degree weather we are having.  Fireplace is going and I'm snuggled up on the sofa with my electric lap blanket and my fur babies watching great television on Netflix.  

Today is a good day.

I'm once again working in my art studio that had become a store room over the last 2 years.  Tried cleaning out a lot of stuff to have room for my next project.  It is still overcrowded but I can at least have a small space on a table to create.

Since starting my front courtyard container garden I have grown lots and lots of ivy.  So much ivy that I started to give some away.  Then I decided to take some small cuttings and root them, plant them in small containers and sell them on Facebook Marketplace.

In order to keep the cost down, I thought I would use small containers that I can recycle from what I use at home.  I started with my coffee containers then used my butter containers then tried cat litter containers.  Finally decided to use styrofoam cups.  I drill holes in the bottom of these containers and then paint and decorate them.  Then add the soil and the cuttings.  I am really enjoying this project and look forward to making a few dollars.

I purchased some cute supplies at the craft store but the cost will be too high in order to make a profit.  So the cups are a great idea.  They are 20 for $.98 while the butter, coffee, and litter containers are between $3 and $5 and not available to me for a length of time.  

So off I go... creating and painting - once again.

Today is a good day.

My small work space.

Getting some inventory ready for plants.

These are so cute but will bring the price up.

The painted cups fit perfectly in these containers.

These were only $.99 but are too small. 

These are the coffee containers.

This is the bottom of a cat litter container covered with burlap.  

BROTHER STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH NAUSEA

Transported my brother to the cancer center today for his lab work and infusion of fluids.  He is feeling really bad and is low on potassium and magnesium.  They added these in his infusion and also included nausea meds and steroids.  This always makes him feel better but lasts only about 2 days.  He is to see the Radiation Oncologist next Wednesday.

He also met with his dietician who gave him a new feeding schedule for his PEG tube.  She said that he had maintained his weight so well that he could cut down his feeding to 4 times a day and only one box of the protein drink.

BROTHER'S FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT WITH RADIATION ONCOLOGIST

Transported my brother to the cancer center today.  His wife met us there.  We all met with the Radiation Oncologist who examined his neck and looked in his throat and said it all looked good.  He paid special attention to the burn on his neck.  Gave him a script for antibiotic cream.  Wants to see him in one week.

My brother's main complaint is the pain from the neck burn.  He is not complaining about pain in his throat which is rare.  His doctor said that this is the time when the pain really kicks in.  At this point in my treatment I was in some really bad pain and taking a lot of pain meds.

He was in a really bad mood today.  Seems angry at everybody.  Wants it to be all over.  In a way, it has just begun. 

BROTHER COMPLETED CHEMO AND RADIATION TREATMENT TODAY

Drove my brother to the cancer center this morning for his last of 3 chemo treatments and the last of 35 radiation treatments.  He was given a Ring The Bell ceremony at each department and given a small bell as a remembrance.  He also received a certificate from each department which was signed by the nurses and technicians.

It was a very long day.  We were there around 8:00am and left after 5:00pm.  He will still be going in for his fluid infusion every few days until he can maintain on his own.  It will probably be several weeks of infusions as the chemo treatment really takes its toll on his fluid balance.

The radiation burn on his neck is not looking good but will soon be on the mend.  He is putting two different types of cream on the burn.

His Medical Oncologist looked into his throat and said there is a hole where the tumor was.  He asked his wife and I if we wanted to see and we said yes - so we took a peek.  The two lymph nodes in his neck has reduced as well.  He won't be getting a PET scan for 3 months at which time we will know for sure if he is cancer free.  His Radiation Oncologist feels that it will be good news.

With radiation treatment you still cook for 4 to 6 weeks following the last treatment so he has a way to go with pain and discomfort.  Recovery is a slow process but it will get better.   He will probably continue feeding through his PEG tube for several more months.  He is getting good nutrition and keeping his weight at a good level - only lost a few pounds.  

BROTHER HAS BLISTER ON NECK.

On Monday October 7, I transported my brother to the cancer center for his radiation treatment and infusion.  He requested to see the Radiation Oncologist prior to his treatment in order to speak to him about the breakdown of the skin on his neck.  He was worried that the continued radiation treatments would make his neck worse and he feared an infection. 

The doctor he usually sees was out but he was able to see another oncologist named Dr. Low.  This doctor took a long time to explain things to him.  He went into detail as to what my brother could expect if he discontinued treatment.  It's a pretty horrible way to die from head and neck cancer.

He stressed the importance of nutrition.  His body needs the protein in order to heal.  My brother does not understand that the infusions he receives is not nutrition.  However, he is fighting nausea and does throw up his feedings so in order to keep his protein drinks down he needs to feed through his tube a lot slower and more often.

The doctor did mention continuous bag feeding which I had explained to my brother earlier.  However, the doctor said that he should wait on that and just try feeding slower and more often.

The doctor said his neck was not infected and gave him a script for Silverdeen cream.  Also said that it will get worse as the treatments continue.  He said that he could also give him an antibiotic patch that he can put on a couple of times a day.  This will all help him get through to his last treatment.  He only had 7 left at that time.

My brother will be receiving fluids every other day now -   Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.   The infusion includes nausea meds so this along with the 3 nausea pills he takes should help.

He is looking pretty bad these days.  Cheeks sunken in and eyes dark and sad.  He said he just wanted to die.  He doesn't feel that he is going to make it through this ordeal.

BROTHER DEHYDRATED AGAIN 7 DAYS AFTER SECOND CHEMO TREATMENT

It's been two days since his last infusion and he is really sick.  Very weak and nauseated.  Can not tolerate tube feeding.  Looks very bad with cheeks sunken in.  Very dehydrated.  The second chemo treatment is really kicking and taking its toll.

His neck is also starting to peel and crack from the radiation.  He is not cleaning it as he should and putting Aquaphor ointment several times a day.  He is not taking in the amount of water he needs to help with the dehydration.  He also refused Speech Therapy which would teach him how to help in swallowing.  I don't think this is the right time for that.  Maybe in a few weeks.  Right now he is not taking anything by mouth.

I spoke with his wife about getting an order for fluid infusion every day.  Also encouraged inpatient treatment for the third chemo treatment and after.

We will see the Medical Oncologist on the 16th prior to his third chemo treatment.  Hopefully we can discuss these issues at that time.

He is having the expected discomfort of no taste buds and smell is off - but no pain.  

Today he said he just wanted to die.  So little energy he used signs in order to communicate with us.  His throat is not hurting him, however, that radiation pain will be here in a few more weeks.