Radiation Treatments Complete 09/20/2007(but not the side-effects)

Robin finally finished her radiation treatments. Hooray!!!
Unfortunately, the side effects have been fairly brutal during the last week and a half. Robin has not been able to keep anything she swallows inside of her. It just comes right back up, if not immediately, then within a half hour or so. One of the side effects of this radiation treatment was nausea, probably because of collateral damage to the esophagus. Even water doesn’t stay down. The doctors have prescribed several anti-nausea medications, but they haven’t seemed to help yet. I suggested that we should go out to dinner to celebrate the completion of the radiation treatments, but Robin turned me down! I even told her I’d drink her Margaritas for her, since she’s sick. She still turned me down. Bummer!

On the positive side, the back pain has abated somewhat, possibly from shrinkage of the tumors in the bone from the radiation treatments. This is especially good because she cannot keep the pain medications inside for very long.

Robin’s Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Hatch, is out of town this week. Robin wants to wait until she returns to find out what the next step is. We want to see if she can get the vertebra repaired. She’s also supposed to start chemotherapy (hopefully, an oral medication) soon after the completion of radiation. But Robin believes she should get over the nausea before she moves to the next step. If this radiation treatment is like her first, the burning will continue (and get worst) for another week, then start to improve. I’m hoping she can start eating sooner than that.

Well, that’s about it, for now. It has been very frustrating for me to watch, not being able to do anything to alleviate the symptoms, but with luck (and answered prayers), it should start turning around soon. We hope to talk to Dr. Hatch soon and find out what we do next. I’ll send out another update when we know.

Until then, keep the prayers going.

Love to you all,

                  Larry and Robin (and John)

Let the Radiation Begin - Update on Robin as of 09/03/2007

Robin has been a busy girl during the last two weeks. She attempted to get an MRI on Monday, August 20th, but she was too claustrophobic, even with a sedative, so they finally gave up. On Tuesday, she got the MRI at another facility that had an “Open MRI.” The MRI took over four hours and did not find any other real problems in Robin’s spine. On Monday, August 27th, she had a combined PET Scan & CT Scan.

On Thursday, August 30th, Robin and I met with her Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Hatch, and resident, Dr. Rao, at UTMB in Galveston. They went over the test results and said that there was no indication of cancer in any other place except the T-11 vertebra. They had already discussed the possibility of the "kyphoplasty" (ki'-fo-plass-tee) (I think this is the right name) with a doctor who specializes in the procedure. The specialist was of the opinion that Robin needed Radiation first since the cancer tumors were getting close to the anterior wall (I think). They set up Robin for the radiation simulation (where they determine the proper alignment of the machine) on Friday, the 31st. Radiation treatments will begin on Tuesday and are expected to take two and a half weeks. After radiation, she should get the kyphoplasty to repair the vertebra and then start chemotherapy.

Robin’s pain has been increasing during the past two weeks. Her doctors have prescribed pain medications, including a patch and several types of oral medications. They also prescribed medicines to counteract some of their side effects, such as anti-nausea meds and stool softeners. Let me just say that the latter worked a little too well, confining Robin to the house over the weekend. Anyway, the kyphoplasty should alleviate the pain if and when the procedure is performed.

Robin has not seen well since the scans began. She is required to lay down when they do the scans, and that stirs up the blood in her eye. She believes she might have bled some more, as well. Anyway, her vision is not as bad as it has been in the past, but it is not good enough to read the newspaper or play music. Since her radiation treatments will also require lying down, she is not likely to get any better for the next month.

John is back in school at Blinn and taking a light load while continuing to work part time at Walgreen’s in College Station. I am working hard at Boeing, trying to put twelve pounds of potatoes in a ten pound bag. It is definitely a challenge, but one I appreciate having.

Thanks to all who have been keeping Robin in their prayers and thoughts. A special thanks to those who have gone the extra mile to send cards, call, offer to take Robin out, etc. I hope you will continue to keep her in mind, even when she has felt too poorly to go or to talk. It is reassuring to know that she is in your thoughts and prayers. Please continue to pray for Robin. We will continue to pray for each of you, and for all those with cancer.

Love from the Burnses,

            Larry and Robin (and John)