bunchofheather

Category: brain mets

  • February 8, 2023 – It Was a Good Run

    After almost seven years of living with his diagnosis, M is gone.

    I thought we were ready. We weren’t.

  • October 29, 2022 – The Word Hospice Carries a Lot of Baggage.

    Because hospice comes with so much baggage I struggled with how to discuss it with M. Then I was lucky in that Dr. M had the new doctor in the clinic suggest it. I’m pretty sure Dr. M was motivated by never wanting to have to deal with M again, but however we got here, I’ll take it.

    We met with the paperwork person Thursday, the nurse came Friday morning, they delivered a portable oxygen concentrater Friday afternoon, then today the pharmacy delivered the emergency pain comfort kit. M said if he’d known this would be the care level he’d have signed on months ago.

    He’s still the healthiest sick person I know but we’re definitely seeing progression in pain levels, the struggle to keep weight on, and weaknesses. It’s good to know the support system is now in place if / when things get worse.

  • March 14, 2021 – Just Out Here, in Isolation

    Next Saturday, Shot #2

    The Saturday after that? Lowe’s, in a mask. M has been a model in lockdown.

    Then, during the week after that he has a CT scan & Dr K.

    We’re almost at five full years!

  • July 3, 2020 – Better is Better than Nothing

    So M is nowhere near 100% <–understatement. But, he is decidedly better than he was on my last post.  He’s napping at the moment, he’s definitely more easily fatigued.

    I don’t think it was Covid-19.  Though that is continually a fear.  M has a lot of co-morbidities.

    He’s scheduled to go see Dr. K at the end of July, and Dr. L at the beginning of August.  I won’t go to the Dr. K appointment, there’s nothing to be gained by doing so – there’s no testing and Dr. K never seems to have anything worthwhile to discuss when there’s been no testing.  I’ll definitely go to the Dr. L appointment, the idea that all this weirdness recently could be a new tumor is not lost on me.

  • July 14, 2019 – Nothing to See Here

    M’s MRI was clear and his CT scan had no changes. Dr. L says he doesn’t need to see him again for a year unless we notice any neurological changes. Dr. K will see him in October but there won’t be a CT Scan at that time. So for now? Life is going on as normal…

    M is out mowing. He does most of his normal activities and is maintaining his weight. So for now, there probably won’t be many updates here!

  • November 24, 2018 – Another Clear MRI

    If you knew M, you’d know he’s the last person you’d expect to be a healthy sick person! But, he is! Wednesday he saw Dr. L for an MRI and his brain was clean!

    January he’ll have a CT scan for the lungs. So, continually monitoring but nothing needing done.

  • January 16, 2018 – M’s Brain’s Been Zapped Again

    Last Thursday was Gamma Knife #4 treating brain tumors #16 & #17… all went well. M got tired Friday – Sunday but is back to pretty much normal again. Now we’re on reprieve until at least April / May barring any bumps in the road. May will be TWO years since diagnosis!

  • December 18, 2017 – Results

    No change in the lungs, one new brain tumor. Gamma Knife in January, we’ll hit our out of pocket max on Jan 11, two days earlier than last year. Last year he had his scan in December and had one and when we went back in January there were ten. Hopefully we don’t have that again.

  • January 15, 2016 – Well, that sucked.

    Friday was M’s Gamma Knife with Dr. L. The Gamma Knife itself went well, uneventful.  The news though, sucked.

    Let’s backtrack, after the last post, I was able to read M’s MRI report… we misheard, there were three, not two, new tumors with evidence of activity that might be a fourth.  Okay, we figured maybe that possible fourth would grow enough to be zapped.
    It did, along with six more.  Yep. When they did the MRI in preparation for the Gamma Knife, they found ten brain tumors. The three green pea sized ones from December?  Now chick pea sized. With seven green pea sized ones joining them.

    All ten got zapped, but how many are waiting in the recessess, ready to grow?  I guess we’ll find out at the next MRI at the end of April. 

    In the meantime, M will have a CT Scan at the end of March… we’ll get those results April 11th.  

    Until then?  Hope he doesn’t get the flu or a cold or that anything else goes wrong. It’d be nice if his pain could keep decreasing. Regaining fine motor control and feeling in his hands, losing the numbness in his feet… any of that would be a bonus as well. 

  • December 14, 2016 – Catching up with M

    We found out October 24th that the lung tumor shrunk.  He’ll see Dr. K in January but won’t have a new CT scan until March. 

    Today was an MRI and appointment with Dr. L.  There are new brain tumors, two, maybe three. Gamma Knife is scheduled for January 13.

    The pain continues. Not as bad but there everyday. 

    We’re at seven months since diagnosis.