Wow. What a ride. As I post this we have 2 … yes 2 … radiation treatments to go. Where did the time go? Thankfully – fast! Yet the last 3 or 4 are full of what if’s more than anticipation. What if the mask is too big? What if he can’t keep the weight up for a few more days? What if we need to stop everything for a new mask? What if…
We have an extra prescription rinse now for a bit of a thrush infection. Hard to tell what is a mouth sore and what is thrush. The numbing gel works well too. Ken is still being a trooper eating his porridge and fruit for breakfast. Goopy pasta/sauce working not bad but hard to swallow. Big push with Ensure too. Funny enough taste buds are picking up a few things other than coffee and chocolate. We’re told it can go up and down like that. He can’t wait to taste again.
We cracked open the liquid codeine Ken’s been staring at this weekend. The dose is the same as a Tylenol 3 (without the Tylenol) so not as bad as it sounds. It worked well. He’s been getting by with the rinses and regular strength Tylenol. Weight has been dipping a bit in our morning weigh in’s but we’re able to plump him up during the day.
Monday we had radiation treatment #33 and our regular appointment with Dr. Read the radiation oncologist. She calls Ken her poster child for his determination and progress with maintaining the weight and not needing a feeding tube or 2nd mask. She can tell the difference of a patient with a positive attitude and a good caregiver! Everyone comments on how good his skin is holding up…thanks to Ally and our homemade umm ‘lotion’. We won’t see Dr. Read now for 4 weeks. That gives everything time to heal. Then they take a good look inside and out. If everything looks good, we go back in a month or so. If not, we go back sooner. They can typically tell what’s going on by looking and feeling. Anything out of the ordinary and a new CT scan would be done. Dr. Read thinks based on Ken’s weight and size of his neck, we’ll be able to tell without a scan. We got some repeat prescriptions ‘just in case’ we needed them before we go back. Radiation keeps working on everything for about 4 weeks after your last treatment. It takes about a week and a half to notice changes and for your body to kick in and start healing. As for Teddy...it's hard to get a good picture of him lately. Let's just say the area looks more like a Bin Laden cave - empty - and is expected to heal over. And Lenny...Dr's can't feel anything abnormal in his neck anymore. So here's to hoping!
As you know we had taken on the approach that we were up for this fight. It may be a 12 rounder, or we might knock it out in 10 rounds. While we are not drinking raw eggs, we prepared like Rocky and Muhammad Ali combined. Kenny, I will be your Adrian any day. The other encouraging thing is that you were all in our corner, and helped us tie up the boxing gloves.
Thank you.
Xx
S
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