The “C” Word – Day 127 Surgery follow up

Yesterday we had another follow up with the surgeon.  From the reaction, we gather that they feel George is doing stupendously.  We feel things are moving slowly – but they are more than pleased at the progress he is making.

We discussed nutrition and diet some to see what can be done to assist in getting George’s organs to function more closely to normal.  The doctor said this part is experimental and will depend on George to monitor things.  Take something out and see if it makes a difference.  Try this, try that.

Our first mini-step will be taking milk and cheese out of the diet for a couple of days.  If that works, then we maintain that for a while.  If it doesn’t, plan B will be to try some Metamucil and/or Immodium to see if that helps.   One of those three things should be of help. 

The doctor is still suggesting that George try some sort of high-protein thing once a day as well as add in some additional electrolytes (i.e. Gatorade, coconut water).  He also said he should be taking a multi-vitamin.  These are all things I have offered to him and suggested to him but he still is giving some push-back on.  Coming from the doctor (again), perhaps he is starting to listen??

The one thing that concerns George is that the largest of the abscesses is apparently not all the way gone.  He is wondering if there is something he can do to help that but he forgot to ask the doctor.  Not sure that there is anything except allowing the body time to absorb the fluid.  The doctor did not seem concerned. 

The good thing we found out is that even though the oncologist indicated that he thought the first CT scan would be in January (the 3 month mark), Dr. Bastidas said that due to the slow growth nature of this cancer that he will do it between the 4 and 6 month post-surgery period.  This would be our baseline CT scan for future “watch”.  He does not want to do it yet because there has been so much done internally to George plus the additional abscesses that to do it sooner would have to many other obstructions in the way to get a good baseline scan.  After the first year he will do one annually.

Our next appointment will be at the end of February! Whoopee!  The appointments between the oncologist and surgeon are starting to be stretched out a bit.  That sure is a nice feeling.  It has also now been about a month since George’s release from the hospital (the 2^nd time around) – and we have not had any major incidences - - so we are grateful for that.

After the appointment and after some lunch, George went on a short shopping trip.  His skinniest of skinny jeans were not small enough so I had purchased an inexpensive pair of the next size down.  He wanted to get a pair of trousers to wear to church on Christmas Eve and also a belt that fit.

This weekend I hope to get some serious baking done so I have some goodies to give people!  I got a few things done last weekend.  This is an attempt at “normalcy”!  Last weekend Steph helped me put the outside lights up.  George said that there are a couple of areas where they are drooping a little bit.  My comment, “At least they are up!”  He agreed. 

On a side note: For the past few weeks we have had to deal with George’s mom having viral pneumonia.  This has meant additional care for her as she could not go to daycare.  George’s sister spent a lot of time at the house taking care of mom during the day while the caregivers still did their morning and evening shifts.  She appears to be doing better in the pneumonia arena but this has left her very weak and unsteady on her feet.  She started back to daycare for just a few hours a day for the past couple of days – today we will try for her normal Saturday routine of about 6 hours and see how she does. Tomorrow I will be on-duty with her – and will allow her to sleep in until her body says she is ready to get up.  This house is sort of a mixed up “sandwich generation” where I care for hubby and mother in law rather than mother in law and young children.  When I went to the caregiver meeting last week and said that I also care for my mother in law who has Alzheimer’s (and laughed while I said it), they all looked at me with amazement.  I said, “Hey, at least I am still laughing!”  God has some warped sense of humor sometimes… and laughter is a glorious way of coping.