FROM JAMES - PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BLOG IS MOVING TO CARING BRIDGE. Please go to the following website and bookmark it.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/beautifulbride0994
Caring Bridge should allow you to more easily post comments (without needing a google, aim, etc. account).
I have moved all updates to the "Journal" area of the Caring Bridge site. I will also attempt to move all comments to date. Thank you.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Thursday, August 12th
Lynne is finally home and resting. She had a good final night with pain under control. Some increased pain and anxiety upon hospital release. We got to the PET scan center and through the procedure ok. Great care all around! Results should be in by tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Wednesday, 8/11
Lynne's pain levels are getting more under control today, but not enough to get her released from the hospital. She will spend one more night before tomorrow's PET scan scheduled for 1pm and expected transition to HOME! Thanks for your continued support.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Tuesday, 8/10
It was kind of a tough day for Lynne pain-wise, but she improved during the course of the day and is expected to be released on Wednesday. The medical people had to work our way off IV drugs to pills only in order to be able to release her. The Pet scan has been moved to Thursday at 1pm, since it has to be done as an outpatient procedure (???), and it would not have been possible to have her released in time for the originally scheduled PET scan. Thanks for the prayers, visits, and great support from family and friends.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Monday, August 9th, 10pm
From James from Paoli hospital --> Please continue to pray for Lynne and our immediate/extended family. This week has already become even more difficult than we anticipated. Today was our first meeting with our oncologist, and we received confirmation of what we suspected - the diagnosis is stage 4 adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. It is stage 4 because the cancer has already metastasized to at least two places (sternum/bone and liver/soft tissue). Detection of the liver growths are based on an ultrasound and CT scan - and are expected to be confirmed via PET scan this Wednesday. The PET scan, along with some blood work and other tests, is expected to provide a solid basis for a treatment plan.
After a few days of significant discomfort from the surgical biopsy, Lynne dramatically improved during our week in Michigan. We went from being concerned that we might run out of pain medication while away from home to relying only on Advil - or even nothing at all at times. However, since we traveled home on Friday some sternum pain had returned and has been slowly increasing in intensity. This afternoon at about 4:30pm Lynne had intense pain in her sternum area – to the point where we had to call for an ambulance. She is resting peacefully now and is being kept overnight at the hospital. We will meet with the oncologist again in the morning.
After a few days of significant discomfort from the surgical biopsy, Lynne dramatically improved during our week in Michigan. We went from being concerned that we might run out of pain medication while away from home to relying only on Advil - or even nothing at all at times. However, since we traveled home on Friday some sternum pain had returned and has been slowly increasing in intensity. This afternoon at about 4:30pm Lynne had intense pain in her sternum area – to the point where we had to call for an ambulance. She is resting peacefully now and is being kept overnight at the hospital. We will meet with the oncologist again in the morning.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Update from Vacation at Gull Lake, MI
From Lynne: After the crisis of last week, our time away from home has been a fantastic and much needed break. The pain meds are working and I am starting to feel much better. My sister, Barb, and her family had previously planned to join us this year which has been extra special under the circumstances. An unexpected blessing came when we found out some good friends from our old church in Wheaton, IL are also at GL this week. Our children are enjoying themselves immensely, which brings great joy to our hearts.
We haven't heard any results this week. We have an appt scheduled for Monday morning when we return. We anticipate hearing final test results, a treatment plan and perhaps more detailed testing. I welcome your continued prayers on my/our behalf as it will no doubt be a difficult week. I can honestly say that God has given me a peace beyond understanding this week. Of course I think a lot about what is happening in my life, but I am not in despair. So many of you have carried me already with your fervent prayers. Please do not stop! I need it!
We haven't heard any results this week. We have an appt scheduled for Monday morning when we return. We anticipate hearing final test results, a treatment plan and perhaps more detailed testing. I welcome your continued prayers on my/our behalf as it will no doubt be a difficult week. I can honestly say that God has given me a peace beyond understanding this week. Of course I think a lot about what is happening in my life, but I am not in despair. So many of you have carried me already with your fervent prayers. Please do not stop! I need it!
Friday, July 30, 2010
July 30th
--> From James: Friday, July 30th
Very difficult day yesterday and long road ahead. The result of yesterday’s out-patient surgery for Lynne was, unfortunately, as expected - and confirmed the concerns various radiologists had with the CT scan result. About 98% of a malignant tumor was removed from the sternum via surgical biopsy. It left behind a hole in the breastbone/sternum about the size of a quarter. The CT scan suggests that a related, larger tumor is in the liver. We are trying to get a full PET scan done - but this will have to wait until next week when the pathology report is in and any swelling from the surgery is diminished. The full pathology report on the removed tumor (due by ~Tuesday and should tell cancer type, primary/secondary, etc.) and a PET scan should give us the information we need to decide on treatment. At this point the doctors do not believe this cancer is related to microscopic traces found post-thyroid surgery this past January.
We leave for vacation tomorrow morning, but we might cut it short if we are able to take additional test/treatment steps as early as late next week.
*****
--> From Lynne: Wednesday, July 28th:
I am writing to ask for prayer. It has been a difficult week -- I will try and sum it up quickly. I have been having chest pain over the past 3 months that has gotten progressively worse. On Monday, after many, many tests, they found a growth on my sternum and in the liver. Radiologists believe that both are tumors and most likely malignant. Tomorrow at 12 noon I am having a biopsy/outpatient surgical procedure on the sternum growth at Paoli Hospital. (This was scheduled late this afternoon.) The plan is to remove as much of the growth as possible. They are hoping to know soon after the procedure if this growth is benign or malignant. Further testing will be done which will take longer perhaps well into next week before all the results are in. The doc anticipates sending the results to specialists for a second opinion. We are scheduled to leave Sat. for a week of vacation in MI. I will have adequate pain meds and they are saying that it is okay to go. Next week will most likely be a lot of finalizing tests results and getting everything transferred to the appropriate doctors.
*****
Very difficult day yesterday and long road ahead. The result of yesterday’s out-patient surgery for Lynne was, unfortunately, as expected - and confirmed the concerns various radiologists had with the CT scan result. About 98% of a malignant tumor was removed from the sternum via surgical biopsy. It left behind a hole in the breastbone/sternum about the size of a quarter. The CT scan suggests that a related, larger tumor is in the liver. We are trying to get a full PET scan done - but this will have to wait until next week when the pathology report is in and any swelling from the surgery is diminished. The full pathology report on the removed tumor (due by ~Tuesday and should tell cancer type, primary/secondary, etc.) and a PET scan should give us the information we need to decide on treatment. At this point the doctors do not believe this cancer is related to microscopic traces found post-thyroid surgery this past January.
We leave for vacation tomorrow morning, but we might cut it short if we are able to take additional test/treatment steps as early as late next week.
*****
--> From Lynne: Wednesday, July 28th:
I am writing to ask for prayer. It has been a difficult week -- I will try and sum it up quickly. I have been having chest pain over the past 3 months that has gotten progressively worse. On Monday, after many, many tests, they found a growth on my sternum and in the liver. Radiologists believe that both are tumors and most likely malignant. Tomorrow at 12 noon I am having a biopsy/outpatient surgical procedure on the sternum growth at Paoli Hospital. (This was scheduled late this afternoon.) The plan is to remove as much of the growth as possible. They are hoping to know soon after the procedure if this growth is benign or malignant. Further testing will be done which will take longer perhaps well into next week before all the results are in. The doc anticipates sending the results to specialists for a second opinion. We are scheduled to leave Sat. for a week of vacation in MI. I will have adequate pain meds and they are saying that it is okay to go. Next week will most likely be a lot of finalizing tests results and getting everything transferred to the appropriate doctors.
*****
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