It seems like a long time since my last post but I do want to thank those of you who have been supporting us in prayers and with calls, emails and texts. These are really encouraging to Sonja so please continue to feel free to share any encouragement you have.
The day of my last "blog" was when I finally persuaded Sonja that maybe she needed to be seen by a doctor at hospital for that sore stomach and all that went with it. She is never keen to go to hospital at all so this was a mini miracle in itself!
We had great doctors and nurses who recommended that an urgent CT scan was required to see if they could pinpoint the cause of the pain. This meant admission to Auckland Hospital. By this point the doctors had the picture that Sonja wasn't keen on this plan as it meant admission to hospital. So a deal was struck which meant staying during the day, getting fluids and some drugs and monitoring, but being able to go home at night to sleep at home. I was amazed at this and how it all worked out so everyone got the required result.
The CT scan was done and initially showed no real change as far as disease goes since the scan which brought us bad news in December. This was not unusual as the chemotherapies haven't had enough time to show any measurable change yet. However after the full reading of the scan a blood clot was discovered near Sonja's liver. This is obviously not good but treatable and the fact that it was spotted so early is good. The CT scan was not planned so soon, and was only done as a result of the mysterious sore stomach. So the sore stomach did bring about something good.
The treatment for the blood clot is a daily injection of something called "Clexane". I have had a crash course in administering an injection and seem to have landed the job permanently. Seems like this will go on for 6 months and then revisited by the hospital.
Sonja had a follow up assessment with the oncologist last Wednesday. He was quite positive. He thinks the sore stomach was not the result of the "Tykerb Lapatinib" and Sonja is back on those on a slightly reduced dose. She also had her intravenous chemotherapy last Friday.
He thinks overall she is responding the treatment and is happy for her to continue.
The past few weeks have been hard, and confusing at times but I am amazed at the strength of Sonja and how she is able to face every day with determination to win this thing and there is not a day when she doesn't have a smile for something. She is no doubt the bravest and strongest person I know!
Things to pray for are:
• Sonja to regain strength from the ordeal of the past weeks
• No return of the sore stomach
• Side effects of all treatments to be minimal
• All treatments to work even better than expected.
• Denis to get the injection in with no pain
• Wisdom for the medical people as we go forward to make great decisions
Thank you all once again for your support, initially your financial help, but now it's moral support, prayer support and encouragement. This is so valued and you will never really know how important it is to us.
Denis.
Sunday 19 February 2012
Monday 6 February 2012
Tuesday 6th February
Since my last post on the 25th January we have had some "ups" and also some "downs" on our journey.
The chemotherapy Sonja had just 2 days after my last blog was a slight increase in dosage and the nurse who did the cannulation got it in first time and it went well. (Thanks for prayers which were answered) . Sonja was experiencing some of the symptoms from the chemotherapy including aches, pains and fatigue, but on Tuesday just gone she started to experience a sore stomach which was like a cramp. This continued for a few more days. On Friday just past (Feb 3rd) she was due to have another injection of chemotherapy but as she still had a very sore stomach and wasn't really eating much I asked for a doctor to check her out prior to more chemo.
The end result of this was the oncologist suspected that the "Tykerb" tablets were possibly the cause of the sore stomach and that we should reduce the dose slightly. Sonja didn't have chemotherapy on Friday as she was really quite unwell and the chemo on top of this was going to be too much on the day.
She has had a hard few days since Friday with a very sore stomach and general weakness from lack of food for many days. However I am pleased to report that she has had a better day today (especially in the second half of the day). She had some liquid nutritional drink, and even some food. Believe me this is a big step forward compared to the last few days!
We value all of your prayers and support so much! The last week has been hard but we are determined to win this battle and we know we can.
Prayer points are:
For the sore stomach to be well.
Sonja to regain her strength from the toll the last week has taken on her.
For the reduced dose of the "Tykerb" tablets to be the key to the sore stomach problem.
For us all as a family to stay strong.
For the drugs to work to their maximum potential and the side effects to be minimal.
Thank you all in advance for your support and standing with us.
Denis.
The chemotherapy Sonja had just 2 days after my last blog was a slight increase in dosage and the nurse who did the cannulation got it in first time and it went well. (Thanks for prayers which were answered) . Sonja was experiencing some of the symptoms from the chemotherapy including aches, pains and fatigue, but on Tuesday just gone she started to experience a sore stomach which was like a cramp. This continued for a few more days. On Friday just past (Feb 3rd) she was due to have another injection of chemotherapy but as she still had a very sore stomach and wasn't really eating much I asked for a doctor to check her out prior to more chemo.
The end result of this was the oncologist suspected that the "Tykerb" tablets were possibly the cause of the sore stomach and that we should reduce the dose slightly. Sonja didn't have chemotherapy on Friday as she was really quite unwell and the chemo on top of this was going to be too much on the day.
She has had a hard few days since Friday with a very sore stomach and general weakness from lack of food for many days. However I am pleased to report that she has had a better day today (especially in the second half of the day). She had some liquid nutritional drink, and even some food. Believe me this is a big step forward compared to the last few days!
We value all of your prayers and support so much! The last week has been hard but we are determined to win this battle and we know we can.
Prayer points are:
For the sore stomach to be well.
Sonja to regain her strength from the toll the last week has taken on her.
For the reduced dose of the "Tykerb" tablets to be the key to the sore stomach problem.
For us all as a family to stay strong.
For the drugs to work to their maximum potential and the side effects to be minimal.
Thank you all in advance for your support and standing with us.
Denis.
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