Friday, April 23, 2010 - I got up a bit early hoping to use the elliptical I saw yesterday as we walked by the hotel’s fitness center. When I went in I found out the elliptical was out-of-order so I had to use a treadmill. I am not much of a veteran on a treadmill, in fact I think I can count the number times I actually tried to work out on treadmill on one finger. (After today’s fiasco I know what finger I want to use to do that counting!) Keep in mind, I am not a very coordinated guy, I nearly fell off the thing 3 times! I am glad the other guy in there was not paying too much attention. I found a pace where I could stay on the thing and yet get a bit of a work-out. Breakfast was provided at the Holiday Inn and we left for the Radiation Therapy clinic at U of I.
The valet parking drop-off area was packed this morning, must be a lot of people going for treatment at that time of the day on Friday. At the reception desk, I was able to talk to Jeff behind the counter and tell him how much Kellee appreciates his greeting when he comes into the Radiation Therapy department. I set up the Treatment time for Monday @ 3:00 in the afternoon. We wanted to get it later on Monday so Heidi and Kellee won’t have to leave so early for Iowa City on Monday. We were reminded today we see the doctor. Kellee was called right away again and before I knew it his treatment was done. Kellee said they took some more x-rays today. We waited just a few minutes and we were called to go see the doctor. First they weighed Kellee, took vitals and then told us to wait in the room #2 across the hall.
The doctor asked Kellee how he was doing so far treatment, any sickness, etc. Kellee related his one episode of actually getting sick but it was because he hadn’t taken the zofran the night before. The doctor agreed he should take it on the 24 hour dosage rate instead of just “as needed” which was on the pill bottle. Kellee said other than that he feels “butterfly-ee” in the stomach once and a while and is tired.
We had a list of questions for the doctor and we were glad we had a chance to ask. We asked how the treatment will change once the course of radiation is completed on his spine. The mask will be different in that it was have a mouth guard and he won’t need the bean bag thingy that holds his legs in place, but he will still be lying down. We asked about how we had been told it would be OK to have either Heidi or I take a look at the set-up sometime, I wanted to know if taking a photo of the set-up would be allowed. I wanted to ask before we just did it. He said that would be fine. We are going to wait until the spine radiation focus is complete before we go in and take a look. So it won’t be until after next week that we will have a photo to post of the set-up. Another question was about the scheduled appointment we had made with the ophthalmologist in June, should we still go? He said it would be a good idea to see how the vision may have changed. Then Kellee asked if his vision would go back to normal for him (no double vision)? The doctor did not give an affirmative answer on this question. He said there may be improvement, but it is also possible that 6 months down the road there could still be no change. It is just one of those things we will have to wait and see. We asked about Kellee’s jaw soreness. Dr. S. said in some patients they experience some soreness in the glands (I am sorry I don’t remember the official medical name) at the back of the jaw for the duration of the treatment. Kellee wanted to know his opinion of using the pressure point wrist bands? Dr. S. said he was just at a department meeting where these were discussed and the basic conclusion was – no hard a fast data on them but why not use them, they can’t hurt and are relatively inexpensive. There may have been a few other questions, but they do not matter. We asked about the x-rays taken today and the doc said that was for the radiation treatment to make sure they were hitting the right spots. We then asked the one question we get asked often and have never been able to give a definitive answer. Is the tumor actually benign or malignant? “It is malignant, but if it is possible it is the good kind of malignant in that it is very treatable with radiation. So Kellee asked the doctor, “that means I am lucky to get this one right?” Dr. S. was reluctant to say Kellee was lucky, but he said compared to most of the brain tumor patients he sees, Kellee’s situation is so much better. Then Kellee said: “I have been hesitant to say this, but this means I do have cancer right?” ”Yes, you have brain cancer” was the reply, “but the prognosis is very good.” (Anyway you look at it, you could say it is a blessing it is the type of the tumor it is!) Our last question was about the medical records we had requested, we got everything but the one thing Kellee really wanted to see – an image of the MRI, would it be possible to get one. “Do you want a disk or want me to print one off?” he asked. “A disk would be great!” They would fill out a request and send it to the medical imaging film management area and we could pick it up in about 10 minutes! It turns out when we got to the Film Management area, we were told it would be at least 45 minutes, but they offered to mail it, to which we agreed. So sometime next week, look for a possible image of the MRI.
On the way home Kellee wanted to work on some songs to see if they could be used and or changed for their show in Ames on Saturday. It was like my own private concert, which made the rainy drive so much better! When we got home, Kellee called the Hope Lodge to check on when we will be able to get in there and was told that they will not have a room for us next week. But assured him the following week there would be a room. The person he spoke to recommended a few places to us. She said cancer patients can stay at the Heartland Inn in Cedar Rapids for free, but he was not so sure he wanted to do that drive each day. There is also the Heartland Inn in Iowa City which has good rates and she also mentioned the Suburban Extended Stay in Coralville which has even a bit better rates for Hope Lodge recommended patients but, they have suites including kitchen facilities. At least we know for when we need to make the arrangements and it sounds like we have some reasonable options.
