Almost Done!!!

Getting excited to be done with radiation and weekly chemo treatments next Wednesday the 28th of May!!  After that,  just two more chemo treatments on Jun 18th and July 9th.  Those will be a triple dose of the drugs John is currently getting. 

John will just drive to Santa Monica the night before, spend the night, get the treatments and drive home.

After that,  just PET scans every three months to make sure the tumor is totally gone.  

We can't thank everyone enough for all the help, visits, cards, and messages.  It's been a long haul again but we got through it again too!!  

We are looking forward to getting back to our normal lives, just in time to enjoy our lovely back yard and swimming pool for the summer!!  

Stay tuned, I will post some pictures soon!!  

Love,  Elaine & John

Great News Today!!!!

John is feeling great after hearing from his Dr. that the tumor has shrunk at least 30% of it's original size!!  There is no more pressure on his lung or esophagus so he is breathing and eating better so he naturally feels much better.

His eating habits are back to normal and he's gained a few little pounds which he desperately needs!! His spirits are high.

John had a scan today to get an accurate reading on the tumor so his radiation oncologist can target what is remaining of the tumor more accurately now that it has shrunk so much!!

YEAH!! YEAH!! YEAH!!

Thanks for all you support!!  Love, Elaine & John

Two weeks done!!

John is starting to eat better now so the tumor must be shrinking!!  Yeah!  After a busy weekend with family visiting, John is with his brother Rick who is taking good care of him and feeding him well.  Rick's main task I left him with is to fatten John up a bit.  I think he's doing a great job!!  Thanks Rick.  

John completed 9 of 33 treatments and two chemos so far.  No icky side effects from chemo yet, hopefully there won't be any.  All else is well. 

John taking a walk on the sunny Santa Monica Pier.  One end of the famous Route 66, which he hopes to ride some day soon!!

Novalis TX Radiation Machine

John lays motionless on this for 20 minutes each day.

First Week Done!!

We've been here over a week now and things are going ok.  We've already had a  some visits  from the Kluve's!   Charlotte is such a cutie she brings so much joy!!

Natalie arrived yesterday too!!  John is happiest when he is with his children, and now of course, with his granddaughter!!

John has completed 5 of 33 radiation treatments and one chemo treatment so far.  He is doing OK, a little tired and not able to eat much other than liquids and pureed foods.

Radiation is daily and chemo once a week.

Our apartment is nice and very convenient to everything.  We can walk to radiation treatments and all the shopping we need (Trader Joe's, Target, Rite Aid and Ralph's).  Don't need anything more than that.

Stay tuned for pictures!!

p.s.

Here we go again...

As most of you may know by now, John has been diagnosed with Metastatic Lung Cancer.

Wow!  We were blind sighted by all of this, as life was going so well, enjoying family, friends, travel, and everything good that goes along with all those things. Things are still good though. There are so many positive things in our lives and the only worry we currently have is getting John the treatment he needs.


 We are so lucky to have so many family members and friends that have already helped so much and continue to help us through this.

 Thirty sessions of radiation concurrent with chemotherapy to knock this thing down again starting Tuesday 4/15/14 (don't forget to pay your taxes!!) at UCLA.

 I will do my best to keep the blog updated as things progress, so check back periodically and leave John a note.

Much love,

Elaine and John

YIPPPPEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First post treatment PET scan results are in. Clean as a whistle. Thank you to everyone for their love and support over the last nine months!!!

Friday June 11, 2010

Well we have been home six weeks now and John has been slowly getting better. Little by little each day he is improving. It's hard to believe that radiation is eight weeks behind him now. It seems like an eternity ago. John has had one follow up appointment with his radiation oncologist and he has another one July 1st. They told him he is recuperating well and even though he is very tired and weak. We are looking forward to his PET / CT scan the end of July. This will verify that the cancer was attacked effectively and fully.

Wednesday April 21, 2010

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! John completed his radiation and he had a great turnout of friends and family for his graduation!! A photo will be posted as soon as I get it from those with the camera's. We are still staying in Santa Monica to be close to UCLA for a couple of weeks while John gets some IV hydration three times a week and starts to regain some strength. He is still very tired, grumpy and feeling miserable but seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.. Stay tuned for that ever so wonderful graduation photo!!

Friday April 16th 2010

Can't remember all that has happened since the last post. I know John had some great visits from SFD pals. Even though he could not talk long he really appreciates the visits. A bunch of them did get a glimpse of Jennifer Aniston walking from her car to the entrance of the Casa del Mar across the street from our apartment. She was filming a movie with Adam Sandler. Apparently, there has been quite a bit of filming going on around here.

John had a bit of a low after all the visitors left. He became extremely tired and had a few more side effects from the chemo and radiation. He is now done with chemo, after his 12th dose this last Tuesday!! He is very excited about that. He should have been done with the radiation yesterday but finish date was postponed until this coming Monday, the 19th. He is PSYCHED about that for sure. He is still getting IV hydration three times a week for the next two weeks before we head home.

It's been a long haul but the light at the end of the tunnel is now right in front of us. If all goes as expected, we will be headed home on May 2nd. After that it's rehab for John to start eating and regaining his weight and strength. We have follow up appointments with radiation and chemo oncologists towards the end of May. After that, we wait three months for the first PET Scan after treatment to make sure the docs, machines and drugs beat the beast!! We thank you again for all your continued support and can't wait to see everyone back in Stockton.

Stay tuned for a picture of John's graduation from radiation on Monday!!!

Elaine and John