Something else in the Scan

Sean was suppose to have chemotherapy Thursday morning but instead we ended up at the hospital being admitted. When he woke up Thursday morning we were rushed because his schedule had been altered due to him missing radiation the week before. We realized both his chemotherapy and radiation both were scheduled for 10 a.m. When we realized this I began putting Sean some clothes togather to wear while dressing myself so we wouldn't be late. He asked me for the trashcan and before I knew it he had vomited in the floor. He threw up clear fluid and after a moment seemed fine. He told me he thought he had sat up too quickly and was now okay. Once we were at radiation he threw up again in the radiation room. He came out carrying a pink tub and the doctor there told us that she thought it would be best for him to go to the downtown hospital for admittance on arrival. She explained due to the past mets of Seans cancer she was being cautious. Once we arrived at the hospital we went to the Chemotherapy floor and instead of his chemo Sean recieved some fluids through his PICC line. We sat there waiting for him to be admitted until almost 2:30 pm. Once in his room they took several vials of blood and scheduled for Sean to have either an MRI or Cat scan. Around one in the morning they took Sean down for his MRI then took him later around five in the morning for his CAT scan. We were expected only one of the scans but ended up with both. Near 10 am on Friday one of the hospital doctors came in and spoke with us and said she believed the old "dead" lesion in Seans brain was the same and nothing was new. A few hours later another doctor came in and told us otherwise.After looking at the MRI and CAT scans they determined there was another mass in Seans brain on the opposite side. They were suprised that it had not been bothering him and that he had only vomited Thursday morning. The paper called it"A new large peripherally enhancing right parietal occipital lobe mass with diffuse surrounding vasogenic edema and with mass effect on the occipital horn of the right lateral ventricle". They gave him Zophran,Compazine and Decadron. They decided to schedule him for Simulation Sterotactic Radiosurgery this coming Monday morning. They decided also to discharge him Saturday around lunch time because all of his symptoms were well under control and in great shape considering. His chemotherapy has been placed on hold as his doctor said the brain takes priority over the lung but they will continue the radiation on the lung which is scheduled to end next Thursday. I will update when I have more. I also added apicture I took of him during discharge.

The Port a Cath

We arrived at a new hospital pretty early this morning. The reason for the difference in hospitals is there are only two that do this type of outpatient surgery around us. Also this particular surgery was booked up close to three weeks and they needed Seans in place by Monday. Once there they took him back for prep and handed us an American Pager which looked like a table coaster with lights. They told us they would let us see him before the procedure and would alert us when we could. About an hour or so later we were allowed to go back and see Sean. They had him in a gown, with an IV and he seemed a little drowsy. They took him back for surgery around 11:30 a.m. and told us that when the Pager went off for us to come back and check with the receptionist on how he was doing. I had forgot to mention that yesterday they molded a piece much like the mask they made for Seans head for his chest. It had seemed to bother him a little last night(possibly the heated needed to create it) and he was coughing more then normal so he didn't sleep as well. Once he was on the bed for surgery today he had pretty much passed out for that reason alone if nothing else. When the pager went off we were allowed to go back and see Sean. He was eating lunch and seemed in a very alert and positive mood. I asked him how the surgery went and he told me he could not even feel the port. The nurses around him were suprised he was as active as he was and that he was literally ready to go home. They explained a little more into what the port is and how it is used. The port a cath is connected to a catheter that is connected to a vein. The purpose is to deliver drugs quickly and efficiently through the entire body by way of the circulatory system. The reason this is a good ideal for chemotherapy patients is that the treatment can be toxic and should not be delivered through skin or muscle tissue as it can damage them. I have not been able to see the port as they have dressed it well to keep it clean and dry. He doesn't seem to be too affected by it being there besides a little tenderness. He is in a great mood and is acting as normal as can be. He is coming off the steroids which hopefully he will be able to sleep a little better once off them. I do hope they leave him be fore the rest of the week before Monday so he can rest. They mentioned the possibilty of hospitalization during the first chemo treatment and Sean won't hear of it. We will see what happens Monday but at the moment he is doing very well.