Tried to fall asleep on the couch with a heated throw to help me sleep... it didn't work, sleepy yes, sleep no...lol 3 hours awake is long enough to wait. Time for tea and to try and do something productive. 
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Coffee anyone ?
- Thread starter Sourland
- Start date
Poka_Doodle
Herd Master
Glad to know I'm not the only one who couldn't sleep this morning. Was hoping I would be able to sleep in, but about 4:40, my body decided I could get up and contemplate if I should run.
Got home about 8 yesterday, hoping today can be an earlier day.
Might be our last nice weather day for a while. This whole thing called "fall" only lasts a couple of weeks here.
Got home about 8 yesterday, hoping today can be an earlier day.
Might be our last nice weather day for a while. This whole thing called "fall" only lasts a couple of weeks here.
Sorry you woke up early too. I knew I had company...lol
Hope you get home earlier today.
We usually have fall weather until the end of October. Seems to be holding true this year. Stay warm and safe when you're out running.
Mini Horses
Herd Master
Sorry y'all, I slept! But I'm certain you're happy for me 
. Been on that "can't go back to sleep, just get up" too many times. Being out at 11pm checking everyone may have helped me doze off well.
Looks like "maybe" the coming storm is veering off coast a little by the time it reaches VA. Still rains, just not as soon. It's disrupting my plans! Plus you just never know for sure until it happens
. Been on that "can't go back to sleep, just get up" too many times. Being out at 11pm checking everyone may have helped me doze off well.Looks like "maybe" the coming storm is veering off coast a little by the time it reaches VA. Still rains, just not as soon. It's disrupting my plans! Plus you just never know for sure until it happens
Don't apologize, somebody around here needed to sleep...lolSorry y'all, I slept! But I'm certain you're happy for me
Looks like "maybe" the coming storm is veering off coast a little by the time it reaches VA. Still rains, just not as soon. It's disrupting my plans! Plus you just never know for sure until it happens
Weather has a way of doing that.
murphysranch
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Hubs and I had his Oncology Eye Doc appt on Wednesday, down in Portland. It was a 1:20 appt and we got seen at 3. There were three procedures to be done on another floor during that time.
The melanoma tumor has spread. I studied the new photos and could see veins in a static position on all the before and yesterday's pic. The tumor has spread using those veins as markers. UGH. So she talked about three things that can be done:
1. Plaque therapy.
"Plaque therapy is a common, eye-sparing treatment for ocular melanoma, particularly choroidal melanoma, where a small, custom-made, gold-plated plaque containing radioactive seeds is surgically sutured to the outside of the eyeball over the tumor. The plaque delivers targeted radiation to the tumor to kill cancer cells and shrink the tumor, with the plaque then removed after a few days of treatment. Aftercare involves eye drops, avoiding strenuous activity, and lifelong follow-up appointments to monitor the eye and ensure the tumor has been controlled"
Yes, in about 4 - 6 weeks to coordinate her and the physicists in the radioactive dept, he will arrive on a Tuesday morning. She will put him under full anesthesia and then place the little plaque in the back of his eye right over the top of where the tumor is. Stitched in place. He gets an eye patch that I will remove three times a day for eye ointment. He cannot go out and about. He cannot use his tablet, but he can watch TV with his one eye but far away (not up close). He will be radioactive during this time. He will go back on the following Monday and under local anesthesia she will remove the stitched in plaque.
2. Remove the eye. Nope
3. Go up to Seattle, or down to SF or San Diego for Proton therapy. Much longer and more involved with layovers and multiple visits and has only a 2% difference in final results. Nope.
Hubs will be uncomfortable for those 6 days.
This oncologist is the Chair Woman of this dept in Portland. Her peers are in Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego.
He will get a torso body scan to see if there is any other types of cancer in his body. They will study his liver intently, so as to see if the melanoma has already spread. It settles in the liver and then in the lungs.
He will have bi weekly check ups, and then a 6 month one and then yearly. To observe if the tumor has started back up.
Hubs was angry this time. An older lady friend (80's) told him that he should be suspectful of doctors, that it could be just a benign growth and that he probably should get a second opinion. So rather than explode at him with frustration, I suggested that he ask the Dr directly. He did. She answered that, based upon her clinical studies, her many years of doing this, and her position as Chair of one of the West Coast's 4 Ocular Oncology renowned departments, she would strongly advise her father or her husband to do this procedure. That settled into hub's mind.
When a dementia patient undergoes full anesthesia, their dementia increases. I'm aware of this, but I'd rather have his mind deteriorate a bit, than to have him die of liver cancer a year from now.
The melanoma tumor has spread. I studied the new photos and could see veins in a static position on all the before and yesterday's pic. The tumor has spread using those veins as markers. UGH. So she talked about three things that can be done:
1. Plaque therapy.
"Plaque therapy is a common, eye-sparing treatment for ocular melanoma, particularly choroidal melanoma, where a small, custom-made, gold-plated plaque containing radioactive seeds is surgically sutured to the outside of the eyeball over the tumor. The plaque delivers targeted radiation to the tumor to kill cancer cells and shrink the tumor, with the plaque then removed after a few days of treatment. Aftercare involves eye drops, avoiding strenuous activity, and lifelong follow-up appointments to monitor the eye and ensure the tumor has been controlled"
Yes, in about 4 - 6 weeks to coordinate her and the physicists in the radioactive dept, he will arrive on a Tuesday morning. She will put him under full anesthesia and then place the little plaque in the back of his eye right over the top of where the tumor is. Stitched in place. He gets an eye patch that I will remove three times a day for eye ointment. He cannot go out and about. He cannot use his tablet, but he can watch TV with his one eye but far away (not up close). He will be radioactive during this time. He will go back on the following Monday and under local anesthesia she will remove the stitched in plaque.
2. Remove the eye. Nope
3. Go up to Seattle, or down to SF or San Diego for Proton therapy. Much longer and more involved with layovers and multiple visits and has only a 2% difference in final results. Nope.
Hubs will be uncomfortable for those 6 days.
This oncologist is the Chair Woman of this dept in Portland. Her peers are in Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego.
He will get a torso body scan to see if there is any other types of cancer in his body. They will study his liver intently, so as to see if the melanoma has already spread. It settles in the liver and then in the lungs.
He will have bi weekly check ups, and then a 6 month one and then yearly. To observe if the tumor has started back up.
Hubs was angry this time. An older lady friend (80's) told him that he should be suspectful of doctors, that it could be just a benign growth and that he probably should get a second opinion. So rather than explode at him with frustration, I suggested that he ask the Dr directly. He did. She answered that, based upon her clinical studies, her many years of doing this, and her position as Chair of one of the West Coast's 4 Ocular Oncology renowned departments, she would strongly advise her father or her husband to do this procedure. That settled into hub's mind.
When a dementia patient undergoes full anesthesia, their dementia increases. I'm aware of this, but I'd rather have his mind deteriorate a bit, than to have him die of liver cancer a year from now.
I hate cancer with a passion. Treatment has come a long way. It's amazing what they can do now. Both my parents had cancer. My mom twice, she lived to be 93. My dad's cancer spread, we didn't have him as long. My youngest son had cancer, he's cancer free now, but had some side affects from the chemo and radiation. It was close to his heart. That has started to heal.
My son in law is a PA, he works in an oncology radiation department. I'll have to ask him if he's familiar with this procedure.
I'm glad she was able to get through to him and convince him of the best treatment possible. Thank you for sharing the different methods.
You and your husband are in my prayers.
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SageHill
Herd Master
DH had the gold seeds for prostate cancer -- worked great. All is well and he's still monitored - sounds similar.
Prayers and best thoughts for both of you.
Prayers and best thoughts for both of you.
Baymule
Herd Master
I like the sounds of that, plant seeds. Sewing them to his eyeball sounds weird, but if it works, then it works.
Margali
Herd Master
I wish they had caught Andy's cancer quick enough for that to work. It's sounds like a great option for concentrated spots.
