Friday – July 25, 2013

Today Caitlin drove Rick to the Duke Cancer Center – he got measured up and marked with permanent markers on the sides and stomach. Everything is on track for Radiation and Chemo treatment to start in another week, even possible as soon as the end of next week. He is still having some pain and itching - omg all night- but getting on with the treatment has got him all excited to get this show on the road.

He has received some many calls, visitors and cards, and appreciates the so much. They have been very uplifting to him. Rick is very optimistic person and maintains a very positive outlook. His Mother was like that and it was a very much admired trait he loved from her. So we ask for your continued prayers and thank you so much for thinking of us.

Yea - it's weekend time. I am ready, it has been a very busy week with work, then each night household chores. I certainly miss that help Rick has gave me all the years. I managed to get the lawn care done and he did not even criticize any part of it, so you know he was grateful..LOL  He is not the type to see a woman do lawn care so it has bothered him a lot. But as I have told him he has made so much progress in preparation for the treatment that I want nothing to jeopardize his health at this point. I also promised him as soon as the doctor gives him the green light that the grass is all his and I will never offer again!  it has not been that bad. Garrett will be back from his mission trip this weekend so I think he will take care of the weekend. It will be nice to see him return, he has been missed by all of the family. It was a really good trip to Buffalo for him - he got to see Niagara Falls and really help some people during the week of community service. God has a wonderful group of youth at Greystone Baptist Church in Durham.

 

I have to give our grand daughter Caitlin some big kudos - she has chauffeured Papa back and forth to Duke, drug store and his errands this week. She loves driving and it is to her benefit for her to get the hours she has to have for the next level of an drivers license. She has helped me paint Thursday and Friday nights the porch and carport trim, plus spruced up the metal chairs. All without any complaining - now that is a big deal for Caitlin. She loves doing for you but usually likes to fuss about it some. I am so glad both of them have been helpful to us. I am saving all you friends out there for later during surgery and recovery !!, then I will start calling.

Rick will be going Monday for labs and will update. Hope all have a wonderful weekend.

Rick Thursday and Friday

Rick is off to Duke early in the morning, he is having scans and workup for his kidneys. They have been working hard handling the bile that is normally handled by small intestines .The kidneys and liver have been in bad shape for the past month. With the pancreas having problems his sugar level is running high. Duke has him going thru some glucose testing in a week or so. Last couple days he has been very uncomfortable, especially tonight. Pain has been awful tonight with no relief with meds. Last few days he also having pain in his back at his spine area.
Caitlin is going to the hospital tomorrow and Friday, this will give her some driving time to log and so I can work. Saving those days for doctor meetings and surgery.  Rick will be going again Friday morning for CT scans of pancreas for preparation of radiology treatment.
Garrett has called tonight and said last night it was cool enough in Buffalo that he had to wear a hoodie. Hope some of that cool weather comes South!

Update for Rick

Well some good news, Rick had blood test yesterday and his bilirubin is down to 17, yea! This is getting him on the way to being ready to start his chemo and radiation therapy. Got to get down to 5 level though. So hopefully the stent is finally working well. Saved him from having the surgery of tube inserted in his side. Off to Duke Cancer Center on Thursday and Friday for lot's of scans and test to prepare for the treatment. We really appreciate so many of you calling, cards, coming by to visit and helping us out with offers to help with the lawn, appointments and just being there. We have wonderful sisters that have provided meals when they know we have had a long day at Duke and our wonderful best friends Denise and Wendell Fain. They fed us a wonderful birthday dinner Saturday night and they have been their from the start with words of encouragement. Yes Rick had a birthday this Monday - 59! It was very low keyed and just a night of us resting.

As many of you family and friends Rick has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. More than 85% of pancreatic cancers are classified as exocrine tumors. Within this category, the vast majority of tumors are adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinoma accounts for 90% of all pancreatic cancers. It begins in cells lining the pancreatic duct. Adenocarcinomas may form glands, or a collection of cells surrounding empty cells. Rick has a tumor measuring approximately 2cm near in the head of the pancreas at the bile duct so although Duke Cancer Center doctors have told us not to focus on stage as much as rather the cancer is resectable (can be surgically removed). They are at this time giving us between stage 2 and 3. We are hopeful that Rick started experiencing problems early enough and with a wonderful primary physician (Dr. Eugene Linfors) and all the wonderful team at Duke Cancer Center that have been assigned to him that we are have a plan and on the way to Rick having a good prognosis. We have busy with doctor and lab appointments. We have had the CT Scans, blood work and various procedures that will have him on the way to treatment soon. HIs problem at this time is his bilirubin level. For the ones that see him he is very jaundiced, due to his bilirubin level at 22.9 and the treatment cannot start till it is at a level 5 or below. Rick has had three ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) procedures. This is to treat the blocked bile duct and the last stent inserted was a larger metal stent but we have not seen the change yet so it may be necessary this week to insert a caterer to drain the bile externally. So he is experiencing pain, fatigue and severe itching. Trying to manage all that with meds, lotion and some good rub downs. The plan with his team at this time is as soon as the bilirubin decreases to a level to lower his liver and other organs being compromised is to start with 5 1/2 weeks of chemo and radiation treatment with a target first of August. This is to help kills cancer cells from further spreading and dividing. With pancreatic cancer this is the biggest issue. After this treatment they are planning for him to rest and get prepared after 3 to 4 weeks to have surgery. His surgeon team is planning on the Whipple procedure; it is the most commonly performed surgery to remove tumors in the pancreas. This is a procedure that is luckily successful for tumors in the head of the pancreas and involves the surgeon removing most of the pancreas (leave the tail since it is cancer free at this time and your body requires on 10% of functioning pancreas), gallbladder, small portion of the stomach and small intestines and the lymph nodes. The surgery can be 8 to 11 hours; a lot also depends on any possible veins involved so a vascular surgeon team will be on hand during. His hospital stay can be 9 to 11 days with 3 months recovery time and then they plan on 6 weeks of chemo therapy intravenously. So as you can see we have a long and tough road that will take us in to mid February 2014. But we are blessed with so many friends and family to walk this path with us. We want to thank all for your prayers and already the wonderful offers of assistance.

Here goes the blog for Rick and Janet Love in Butner, NC. A lot happens with our family and to be able to share news with family and friends we think this may be the idea choice. We can note the link in our texts or FaceBook when we update news and pics.

The pic is our grandchildren Garrett and Caitlin Love at Myrtle Beach this spring break. Yes they can be adorable and like each other at times.