Jerry's day 12/21/06

Here is the e-mail I received from Nolie today.  She composed this from the notes she took today.  I'll take a large personal break for $2000 Alex.  Can't we get even a sliver of good news?  I will say this.  I like that at M. D. Anderson they serve it up to you straight.  In Dallas the urologist and oncologist, and surgeon were all, "yeah, umm. . .well. . .it's bad, MKay.  Nolie's post follows:

Jerry had the exam under anesthesia today and the tumor has adhered to the pelvic bone on the left side.  It cannot be moved and so he is not a candidate for surgery.  The urologist said that the  outlook is very grim and chemo-therapy is the only option and to hope for a "gangbuster result" which happens in 20% of cases.  He said that radiation was not an option at this stage.  He did not repeat the biopsy of the bladder because there was no point in doing so.  He believes that it is all one cancer that has been growing for years.  He gives him 3 to 6 months unless the chemo  is extremely successful and then 15 months.  He said he was sorry to have to tell me but I needed to know so as to get his affairs in order and make final arrangements.  He then turned to walk away and I started to cry so he turned and said "Are you alright, do I need to find someone to talk to you".  I said "no".

 

Then we saw Dr. Lin in Dr. Siefker's office.  He discussed pain management, showed the ct scan pictures to Jerry and explained to Jerry how dire it is. He prescribed Oxycontin and Oxycodone. Dr. Siefker came in and went through the scans again and said that it is not cureable but is treatable.  She is going ahead with the needle biopsy of the mass assisted by the ct scanner.  Then Jerry will be admitted to the hospital for 24 hours for his 1^st round of chemo will be administered every 2 weeks.  She has chosen Cisplatin, Gemcitabine and Ifosfamide.  She does not think his body can handle MVAC.  If he tolerates it well, she can try something stronger.

 

You can paste this to the blog or forward it as e-mail or rewrite it.

Love, Nolie

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