Apologies for not getting an update out there sooner. I know Dan's been asked by many caring family and friends for an update - but ...
Can't even blame the tequila and tacos.
The first round with kidney cancer moved very quick. Wham, you have cancer. Bam, we're gonna cut it out. Thank you ma'am, here's the bill. (note: it's Canada. There was no bill.)
This time around, I struggle with the meme's and the posts of good humoured information. So here goes:
Dan started chemotherapy drugs in an oral pill form, within the week of the diagnosis of the return of cancer. It's a four week on, two week off round. So about week six or so, I believe, he'll be talking to the specialist in charge this time (Vascular), and the decision will be made on when to do surgery to cut out this returning tumor. After that, surgery would be eight or so weeks out.
He continues to take blood thinners, as well.
It is possible that chemo could take care of the tumor in its entirety, but that's a slim numbers game when dealing with kidney cancer and the few chemotherapy drugs that do affect the growth of the tumor.
We're in a bit of an active waiting game, in which Dan is taking medicine to fight the cancer, but there's very little to do elsewise until a follow up scan and discussion of the results.
Dan's seeing several side effects of the chemo already - the very worst of them affecting how wonderful A&W Root Beer tastes. All the regular nasty side effects are therabouts as well - and he's also dealing with increased bruising and feeling like a pincushion from the blood thinners.
So when you see Dan, give him a great big hug, but keep it gentle.
(When you see me, keep your distance, because of course I came back from my one foreseeable vacation for the next long while with bronchitis.)
Fuck you, Cancer.
Can't even blame the tequila and tacos.
The first round with kidney cancer moved very quick. Wham, you have cancer. Bam, we're gonna cut it out. Thank you ma'am, here's the bill. (note: it's Canada. There was no bill.)
This time around, I struggle with the meme's and the posts of good humoured information. So here goes:
Dan started chemotherapy drugs in an oral pill form, within the week of the diagnosis of the return of cancer. It's a four week on, two week off round. So about week six or so, I believe, he'll be talking to the specialist in charge this time (Vascular), and the decision will be made on when to do surgery to cut out this returning tumor. After that, surgery would be eight or so weeks out.
He continues to take blood thinners, as well.
It is possible that chemo could take care of the tumor in its entirety, but that's a slim numbers game when dealing with kidney cancer and the few chemotherapy drugs that do affect the growth of the tumor.
We're in a bit of an active waiting game, in which Dan is taking medicine to fight the cancer, but there's very little to do elsewise until a follow up scan and discussion of the results.
Dan's seeing several side effects of the chemo already - the very worst of them affecting how wonderful A&W Root Beer tastes. All the regular nasty side effects are therabouts as well - and he's also dealing with increased bruising and feeling like a pincushion from the blood thinners.
So when you see Dan, give him a great big hug, but keep it gentle.
(When you see me, keep your distance, because of course I came back from my one foreseeable vacation for the next long while with bronchitis.)
Fuck you, Cancer.
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