Today we met with Dr. DiMartino – the oncology doctor in Lafayette where we will be going for Kathie’s chemo treatments. She had been suggested by family friends who are being treated with her for another type of cancer. She was extremely warm (but more Kathie’s kind of person than Bob’s – discussion veered to the emerald on her hand, a television show, etc;) ) She is also religious/spiritual, which is the kind of support system we want in place. Dr. “D” didn’t give time estimates or statistics – she doesn’t believe in them and thinks that telling your body negative things like that is basically just giving your body a command to follow it. Needless to say, we like her positive thinking.
Unfortunately/Fortunately, she of course gave us a different opinion than Dr. Robb (“I’m a chemo person” she told us). Her recommendation was to start chemo before surgery and see if we can’t shrink down the lesions (spots) on the liver since that’s the primary concern for the cancer growth. Of course, we received a phone call from Dr. Robb just minutes before our appointment with Dr. D – and after reviewing the films with his partner (Dr. Maluccio – the one who would be dealing with the liver), they had decided at most they would do surgery on the colon – the spots and their placements looked a bit tricky to attack that in this first surgery.
So, since Kathie does not have immediate blockage issues (we all think anyway), the chemo focus, which would also clearly be aimed at shrinking the colon tumor as well… may be the route to go. We won’t be deciding anything, however, until we speak to the doctors at M.D. Anderson.
As with Dr. Robb, Dr. DiMartino, seemed not extremely concerned about waiting 2-3 weeks to make any solid plans to start treatment. Our goal now is to arm ourselves with as much professional advice and information possible and then make a decision we (but mainly Kathie since it’s her body) are all comfortable with and then go from there.
To help in our decision making process, Dr. D set up a PET scan tomorrow – something we’ve been trying to get going for a few days now. Dr. D rushed it so we have something else to take to M.D. Anderson as a discussion point for the best way to treat Kathie’s surgery. Again, it was a relief to speak to another doctor with a heart and complete understanding that we are looking at all of our options, while realizing we very much valued her opinion.
We have booked flights and a hotel in Houston for next week.
Posted by Lauren
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Decision
Again - everything written is based on how Kathie is feeling at a precise moment. That being said:
After the appointment today at IU, a lot of discussion and an hour conference call with the whole immediate family, a decision has been made to go to M.D. Anderson on Sunday for another opinion and to give more time to get as much information as possible about different options. The schedule looks like it would be: Monday - Tests, Tuesday - Meetings with doctors, Wednesday (EARLIEST) - Surgery. Again, after the meeting today with Dr. Robb, it does not look like surgery is necessary immediately, but that continues to be based on how Kathie is feeling at a given time. So far, today she felt pretty good - though she is not thrilled about the diet she'll be on until after surgery (low fiber -- but we did find a good list of options online, so she's not just eating junk food).
Tomorrow (5/31), she has an appointment to meet with a Lafayette oncologist who seems very comfortable just following up with someone else's directs (so we can get a regime plan from M.D. Anderson, or from Dr. Robb's team in Indy - but have it done locally). We also expect a call from Dr. Robb sometime after 8:30 telling us what his partner's opinion is concerning how to deal with the cancer that has spread to Kathie's liver.
More updates either after Dr. Robb's call, or after the oncology appointment.
Posted by Lauren
After the appointment today at IU, a lot of discussion and an hour conference call with the whole immediate family, a decision has been made to go to M.D. Anderson on Sunday for another opinion and to give more time to get as much information as possible about different options. The schedule looks like it would be: Monday - Tests, Tuesday - Meetings with doctors, Wednesday (EARLIEST) - Surgery. Again, after the meeting today with Dr. Robb, it does not look like surgery is necessary immediately, but that continues to be based on how Kathie is feeling at a given time. So far, today she felt pretty good - though she is not thrilled about the diet she'll be on until after surgery (low fiber -- but we did find a good list of options online, so she's not just eating junk food).
Tomorrow (5/31), she has an appointment to meet with a Lafayette oncologist who seems very comfortable just following up with someone else's directs (so we can get a regime plan from M.D. Anderson, or from Dr. Robb's team in Indy - but have it done locally). We also expect a call from Dr. Robb sometime after 8:30 telling us what his partner's opinion is concerning how to deal with the cancer that has spread to Kathie's liver.
More updates either after Dr. Robb's call, or after the oncology appointment.
Posted by Lauren
Dr. Robb Appointment
The appointment in Indy was at 1, we of course got in closer to 2 PM, but it was well worth the meeting with Dr. Robb, the colorectal surgeon. He was very nice, and very professional. Kathie and Bob both seemed pleased with him and the care it sounded like he and his staff could provide. Of course, while we were in the appointment with Dr. Robb – M.D. Anderson called. After leaving the meeting, things with M.D. Anderson were solidified and we are in on Sunday, surgery by Wednesday. Dr. Robb could do surgery tomorrow or after June 14th (though he also provided some of his partners’ names in case we hit an emergency point).
So now, instead of being in the pickle of having no where to go, we are now stuck with the tough (but blessed) position of having to decide between 4 good (if not GREAT) options. The issue we are focusing on now is who can deal the best with the cancer on the liver.
Some issues we resolved during the meeting with Dr. Robb:
- Surgery is the first priority to relieve the blockage
- It looks like it is fairly safe and non-destructive to wait 2-3 weeks for surgery, giving us time to consider the options thoroughly – a luxury we were worried just yesterday that we weren’t going to have
- The tumor position makes the colon surgery the least difficult and risky surgery of the ones necessary. The work with the liver and the follow-up for the rest of the cancer will be the longer term and larger speed-bump to get over.
The decision is coming down to being at a hospital that has possibly a greater edge with technical support (M.D. Anderson – being ranked #1 for this colon and liver combo… or basically all cancers) or being at a hospital that sounds like it has fairly good technical support (ranked 10ish for colon/rectal cancers – including liver involvement) and is closer to the general support system of being home, as well as being nearby for follow-up work. Both have a lot to offer.
We are expecting a call this evening from Dr. Robb’s in reference to whether his partner (who will be dealing with the liver portion of the surgery) feels that liver surgery should be done at the same time as the partial colon removal, or if an alternate approach should be taken. After receiving this phone call, we will be having a conference call as a family to discuss the pros and cons of both hospitals and go from there.
Posted by Lauren
So now, instead of being in the pickle of having no where to go, we are now stuck with the tough (but blessed) position of having to decide between 4 good (if not GREAT) options. The issue we are focusing on now is who can deal the best with the cancer on the liver.
Some issues we resolved during the meeting with Dr. Robb:
- Surgery is the first priority to relieve the blockage
- It looks like it is fairly safe and non-destructive to wait 2-3 weeks for surgery, giving us time to consider the options thoroughly – a luxury we were worried just yesterday that we weren’t going to have
- The tumor position makes the colon surgery the least difficult and risky surgery of the ones necessary. The work with the liver and the follow-up for the rest of the cancer will be the longer term and larger speed-bump to get over.
The decision is coming down to being at a hospital that has possibly a greater edge with technical support (M.D. Anderson – being ranked #1 for this colon and liver combo… or basically all cancers) or being at a hospital that sounds like it has fairly good technical support (ranked 10ish for colon/rectal cancers – including liver involvement) and is closer to the general support system of being home, as well as being nearby for follow-up work. Both have a lot to offer.
We are expecting a call this evening from Dr. Robb’s in reference to whether his partner (who will be dealing with the liver portion of the surgery) feels that liver surgery should be done at the same time as the partial colon removal, or if an alternate approach should be taken. After receiving this phone call, we will be having a conference call as a family to discuss the pros and cons of both hospitals and go from there.
Posted by Lauren
On our way to IU
Kathie has an appointment at 1 at IU for a consult for surgery - but nothing is being done today (unless Kathie starts feeling poorly again).
Kathie had a peaceful sleep, sleeping longer than Bob by about 3-4 hours.
No word yet from M.D. Anderson. The one researcher "here" (at IU), that Bob asked the blunt question "Where would you go?" the guy responded, "Here, at IU -- and I wouldn't say that about every cancer, but I would about Colon Cancer." That brought a bit of confidence.
To add insult to injury, Kathie was diagnosed with basal skin cancer, which will also require surgery... but that's not the pressing matter at this moment.
Fr. Dan (Kathie and Bob's parish priest for about 9 years) joined Bob, Kathie and Lauren at home today to chat for a bit and get an anointing of the sick. He told a very positive story concerning another cancer patient who realized that cancer was just her cross, not a call to death (the woman in his story was told she had a few more days - she lived 25 more years).
More updates after the consult.
Posted by Lauren
Kathie had a peaceful sleep, sleeping longer than Bob by about 3-4 hours.
No word yet from M.D. Anderson. The one researcher "here" (at IU), that Bob asked the blunt question "Where would you go?" the guy responded, "Here, at IU -- and I wouldn't say that about every cancer, but I would about Colon Cancer." That brought a bit of confidence.
To add insult to injury, Kathie was diagnosed with basal skin cancer, which will also require surgery... but that's not the pressing matter at this moment.
Fr. Dan (Kathie and Bob's parish priest for about 9 years) joined Bob, Kathie and Lauren at home today to chat for a bit and get an anointing of the sick. He told a very positive story concerning another cancer patient who realized that cancer was just her cross, not a call to death (the woman in his story was told she had a few more days - she lived 25 more years).
More updates after the consult.
Posted by Lauren
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Hospitals
Kathie says that she understands the cliché “dying to get in”… because that’s how it was feeling over the Holiday weekend…
Today has been a whirlwind of mixed blessings. Bob called and called and then called some more and we went from having no appointments to possibly having four. Last night, however, things were not looking so positive. Kathie was cramped up and seriously questioning why the Lafayette doctors did not give her a diet to follow. We have since gotten more sound advice, and she’s sticking to liquid until there isn’t something blocking the exit;)
As it stands at this exact moment (do not hold us accountable if it changes by the time this is typed), Kathie is set to have surgery on June 4th at Cleveland Clinic – which made everyone a little nervous, since she felt last night like they may have to skip planned surgery and go to emergency surgery. So phone calls continued into the afternoon and friends of friends of friends made connections for us at both M.D. Anderson and Mayo Clinic. As it stands now: She has an appointment at IU to meet a surgeon tomorrow, but if M.D. Anderson can fit her in (we are actually in the system now), then that may be cancelled and she’ll catch a 3 PM flight with Bob and Lauren (who flew in today from her internship in Connecticut) to Houston. Lynette plans on meeting the three of them with her girls wherever they end up.
Mayo is staying on the list as a back-up (pretty nice to have Mayo Clinic as a back-up when yesterday we didn’t have a front-up!)
We just want to give a big thanks for all of the prayers – surely leading to successful phone calls today, and mysterious connections to strangers:)
Send some prayers out for the family, Kathie particularly asks for some for Bob, as he exhausts his energy making these appointments.
Posted by Lauren
Today has been a whirlwind of mixed blessings. Bob called and called and then called some more and we went from having no appointments to possibly having four. Last night, however, things were not looking so positive. Kathie was cramped up and seriously questioning why the Lafayette doctors did not give her a diet to follow. We have since gotten more sound advice, and she’s sticking to liquid until there isn’t something blocking the exit;)
As it stands at this exact moment (do not hold us accountable if it changes by the time this is typed), Kathie is set to have surgery on June 4th at Cleveland Clinic – which made everyone a little nervous, since she felt last night like they may have to skip planned surgery and go to emergency surgery. So phone calls continued into the afternoon and friends of friends of friends made connections for us at both M.D. Anderson and Mayo Clinic. As it stands now: She has an appointment at IU to meet a surgeon tomorrow, but if M.D. Anderson can fit her in (we are actually in the system now), then that may be cancelled and she’ll catch a 3 PM flight with Bob and Lauren (who flew in today from her internship in Connecticut) to Houston. Lynette plans on meeting the three of them with her girls wherever they end up.
Mayo is staying on the list as a back-up (pretty nice to have Mayo Clinic as a back-up when yesterday we didn’t have a front-up!)
We just want to give a big thanks for all of the prayers – surely leading to successful phone calls today, and mysterious connections to strangers:)
Send some prayers out for the family, Kathie particularly asks for some for Bob, as he exhausts his energy making these appointments.
Posted by Lauren
Monday, May 28, 2007
Cancer diagnosis
For those of you who we haven't been able to contact, Kathie has been diagnosed as having Colon cancer with probable spread to the Lymph nodes and the liver. From the first doctor's appointment, Monday May 21, to the CAT scan, Wednesday, May 23 and the Colonoscopy, May 24 and confirmation of cancer on Sunday, May 27, it has been a hectic and disappointing week to say the least.
Kathie had been feeling "bloated" for a few weeks, while on a streak of 3 weeks of travel, some with me (Bob) and some on her own.
So far, she has not really felt ill. We are working hard to find the right place for treatment and get started on the process.
We have already had a tremendous amount of concern expressed and had many offers of help and promises of prayers. We truly appreciate every expression we have received.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Welcome Friends and Family to the weblog devoted to Kathie DuCharme.
Greetings Friends and Family,
We wanted to set up a website (blog) to inform all the friends and family of Kathie to thank everyone for all the phone calls, for having Kathie in your thoughts and prayers, and those that want the latest news.
Due to the overwhelming number of phone calls, we have set up this web blog for you to post your comments and for us to relay news and information as it becomes available.
Once again, thank you so much for visiting and please continue to keep Kathie in your thoughts and Prayers.
Please feel free to post below:
We wanted to set up a website (blog) to inform all the friends and family of Kathie to thank everyone for all the phone calls, for having Kathie in your thoughts and prayers, and those that want the latest news.
Due to the overwhelming number of phone calls, we have set up this web blog for you to post your comments and for us to relay news and information as it becomes available.
Once again, thank you so much for visiting and please continue to keep Kathie in your thoughts and Prayers.
Please feel free to post below:
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