Chemo: In Review (by Lainey)

On Friday, June 14th  at approximately 1:00 pm, Chrissy finished his last chemo session. It was unceremonious...no bells were rung, no gong was sounded, but the sense of accomplishment he felt from making it through three grueling months was palpable.  He started chemo the day after his birthday, and ended the week of mine. We survived!

Chemo was not easy and was not a walk in the park, by any means.  The drugs robbed him of his hair, his energy and his physique.  It made him uncomfortable, nauseous, irritable and listless.  Some days were manageable and others were outright miserable (for both of us).  It is an exhausting and excruciating process.  It is not a marathon...it is an ultra-marathon. Chris is my hero for sticking it out day after day, getting poked and prodded, filled with poisons and taking it like a champ.

so sleepy

 Thumbs up for making it through another cycle

Chrissy's get-well squad

my hero

Our lives were made significantly more bearable by the help of so many people that I don't know if I will ever catch up on our thank you notes!  Chrissy's parents saved my life many times by bringing us dinners and snacks. The Moyer's and Chrissy's grandparents gave us reprieve by dog-sitting Harry and Oliver for us on several occasions when they just got to be too much to handle.  Our friends and family brightened our days when they sent many baked goods, gift cards (for Chrissy's cravings), cards, notes, emails and texts with kind words, encouragement and prayers. Chrissy's coworkers and a local organization with the help of Nilton's mom lifted a huge financial burden for us both when they held benefit fundraisers to help with medical co-payments and expenditures.  The list is endless...but the kindness of others touched us so deeply and profoundly that I cannot fully put into words the gratitude that we feel.  I hope that in our lifetimes we are able to pay that kindness forward to others in need in the same way that we were so blessed to receive.

Today, Chris got a CT scan, X-ray and lab work done.  The results will be available to us when we meet with Dr. Xiao next Wednesday, July 10th.  God willing, those results will show that all of Chrissy's endurance paid off with clear scans.  Accepting any and all prayers, thoughts, good wishes and yoga intentions that he is cancer free come July 10th!

With love and gratitude,
Lainey

Wordless Wednesday (one day late)

Space Monkey

Chemo Cravings by Lainey

Pregnancy has nothing on the chemo cravings that Chris has been experiencing over the past week. Here is a list of just some of things he HAD to have:

McDonalds nuggets
Hot dogs
Taylor ham egg and cheese
Wendy's burger
Venison chili
Fried chicken
Subway BMT sandwich
Cupcakes
Frozen yogurt
Buffalo wings
Mozzarella sticks
And basically ANY food that's featured in any commercial he happens to see. Seriously, he was drooling over a Olive Garden commercial last night! There goes my beach bod, haha!!

In other news, things were pretty crazy this week trying to get him better from his cold. He's prone to fevers right now which in a normal person wouldn't be a huge deal but since his immune system is compromised, we have to stay very vigilant on them. We had a late night at the ER yesterday to monitor one fever but all tests so far are not showing any signs of serious infection, which is good.

Very thankful to Grandma & Grandpa Cramer for taking Oliver for a few days and Tim & Debbie Moyer for watching Harry so that we can focus all our energies on getting Chris well (and fed, ha!). Also very thankful for Chris' parents- Michael & Irene for sending us many dinners and a water delivery system! Here's hoping he kicks this cold soon so he can get back in fighting shape for cycle 2.

Xo
L

We survived Week One (by Lainey)

The first week of chemo went by relatively easily. Chris was feeling okay in the beginning of the week, especially on his birthday. He received so many cards, texts and calls from people that care about him. He really felt special and even said that it was the best birthday he had in a long time. Thank you to everyone who helped lift him up with your support and love!!

Chris was able to go fishing a few times locally and probably made him feel pretty good to get out of the house/hospital. On Saturday,  the effects of the medications started to kick in and he started to feel pretty lousy. The weekend was pretty rough as Chris is uncomfortable, tired and nauseous. Eating seems to help with the nausea and he has crazy cravings for all kinds of food! Hey, whatever helps!

Today, Monday, has been the worst day yet, unfortunately. As Chris puts it, he feels like "a bag of a$$." We are currently at the facility and after seeing Dr. Xiao, she has him getting fluids and meds via IV to help with his discomfort. He should start to feel a little better tomorrow or Wednesday. He seems to be coming down with a cold which isn't great, but his blood count is good and no crazy high fever so we will be okay to go home as long as we monitor it and keep Dr. X updated.

Chris mostly sleeps so if you sent him a message, he might take some time to get back to you. He should start perking back up in the next couple of days.

Thanks again to everyone for all your love and support. You're keeping us going!

Xo
Lainey

Quick Update from Lainey

Chemo week is almost over and Chris is doing great. He has some nausea and has been tired but still feeling pretty good. He mostly just sleeps and reads during treatments. He has gone fishing a couple of times by our house and had a very, very good 28th birthday!  He is loved by so many wonderful people.

He's working on a post for tomorrow so stay tuned!

xo
Lainey

Relapse..Bring It! (by Lainey)

Hi all,

Here we are again!  Chrissy and I met with his chemo oncologist yesterday at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Basking Ridge, NJ.  We learned A LOT.  The facility is top notch and in a beautiful building that backs up to nice views of the woods (lots of deer for Chrissy to scope out come hunting season). The team taking care of Chrissy is amazing and leaders in their field. Here are some basics:

MEDICAL TEAM-

Joel Sheinfeld, MD - NYC - Testicular cancer chief specialist and surgeon who performed Chris' orchiectomy and has been monitoring his monthly progress. The best, the end.

George Bosl, MD - NYC - Chairman in clinical oncology and will be monitoring chemo treatment plan from NYC. Very nice guy!

Han Xiao, MD - NJ - Chief in medical oncology and will be managing Chris' care and treatment in NJ. She is the doctor that we met today and we really like her.  She knows her stuff!

STATS-

Chris is considered to have relapsed stage IIC seminoma testicular cancer. I encourage you all to do reading and research on his diagnosis. There is a lot of good info about it on the Internet. It's considered highly treatable, with a cure rate of over 90%. 

Since the surgery, Dr. Sheinfeld has been monitoring small spots (tumors) on lymph nodes near his kidneys in the abdomen. They were stable and not growing for several months. In February, Chris' tumor markers in his blood levels began to rise and the tumors visibly began to grow, as seen on his March 28th CT scan. Some of those tumors are over 2cm in size.  Since this means progression of the disease, chemotherapy is needed to kill those tumors and any others that may be floating around undetected.

Chemo is going to start next Monday, April 8th and will be completed by the last week in June.

He will be receiving two types of chemotherapy drugs, Cisplatin and Etoposide, which is the standard combination with his diagnosis. He will receive 4 cycles of treatment. One cycle = 5 days of 4hr treatments, followed by 2 weeks off. During the 4hrs, he will receive the chemo drugs, anti-nausea medications and fluids. It is imperative that Chris stay hydrated over the course of his treatment. Dehydration can compromise his kidneys and result in ER hospital visits. He will need to drink at least 80 oz of fluids each day.  

He will also be getting regular injections to boost his white blood cell count.  Keeping Chris infection-free and hydrated will be a top priority. No one can be around Chris if they are feeling sick or feeling like they are about to become sick. His immune system will be extremely delicate so we must make every precaution to keep him healthy and strong. Fever+germs+dehydration=BAD. 

Dr. X says he can exercise as long as he's feeling good. He will likely start to feel lousy towards the end of chemo week and will start to feel better mid-week of rest week 1. It may take longer for him to feel well the further we get into treatment. He will likely need to shave his head due to hair loss around week 3.  Everyone handles it differently, so we just have to see how things go.

Dr. X says she has many patients like Chris who have gone on to live happy and normal lives after completing treatment. She has a wall full of baby photos who were born to former patients. She has reassured us that everything will be ok!!

Chris is feeling strong and ready to fight. We are both looking forward to visiting San Diego this weekend for my friend Lily's wedding! Chris hasn't been back there since we moved, so it will be a great vacation before we embark on this next challenge.

Thank you all so much for your love, support and help. Keep those prayers and good thoughts coming!  I'll do my best to keep everyone updated!

Xo

Lainey

Memorial Day...and Results (by Lainey)

Hi friends,

Chris has been doing great in the past few days.  He has gotten lots of rest and started to be much more active.  He is still uncomfortable, but his distaste of boredom is far greater than any physical pain he may be feeling.  We finished Season 2 of the Wire (such a good show) and we have taken Harry on a few long walks to break up the days.  A lot of our friends have come to visit us and/or have sent their love via care packages.  I can't tell you how much the love and support you all have sent to him has seriously improved his mood and outlook on the day.  Thank you!!

Last Thursday, we returned to Memorial Sloan-Kettering for the removal of the staples in his incision.  The incision is approximately 4 inches long and sits on his lower left abdomen.  The staples were pretty gnarly looking, but the removal was easy and painless for Chris.  Afterwards, he said that he could have 'just taken them out with pliers in the garage' and I am grateful that he did not have that epiphany before this appointment! Ha! 

We did not get any results on the biopsy or CT scan that day, unfortunately, but we were prepared for that.  I drove Chris to Cabela's (his toy store) in Pennsylvania after his appointment to cheer him up...and of course it worked!  The drive out was nice for both of us and he had a good time walking around his favorite store and picking up some goodies for when he can be back out in action.

When we got home, I got a nice surprise from Chrissy's friends Carlos and Theresa (aka Carl 'n Terry).  They sent me a pretty arrangement of flowers to thank me for taking good care of their buddy! So sweet. 

Also, Chris' parents came over with dinner and then Angie stopped by with a Blizzard for Chris so he pretty much had an awesome day!

Cancer Stinks...but good friends make it a lot easier!

I know Chrissy was bummed to be laid up for Memorial Day Weekend, but it is always great to get together with loved ones to remember our dear friend Nilton.  For those of you who don't know, Nilt was Chrissy's BFF since childhood and joined the Marine Corps with him right out of high school.  Nilt served two tours in Iraq while Chris served in Okinawa and they both spent the last two years with USMC in San Diego, California (where I met both of them).  Nilt may have lost his battle with Leukemia two years ago, but he will never be forgotten or missed in our household.  Every Memorial Day since he passed, we walk in the Union Township parade with his family and it is a great tradition to honor a beloved hero.  It was a hot day and I know Chris was sore, but there is no way in hell that he would miss that for the world.

Union Township Memorial Day Parade 2012

(see my boo hobbling over there on the right?) :)

Today, FINALLY, after days of agonizing wait, we heard from Dr. Sheinfeld on some results.  We found out that the biopsy showed the tumor was a 'seminoma' which indicates a slow growing mass.  This is good news, since the 'non-seminoma' tumors tend to grow and spread rather quickly.  The CT scan showed slight enlargement/abnormalities of some lymph nodes in his lower left abdomen but all other areas are clear in the scan.  Dr. S ordered another CT scan for Chrissy since the images that were sent over were grainy/lacking certain detail as we had this done at a different hospital before we transferred to MSK.  This will take place on June 14th, after we return from our trip to California.

Once Dr. S reviews the new CT scans, he will be able to determine the treatment plan for Chrissy.  This may entail some radiation therapy, but we will know more in a few weeks.  Yes, more waiting (argh!), but feeling very fortunate that there is not a widespread effect on his body.  Based on Chrissy's results, Dr. S has diagnosed him with Stage IIA testicular cancer.  All things considered, this is relatively good news and Chris is pleased with the results. 

We are both looking forward to coming back home to Northern California next week for my baby brother's high school graduation and my 30th birthday (eeeks).  I think the change of scenery and visit with our west coast loved ones will do us both a lot of good.  Looking forward to lots of hugs and lots of delicious Mexican food! ;) 

Love & Thanks,

Lainey