PET Scan Results

Curtis had a PET scan, I guess it's been about a month now.. Looks like he is responding to treatment. He has 3 small tumors in his lungs still that are actually getting bigger but they are less active. The doctors are not sure if these are actually tumors or if they are pneumonitis which is a nodule that is a side effect of the study medication he is on. The other tumors are no longer detected on the PET scan except for his main tumor in his colon/rectum.

The Jeep is coming along.. almost ready to drive! The airstream is pretty much the same mess, just a little more organized now. Work on the Airstream should start in the next month..

Here is our goal :)

IV Nutrition, Next Pet Scan update

Because of Curtis' "kink" in his bowel, he has lost a tremendous amount of weight the last 6 weeks. (about 20 lbs). We have decided to start IV nutrition. His port will remain accessed all the time and we will do a 12 hour feeding at home. Hopefully the feedings will help him to put on some weight. He is continuing to eat during the day what he can when he feels well. He actually has been feeling better and had more energy. He has been able to work on his Jeep this week and is installing the transmission today with some help from a friend. Here is a pic of his transmission he has completely rebuilt.

The plan with his chemo is to have another treatment tomorrow and one more in two weeks, and then they will do a new scan to see if they will keep him on the same chemo or change it to Folfiri. We see the doctors again tomorrow, so I will update if there are any changes..

Update

So, this time they are saying that Curtis has a kink in his small intestine just beyond his stoma. They are letting him eat "as tolerated". He is having some lunch now and we will see how he tolerates it. He is not in as much pain as yesterday and seems to be doing quite a bit better.

Back in the ER

Curtis started having abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. He got very sick very fast. He started passing out in between vomiting. He could not feel his arms or legs either. I called 911 and the fire department came and they brought him up here (U of U) in an ambulance. They did a CT scan but we do not have the results yet.. I will post again soon

You all thought we were kidding about the Airstream :)

Here she is :) She is completly gutted and in excellent condition. 1966 Airstream Ambassador 29ft. We are super excited :)

Home Sweet Home

They finally let Curtis come home last night. We were there for 4 days and he left in the same condition as he went in. He has not been eating much, so his stomach pain is a little better, but when he eats he is in a lot of pain. He has been on just liquids for a couple days now (and a chocolate cupcake he couldn't resist :)  For a cancer patient, he has quite the appetite. They are going to do nutrition via IV if he is not able to eat much by his appointment on Tuesday for chemotherapy. The new nodules in his lungs might both be a combination of a side effect of the study drug and new cancer growth. They are not really sure if the new cancer growth is actually cancer or just a nodule. His CEA level has increased (CEA is a tumor marker that increases when the cancer is more active), but the oncologist said this may happen with an intestinal obstruction as well. They want to keep him on the study drug and his normal chemo with Folfox and Avastin for now and monitor his CEA in a few weeks, if it keeps going up, they will change his chemo, if it starts to decline, they will continue on the same treatment. Curtis wanted me to make sure that everyone knows how much we appreciate all your love, support and prayers, it makes this situation more manageable.

We're back.. again..

Curtis is back in the hospital again.. Since he was discharged last Monday, he has had increased abdominal pain and abdominal distention. We have been giving him IV fluids both at home and at the Huntsman clinic, but it does not seem to be getting better. We came for our follow up PET scan appt today and the oncologist admitted to the hospital. They think he has an ileus which happens when a portion of your intestines stops working and it makes a balloon pocket and holds stool and fluids in there. We should know more tomorrow and I will keep you all updated.

Christy brought Tavner up to visit Curtis tonight. Here is a pic of them watching cartoons :)