3 Month Check-Up

We returned to UAB today for Carrie's 3 month check-up. She had a PET scan done last thursday, and today, she had a CT scan done as well. We then met with her oncologist and was informed that the cancer has returned. There is a 2 cm spot next to her vena cava, exactly where they original tumor entered the vena cava and was repaired during the surgery in August. In addition, they found a few spots on her LEFT adrenal gland that they assume are traces of the tumor as well. One of the spots on the adrenal gland is about 3 cm, the others are smaller. As of right now, the doctors are unsure what they are going to do. They cant risk another surgery right now since the tumor is in the same place in the vena cava as it was before - to do surgery would bring too many complications and be even more life threatening than the first one. The only option they are considering as of right now is radiation. The oncologist is waiting to get in touch with a few other doctors to decide for sure the next step, but they should have an idea sometime next week. We will keep everyone up to date as soon as we know more details.

Short Update

Carrie met with an Oncologist today at MD Anderson in Houston and he agrees with our Oncologist at UAB with the method of treatment that has been recommended to us. We meet with a specialist on Monday just for another confirmation of the treatment.

Good News

Carrie met with the Oncologist this afternoon and today's CT Scan came back clean. Woo Hoo!!! We go to M D Anderson in Houston on the 29th of October just to make sure that we are following the right course of action. Carrie will get CT Scans every 3 months for the next 2 years and then every 4-6 months for 3 more years. Carrie's status for taking chemo is still undecided and we are waiting to hear what M D Anderson says before proceeding with any treatment. Carrie has been released for work and plans on starting back on the 21st of October.

And the journey continues

Carrie met with her Oncologist, Dr. Mollie DeShazo, yesterday at UAB. Dr. DeShazo is considered the "expert" for Carrie's form of cancer and Carrie's case is the third case Dr. DeShazo has seen, EVER. Carrie has been prescribed a drug called Mitatane. It is a different type of chemotherapy in that it doesn't kill the white blood cells like the typical chemo treatments and it is in a pill form. The side effects of the medicine, include nausea, diarrhea and vertigo. They are going to start Carrie on a very low dose(500mg) and it increase it to 2g over the next few weeks. She will have to take the drug daily and continue to take it for 6 months to a year. Due to the rarity of the cancer Dr. DeShazo is trying to contact other doctors at other clinics to get some info on how to handle this.

Carrie Post-Op Report

We talked to Dr. Arnoletti today and he gave us a good report. He said that there is some fluid in her chest but if it wasn't causing her any problems then there is no reason to worry. The incision is healing as expected. We scheduled a consult with a Medical Oncologist on September 30th to discuss Chemotherapy.

All in all Carrie is doing good. She getting stronger everyday.

Jason

Update Correction

Okay my apologizes. There was some confusion on UAB's part as to when we go back to the doctor and I just now noticed that my blog says we went yesterday. Truth be told we did not go the doctor yesterday. We go next Tuesday Sept. 8.

As for a general update, Carrie is doing good at home. She is getting stronger everyday. Pray for patience for her. The healing process is not going as quickly as she would like and she is getting a little stir crazy. I would be too if I had to stay inside all day, can't lift anything over 5lbs and ran out of shows on Tivo the second day after getting home.

As for a second prayer request, Auburn has been hit with Swine flu. We have about 30 people here at the Vet School out sick with it. Pray that I don't catch it and take it home with me.

Home Sweet Home

After 12 days and Carrie's 7 1/2 hour surgery we are finally home. It hit us kind of quick to. I spent the night at the hospital with Carrie last night and at about 5am one of the residents came in to check on her. He removed one of her bandages and said that they were going to talk to Dr. Arnoletti about her going home today or tomorrow. She and I had already talked about if we were really ready to come home and decided that it would completely up to the doctor. So while Carrie's mom and I were gone to the hotel to close things out and get all of our stuff packed up, Dr. Arnoletti makes the rounds and talks to Carrie. He said that he was certain that she was physically able to go home. This was about 11:30 am. After I got back to her room we were sitting there talking about everything and was thinking that it would later this afternoon when we would be discharged. At noon, the chief resident came in to remove the PICC line out of Carrie's arm and she asked him if he knew about how long it would take before she could leave and he said 30 minutes. So needless to say we didn't have much time to get everything packed up in the room and get it loaded in the car which was three blocks away. Carrie was discharged shortly after 1pm and it took a little while for the escorts to come get Carrie. We left the hospital at about 2:15pm and got to Auburn about 4:30pm (I took it easy on the interstate). We unloaded, I got prescriptions filled and dinner and now I am calling it a night. Since Carrie's mom is here and I only work 2 minutes from home, I am going back to work tomorrow. As for my blog, the updates are going to slow down. I probably will not be posting every day but will be posting on days that we have appointments with the doctors and all. We have to go back UAB for a check up next Tuesday, so there will be a post when we get back from that.

Carrie and I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone for your thoughts and prayers during the last week and a half. We could not have made it though it without them. Thanks to eveyone (all 380 of you) that joined the "We're praying for Carrie Chavers" group on Facebook and for everyone that took time to check my blog for updates. God has truly blessed us with friends and family like you.

Jason & Carrie