Tube Free!

Sorry for the delay in a post--I know y'all were getting antsy. But, I wanted to make sure I had some news to report!

Big news is that the chest tube came out today, and with that happening, Parrish seems much better (the downside to the chest tube coming out is that I think that means we won't see the cardio-thoracic surgeon again, and well, we had sort of become best friends). While there will still be some fluid draining from the incision site, that should diminish in the next couple days. They also have taken him off of IV fluids, so he is officially tube free. He has been able to get out of bed a little bit today which is huge progress. He and I are going to take lap around the floor in a few minutes--check out the lovely sights.

On the oncology front, we saw the team this morning. They did a bone marrow biopsy--and those results will be back early next week. The bone marrow biopsy will help determine the stage of the Hodgkin's. The way lymphoma is staged is that if the cancer is both above the diaphragm (think neck or chest) and below the diaphragm (think spleen), then it is considered Stage 3. If you aren't exhibiting any symptoms (weight loss, fever, night sweats), then it is considered Stage 3A; however, if you are exhibiting any of those symptoms, it is Stage 3B. If the lymphoma has spread to the bone marrow, then it is Stage 4 (with the same distinctions--Stage 4A or Stage 4B). For Parrish, we know that it is at least Stage 3B--because the cancer is in both his chest and spleen, and he is exhibiting symptoms. When the results of the bone marrow come back, we will know if, in fact, it is Stage 4B. However, regardless of Stage 3 or 4, the plan and goal for treatment will be the same.

As for treatment, we will know more later on today. We know that initially, treatment will begin with a "cocktail" of chemotherapy, likely to be followed with some other things. I don't want to post details on the treatment plan until we have confirmation from the lymphoma experts here. But the regimen that they are discussing has the goal of a complete cure--the doctors keep reiterating that.

Regarding the timing of treatment, the doctors feel that Parrish's kidney function needs to improve before they begin the chemotherapy. His creatinine levels are moving in the right direction, but chemotherapy takes its toll on the kidneys. At his current creatinine level, the doctors would have to start on such a low dose of chemotherapy, that it just wouldn't have the desired effect. So, the current plan (subject to change at any given moment, as I am learning), is to let Parrish go home (maybe) tomorrow. He will be able to rest at home and let his kidneys get stronger. He would be seen in the lymphoma clinic first thing next week and hopefully begin treatment then. His chemotherapy treatment would be outpatient. He also needs to have a couple outpatient items done--a PET scan (another imaging test) and the insertion of a mediport (an under-skin port where the chemotherapy will be injected). These can both be done in clinic next week.

So, I think you could say that we are moving in the right direction...with a diagnosis and a treatment plan, Parrish (with the help of his mighty army) is ready to fight this thing!

Much love,
Molly