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UPDATE: So I think I may have lung cancer (1 Viewer)

bigbottom said:
Ferris Bueller Fan said:
bigbottom said:
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, in addition to hopefully killing the cancer, the high-dose chemo basically destroys your immune system. And by destroy, I mean the white blood cells that fight infection are wiped out completely in both your blood stream and bone marrow. Without the infusion of stems cells (from a marrow donation or an autologous collection) to repopulate your bone marrow, you will have no immune system to withstand the outside world. You'll sort of live like bubble boy I guess. It takes a while for the stem cell transplant to take. Chance's cell counts went to zero for days. They did labs every morning, and we kept waiting for an uptick in that number. Those days when the test result kept coming back at zero were incredibly stressful. And then finally, on the ninth day following his transplant, the cell count came back at 0.03. The next day it was above 1.0. We could breath again.

As for now, Chance's immune system is still compromised. His counts are high enough that he could go home. But he can't go out in public where there are other people (restaurants, movies, etc.), and when he must do so (like when he has to go to the hospital for labwork and tests - usually 2-3 times a week), he has to wear what looks sort of like a respirator or gas mask.
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Thanks for the update, biggie. Praying for Chance and your family daily. I'm glad you're close to a superior treatment center, and that your family has been able to stick together through this.

Not that this matters much for Chance... one of my best friends from childhood got brain cancer when she was a little older than Chance is now. It was a war that took months. But she survived. And then finished high school. And college. And medical school. These days she is a pediatric cancer specialist, married with kids.

Someday that respirator/gas mask contraption is going to be part of a Halloween costume or part of his on-stage persona with his heavy metal band.
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VERY interesting story. Would very much like to connect with your friend if she's open to it. Chance has for a long time said he wanted to be a lawyer (the horror), but he's started talking about potentially pursuing a career in the medical profession. I have no idea if it's in the cards for him, but if anyone can overcome what he's gone through, it's Chance.

As for the gas mask, way ahead of you - here's a photo I took the day he was discharged. I told him to look evil. I think the Tiger Woods hat helped.
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Awesome, BB- great to hear things are on the upswing!

 
Folks that work in the oncology/hematology departments, especially in pediatrics, are some of the most amazing people in the world.

My daughter has dealt with a blood disorder and we've been exposed quite a bit to those departments over the last few years at one of the local children's hospitals and I'm blown away every time I'm there. The people are amazing. Talk about finding ways to have your heart broken many times when you meet and see the kids and hear the stories.

 
GroveDiesel said:
Folks that work in the oncology/hematology departments, especially in pediatrics, are some of the most amazing people in the world.My daughter has dealt with a blood disorder and we've been exposed quite a bit to those departments over the last few years at one of the local children's hospitals and I'm blown away every time I'm there. The people are amazing. Talk about finding ways to have your heart broken many times when you meet and see the kids and hear the stories.
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Great posting. At our hospital, children battling cancer are assigned a Child Life Specialist, who serves as a counselor and friend to help them cope with the disease and treatment, to make sense out of it all and work through their emotions. Our son's Child Life Specialist, who is a truly amazing person, has an additional responsibility as part of her job. She is in charge of putting together scrapbooks for the parents of children who don't make it. I can't even imagine what it takes to do that job.

 
And again, thanks to each of you for your posts. I'd respond to each of them individually, but then I'd have a thousand posts in the thread. Your kindness is overwhelming!

 
I'm pretty much a mere impulse poster but I want to wish all you guys the best. I can't imagine what you and your families are going through and it is really nice to see all the support.

 
bigbottom said:
johnnycakes said:
bigbottom said:
Thanks again everyone. We're remaining positive. Even though it was devastating news when we learned that the cancer had returned, the treatments have gone well since. The brain surgery was a success, and the subsequent chemo has had the desired effect of knocking down the remaining cancer cells. This last treatment is the important one though. Hopefully will get rid of the cancer for good. Fingers crossed.
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How's Chase doing, BB?
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He's doing well, thanks for asking. That most recent treatment was brutal. Over three weeks in the hospital quarantined on the bone marrow transplant floor. The effects of the high-dose, six-day chemo treatment was worse than anything we'd experienced to date. But the stem cell transplant succeeded in jump starting his immune system and we were released form the hopistal a couple weeks ago. It will still be another couple weeks before they do the labwork and scans to determine whether the treatement had the desired effect on the cancer (we'll be holding our breath until then), but for now, it's great to have everyone home and under one roof (my wife lived with him at the hospital 24/7 for the 3+ weeks he was there). His appetite has not yet returned and it's a chore to get him to eat anything. He's still on IV nutrition 12 hours a day. But his spirits are good and his energy improves everyday.

Here's a video of the day he was released from the bone marrow transplant unit. Texas Children's Hospital is a special place.

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Lost my dad and just last week my sister lost her mother-in-law (very cool lady) to cancer. To think of what it is to have my son or daughter going through this is crushing. Beat this thing man.

 
steelerfan1 said:
bigbottom said:
Hope your dad is hanging in there steelerfan. And porkchop and I still need to grab a beer.
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hi BB, can't watch your video now as i am trying to keep it under control. glad he is home bud and he is in my prayers daily.

i am out on FMLA now and in florida with my dad. he has really fallen fast and i dont think it will be long for him.he has lost over 20 more pounds over the last 6 weeks i had last come down.

he did not do well with chemo and has stopped treatment. has stopped his radiation since yesterday as well. he wants it to be over and seeing him now i understand and cant argue with him. just very thankful to have the opportunity to take some time off from work and be here just to say what i need to say and just sit with him. very emotional times and dont wish it for anyone.

again, my best to chance and you and your family.
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Thoughts and prayers steelerfan. I know it's not easy.

Hang in there.

 
shoot, was hoping this was a good bump from enfuego. like many other, hate you cancer. my dad lost his battle in november of last year.

 
Lost an uncle this year and have my wife's grandmother in the hospital tonight. She's been in stage 4 quite a while now.

#### cancer is right. I feel like that's what's going to get me in the end.

 
I agree. So much pain. En Fuego was always optimistic. The story about Chance really got to me as well. I went to bed really sad last night.

 
Such a horrible thing. #### cancer. Neighbor just lost his wife of 33 years who was only in her 50s to cancer. Happened so fast poor guy is shell shocked. :(

 
Damn. Hope everyone who posted in this thread is doing okay. And prayers with en fuego, wherever he may be. I was so scared, but always hopeful when posting in this thread. ####### dammit.

 
Reading the post from Mr. Ham was tough. But goes to show what a great guy he is. Even before his nightmare he was willing to lend a hand to BB.

I admire you both BB and Mr Ham.

As a dad of twin boys you both have inspired me to be the kind of dad your two are.

 
Wooderson said:
Reading the post from Mr. Ham was tough. But goes to show what a great guy he is. Even before his nightmare he was willing to lend a hand to BB.

I admire you both BB and Mr Ham.

As a dad of twin boys you both have inspired me to be the kind of dad your two are.
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Well said. I have so much admiration and respect for both those dignified men.

 
Wow, I was just thinking of this thread. My uncle is dying of cancer and has been told he has 2-3 months. This man has been like a father to me since my own father passed when I was young.

Last Sunday I took him to the airport as he was going to California to be with his children and to basically die. As he hugged me at the airport he said "This is the last time I will ever see you..I want you to know how proud am I of you and how much I love you" I totally lost it. Usually you hear someone passes and you go to the funeral. To hear him say those words to me was heart breaking. Having no grandparents alive, no parents alive this one really hurt.

I know hurt pales in comparison to BB and Ham. My heart goes out to all. And about En Fuego hopefully he is hanging in there as well.

 
Da Guru said:
Wow, I was just thinking of this thread. My uncle is dying of cancer and has been told he has 2-3 months. This man has been like a father to me since my own father passed when I was young.

Last Sunday I took him to the airport as he was going to California to be with his children and to basically die. As he hugged me at the airport he said "This is the last time I will ever see you..I want you to know how proud am I of you and how much I love you" I totally lost it. Usually you hear someone passes and you go to the funeral. To hear him say those words to me was heart breaking. Having no grandparents alive, no parents alive this one really hurt.

I know hurt pales in comparison to BB and Ham. My heart goes out to all. And about En Fuego hopefully he is hanging in there as well.
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That sucks Guru, sorry to hear that. #### cancer.

 
Da Guru said:
Wow, I was just thinking of this thread. My uncle is dying of cancer and has been told he has 2-3 months. This man has been like a father to me since my own father passed when I was young.

Last Sunday I took him to the airport as he was going to California to be with his children and to basically die. As he hugged me at the airport he said "This is the last time I will ever see you..I want you to know how proud am I of you and how much I love you" I totally lost it. Usually you hear someone passes and you go to the funeral. To hear him say those words to me was heart breaking. Having no grandparents alive, no parents alive this one really hurt.

I know hurt pales in comparison to BB and Ham. My heart goes out to all. And about En Fuego hopefully he is hanging in there as well.
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Guru: yes, it sucks, but the beautiful part is that he was able to say that to you.

 
Tackling Dummies said:
Da Guru said:
Wow, I was just thinking of this thread. My uncle is dying of cancer and has been told he has 2-3 months. This man has been like a father to me since my own father passed when I was young.

Last Sunday I took him to the airport as he was going to California to be with his children and to basically die. As he hugged me at the airport he said "This is the last time I will ever see you..I want you to know how proud am I of you and how much I love you" I totally lost it. Usually you hear someone passes and you go to the funeral. To hear him say those words to me was heart breaking. Having no grandparents alive, no parents alive this one really hurt.

I know hurt pales in comparison to BB and Ham. My heart goes out to all. And about En Fuego hopefully he is hanging in there as well.
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Guru: yes, it sucks, but the beautiful part is that he was able to say that to you.
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:goodposting: I'm sure that memory will live with you forever.

 
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