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Wife Beat Breast Cancer and Now Beating Brain Cancer (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Chadstroma
- Start date
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
A caring one.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
A caring wuss.... got it.
Judge Smails
Footballguy
Glad it was a good result. You feel what you feel. Gonna be ups and downs. Dealing with cancer myself I know the angst waiting for another test result to rule out something bad. Anxiety riddling. Hang in there amigo
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
So happy for ya man. I was worried when I didn’t see this thread near the top. The anxiety of it all can be one of the worst parts.
Awesome news!!!!
Awesome news!!!!
Chadstroma
Footballguy
Small set back.
Her enzymes in her liver shot way up. This is the second time this has happened. The first they paused treatment and I believe adjusted the medication down when they put her back on. This time the levels are even higher than they were the first time. Putting her on hold again. I am not sure exactly what that may end up meaning in terms of treatment as of now.
Her enzymes in her liver shot way up. This is the second time this has happened. The first they paused treatment and I believe adjusted the medication down when they put her back on. This time the levels are even higher than they were the first time. Putting her on hold again. I am not sure exactly what that may end up meaning in terms of treatment as of now.
3 hour lunch
Footballguy
Sorry to hear, Chad. Hopefully a small bump. My wife has recently started treatment for brain cancer as well, it’s like being on pins and needles at all times. Hoping for the best for you….
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
Hoping for the best for you guys, too.
steelerfan1
Footballguy
Best to both of you and your wives.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
Sent DM
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Thoughts and Prayers for you and your wife, Chad
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
Hey man, just thinking and prayin for your fam. Thats all.
Corporation
Angry Bovine
I somehow missed this thread and read through y’all’s cancer journey. I’m so sorry you are all going through this and will be praying for her and the whole family.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
Liver enzymes came down a little bit but not enough. Hopefully will get back where they need to be next week.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
So the chemo she was on which is 'well tolerated' was basically damaging her liver. The enzymes kept spiking and after a couple of times of pausing it and then adjusting the dosage, they took her off it. She had a little bit of time off it of it and you could really tell the difference in her energy levels, brain function, how she felt overall.... but they are putting her on a different chemo now starting today. It is relatively 'well tolerated' as well but the old chemo her hair was fine and this one there is a chance that she will lose it again which she is bummed about because her hair has finally recovered from losing it before and then getting part shaved after the brain surgery. Hopefully she doesn't lose it. We will see how much she is impacted by this new med.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
Thanks for asking. I am good, in comparison... I got the easy part. I just do 95% of the 'stuff' like Daddy taxi, grocery, etc. Physically, it sucks because I have a bad back (among other ailments) that limits me a lot so the house has been unkept to an embarrassing level though with her feeling better the last couple of weeks she cleaned up so I wouldn't bar a friend from actually walking into the house. I get worn down physically and am constantly in pain- which I can not take Alieve or Ibuprofren anymore due to being on Eliques after my blood clots. So, an example is last night at my boys swim meet where even though I was sitting in a stadium chair, my back was killing me... I just had to grin and bear it. Get home, sit/lay down and take a muscle relaxer (which I end up taking nightly now as it helps a lot....I was worried they were addictive because I started doing that and asked my Doctor and she said no). It is frustrating because our backyard is a freaking ugly mess though I have managed to keep the front yard looking respectable. My older son is starting to help now too so we got half of the garage cleaned before my back was done. All of that feeds into me wishing and wanting me to do more that I can't.
Then there is the finances... my time is eaten up with everything and the time I do have, I am kind of just burnt out so I am not doing near enough on a work level that I should be doing and not bringing in the income I should. So, that frustrates me but somehow not enough to just bear down and do more.
I end up feeling like I am not doing as much as I should or could or need to. But then again, comparatively, I have it easy. I just need to do better.
BroncoFreak_2K3
sucker for Orange
Can you and your wife get away for a weekend? A change of scenery may help relieve the stress for a while about the ancillary "house" stuff. Just getting away from it all for a while may be refreshing for you and your wife to just have some "you" time together for the both of you.
Thinking and praying often about you, your wife and your family. Hang in there GB.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
Unlikely to begin with... she has never liked doing a weekend get away as she always wants one day in between going anywhere and coming home to rest and that was before being on chemo and feeling like crap. We were planning on a going to visit our close friends in Indianapolis area (with the kids) and enve though it is only a little over 2 hour drives she was pushing back about not making it a long weekend (she doesn't have the PTO now for obvious reasons).
She got home and looks like absolute crap from the treatment. I think this chemo is going to hit her much harder than the previous with the early indications of how she seems to be feeling.
Thank you for the prayers and thoughts... I very much appreciate them!
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@Chadstroma wanted to say I admire how you're caring so well for your wife and family. I'm sorry y'all are having to go through this and I pray and hope for peace and comfort and encouragement. Hang in there and thanks for being you in this. Rock on. 
Chadstroma
Footballguy
Thank you, I appreciate it.@Chadstroma wanted to say I admire how you're caring so well for your wife and family. I'm sorry y'all are having to go through this and I pray and hope for peace and comfort and encouragement. Hang in there and thanks for being you in this. Rock on.
I was talking to the mother of a kid on my son's swim team... he had some form of bone cancer when he was younger (Either 11 or 12 now) and had 13 surgeries over the period he fought it. He is a big guy but does swim and water polo (I do wonder if treatments have some impact on that as that is a ton of calories to burn doing those). Super awesome kid. I have always really liked him. There was something about him.... before I knew about the cancer.... and then finding out about it kind of made it all make sense. He did swim because the doctors wouldn't let him do any contact sports. He wants to play football so I am trying to get him on to my sons team (which is a whole thing).
The point of brining this up...in talking to her, I just went over how it has been basically it has been 3 years of various levels of in this fight with a few months in between thinking we were in the clear. Obviously she understands in a way that I don't think you can really understand unless you dealt with it (unfortunately, so many have dealt with it). You kind of just do it.... I usually do not think about it unless someone asks me "how are you doing?" or "how is your wife doing?" and then it kind of hits me.... this is tiring. But again, whatever I have to shoulder is the easy peasy part of the battle and my wife has been kicking rear end since day 1. She amazes me with her strength and warrior mindset.
Prayers are always helpful and welcome.
rockaction
Footballguy
You have mine tonight. God bless you and your wife and I hope to check in one day to her ringing the bell and in the clear.
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
Thinking of you Chad, and your wife and kids. You have been such an inspiration whether you realize it or not. I deeply appreciate that you are openly sharing your struggles. It makes it easier to empathize with others in my life and to be open about my own stuff.
Prayers for your wife.
Prayers for your wife.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
I am so damn sick of cancer. My sister just called me to let me know my Mom has Ovarian Cancer. We don't have a ton of info but she apparently has had it a while and they believe it has spread to other areas. She isn't the picture of health to begin with but she is in good spirits. I am not.
rockaction
Footballguy
Prayers for you, Chad. I don't know what to say. I'm upset for you, man.
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
What Rock said. I am so sorry.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
That blows dude. And sorry to pile on, but the dreamboat might start the season at qb for the rams. Stafford’s back is no bueno. 
Chadstroma
Footballguy
His back must be absolutely wrecked because for him not to be able to throw better than pretty noodles there he must not be able to walk.That blows dude. And sorry to pile on, but the dreamboat might start the season at qb for the rams. Stafford’s back is no bueno.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
I talked to my Mom today.
She is 100% good with it and in high spirits. Not even as much as fighting but good with whatever outcome.
The two things that is hard for her are 1) Telling my brother and me but mostly me. She didn't want to tell me at all because of everything with my wife and not wanting to add to it but knew I would be mad if she didn't. 2) There was a plan of her coming with my sister and my sisters fiance to come visit us. She has never met my two sons in person and last she saw my daughter was when she was 1 year old because her traveling is extremely hard and we just have had thing after thing that has just kept us from visiting her. All she wants to do is make this trip and visit. She told the Oncologist nurse that that was her only priority and they said they would try to make it work. I guess Friday is when they will have the exact treatment plan figured out.
She is 100% good with it and in high spirits. Not even as much as fighting but good with whatever outcome.
The two things that is hard for her are 1) Telling my brother and me but mostly me. She didn't want to tell me at all because of everything with my wife and not wanting to add to it but knew I would be mad if she didn't. 2) There was a plan of her coming with my sister and my sisters fiance to come visit us. She has never met my two sons in person and last she saw my daughter was when she was 1 year old because her traveling is extremely hard and we just have had thing after thing that has just kept us from visiting her. All she wants to do is make this trip and visit. She told the Oncologist nurse that that was her only priority and they said they would try to make it work. I guess Friday is when they will have the exact treatment plan figured out.
rockaction
Footballguy
I really hope this trip works out for you and your Mom, Chad. That would be a wonderful thing to have happen.
steelerfan1
Footballguy
Continued prayers for you and your family Chad.
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
This sure confused me. I think maybe you mean Labor Day.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
It is a thought of mine for sure. Will need to see what happens tomorrow with treatment plan and better idea of what exactly is happening cancer wise with her.
She does really want to come to Chicago. She was saying she wanted to go different places like Sears Tower with the glass outlook area and asking what Museums I think she would want to go to etc. Plus she wants to be here for two weeks.
She is in California. The complications for us going there are money (me and three kids if not with my wife) adds up fast when we are already financially strained. Schedules are tough... no matter what we did school/activities would be missed which in the big picture isn't that big of a deal but is a consideration to limit it as much as we can. Then my wife, I don't think she can make the travel that far right now... I mean... she could in theory but it would be very hard on her for several reasons. So she would most likely stay home which I am not 100% comfortable with. A long weekend would be the max... labor day weekend would make sense but I can only imagine the cost of flying there and back for 4 over the labor day weekend.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
Until you said it... I was right there with him.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
They did not find any tumor yet.
The cancer is showing up in the fluid they drained from her stomach which indicates a gynecological cancer but they don't see any mass. They have to redrain because apparently some of the fluid is blocking some of the areas in the scan. So, still do not know course of action or how bad it is.
The cancer is showing up in the fluid they drained from her stomach which indicates a gynecological cancer but they don't see any mass. They have to redrain because apparently some of the fluid is blocking some of the areas in the scan. So, still do not know course of action or how bad it is.
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
It might be one of those tumors that is the same density as the surrounding tissue. Those are a witch to find. Hope they figure it out soon.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
They see no masses, lesions, etc. what she has is Peritoneal Carcinoma (lining of the abdomen). Closely related to ovarian cancer and treated the same way.
She is high risk do they will do 3-4 cycles of chemo to shrink everything and then look at removing her uterus, ovaries, tubes. 80% responds to treatment
Many many years ago life expectancy was 49mo - 5 yrs. With today's medicines they are seeing that go past 5 years.
Much better news than I expected.
She is high risk do they will do 3-4 cycles of chemo to shrink everything and then look at removing her uterus, ovaries, tubes. 80% responds to treatment
Many many years ago life expectancy was 49mo - 5 yrs. With today's medicines they are seeing that go past 5 years.
Much better news than I expected.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
My sister asked to talk about the planned trip the other day but then never called. I know she is having a real rough go on this and dealing with it. She is normally the 'tough one' of the siblings but this is just hitting her very hard.
My mom called yesterday. The short version is that they all talked and they want to fly us out Christmas to spend it there with them and then it would be a bit of a family reunion with my Aunt's (moms sisters) coming in at the same time as well. We have not all been together for well over a decade as one Aunt moved to Alabama and the other is in Nevada while my mom, sister and brother are in So Cal and me in Chicago.
The concern of everyone was my wife. I told them that I would talk to her about it.
The first big concern for my wife was the schedule of her treatments (she still has treatments going through spring) and the second was being in an airplane with her weakened immune system due to the treatments. I offered to drive but she balked at that being that it would be winter.
I know the kids would be super excited. We haven't done much in the way of family vacations over the last 4 years due to all this crap. They have all asked about when we would go somewhere. And they are all still looking forward to my sister and mom visiting (I have not told them anything yet). it would be good to be back where I grew up as well... visit the beach and other places that hold a special place in my heart and most importantly see all my family.
I left it there with my wife for her to think about. I will touch base with her on it later.
My mom called yesterday. The short version is that they all talked and they want to fly us out Christmas to spend it there with them and then it would be a bit of a family reunion with my Aunt's (moms sisters) coming in at the same time as well. We have not all been together for well over a decade as one Aunt moved to Alabama and the other is in Nevada while my mom, sister and brother are in So Cal and me in Chicago.
The concern of everyone was my wife. I told them that I would talk to her about it.
The first big concern for my wife was the schedule of her treatments (she still has treatments going through spring) and the second was being in an airplane with her weakened immune system due to the treatments. I offered to drive but she balked at that being that it would be winter.
I know the kids would be super excited. We haven't done much in the way of family vacations over the last 4 years due to all this crap. They have all asked about when we would go somewhere. And they are all still looking forward to my sister and mom visiting (I have not told them anything yet). it would be good to be back where I grew up as well... visit the beach and other places that hold a special place in my heart and most importantly see all my family.
I left it there with my wife for her to think about. I will touch base with her on it later.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
Take the trip.
I know it’s not that simple. But take the trip.
If you’re in SoCal, drinks on me. Baby sitting on me. Whatever. Take the trip.
I know it’s not that simple. But take the trip.
If you’re in SoCal, drinks on me. Baby sitting on me. Whatever. Take the trip.
Sand
Footballguy
I'm in Alabama - I'll babysit the Aunt. We got this.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
Yea, it is a big goal. The complication is my wife with her in treatment it isn't as simple as "let's go"
fatness
Footballguy
I know you'd like to go and the family would like to go, but you're absolutely right to put her first. My best to all of you.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
I get that. Do what you can to make it happen.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
I am having my own cancer scare (hopefully just a scare) I got my Cologuard test back today and it came back positive. This does not automatically mean cancer but the next step is a colonoscopy which I have scheduled on the 17th.
I am not going to lie. It is screwing with me bad right now. I am not sure if I would feel/think all that I am if not in the shadow of my wife and Mom.
I am not going to lie. It is screwing with me bad right now. I am not sure if I would feel/think all that I am if not in the shadow of my wife and Mom.
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
That sucks the big one. Here's hoping you just have some random benign thingie bothering you.
Chadstroma
Footballguy
Hoping it is just some blood in there. Reading up some false positives come from IBS, Hemorrhoids, ulcers, etc and meds like blood thinners (which I do take).
