Update on Dad:

He has been to see a specialist regarding his MDS and worst case scenario is that the treatment may not work and it can turn in to lueukemia.  As most of you know that is not a good thing.

His MRI showed that his hip socket has basically collapsed from the treatment for the tumor.  The tumor is still there but they don't know if it's dead or alive at this point.  He is walking with a cane as he can't put any pressure on it due to the pain.

He will more than likely have to have blood transfusions bi-weekly for the rest of his life as his cells are not "playing nicely" with each other.

All we can do at this point is keep praying that this works and that he can regain his strength.  It's killing him to not be able to do the simple things that we all take for granted without getting winded and wiped out.

Dad had his first infusion for the MDS yesterday and to say the least, it WIPED him out!

It looks like a nasty little drug.  Vidaza:  An anit-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") chemotherapy drug.   The common side effects are:

1. Nausea
2. Low red blood cell count (Anemia)
3. Low platelet count
4. Vomiting
5. Fever
6. Low white blood cell count
7. Diarrhea
8. Fatigue
9. Injection Site Redness
10. Constipation
11. Ecchymosis, petechiae (Bleeding under the skin...had to google it :-)

Like he needs any more going on than he already has!  Mom is working the U of A games right now and has been busy so it's harder than normal.  Dad has to go in every day for infusions and possibly blood transfusions if necessary for 7 days straight.  You know that with them pumping that toxic poison into him is going to make him feel like crap!

Today is a day that he needed a transfusion as his counts had all dropped very low.  It makes you wonder why this kind of thing always happens to the people that would give you the shirt off of their back.  I have to say that my Dad has the biggest heart of anyone I know.  He does what is necessary to take care of those that he has obligations to no matter what.  He does get burned more than someone who is focused on themselves but I guess you take the good with the bad huh?

I know that getting angry at the circumstances won't do any of us any good but it's so hard not to.  I just have to have faith that there is a reason for everything.  

Keep him in your good thoughts and prayers!  I'll keep you all posted!

Kim

Update on Dad

I haven't updated this for so long but thought that it was by far the easiest way to let everyone know what is going on with Dad.

He has been so run down and had ZERO energy.  We found out this week that he has MDS.  What is MDS?  This is what I found on the American Cancer Society site:  

What are myelodysplastic syndromes?

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are conditions that occur when the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow are damaged. This damage leads to low numbers of one or more types of blood cells.

Normal bone marrow

Bone marrow is the soft, inner part of some bones, such as those of the skull, shoulder blades, ribs, pelvis, and backbones. Bone marrow contains stem cells that divide to form new cells. When a stem cell divides it makes 2 cells: one cell that stays a stem cell, and another cell that can make other kinds of blood cells. There are 3 kinds of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

• Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and carry away carbon dioxide.
• White blood cells help the body fight infection. There are many types of white blood cells.
• Platelets are pieces of cells. They are needed for the blood to clot. They help plug up damaged areas of blood vessels caused by cuts or bruises.

Myelodysplastic syndromes

In MDS, some of the cells in the bone marrow are damaged and have problems making new blood cells. Many of the blood cells that are made by these damaged cells are not normal. The abnormal blood cells die sooner than normal cells, leaving the person without enough normal blood cells and with low blood counts.

MDS can turn into a fast-growing cancer of bone marrow cells called acute myeloid leukemia. This happens in about 1 out of 3 people with MDS. In the past, MDS was called pre-leukemia or smoldering leukemia. Since most MDS patients do not get leukemia, these terms are no longer used. Now that doctors have learned more about MDS, it is thought to be a form of cancer.

The American Cancer Society document, Leukemia: Acute Myeloid (Myelogenous) has more information about the leukemia that develops in some MDS patients.

Types of MDS

The system used to classify MDS is known as the WHO (World Health Organization) system. This system divides MDS into 7 groups. The group depends on how the cells of the blood and bone marrow look under a microscope and the presence of certain changes in the chromosomes of those cells. Because the differences can be very small, doctors might not agree about which group a patient’s disease belongs in. Your doctor can explain to you the exact kind of MDS you have.

Cases of MDS can also be grouped based on the cause of the disease. (This is called clinical classification.) If no cause can be found, it is called primary MDS. It is called secondary MDS when the cause of the disease is known. Secondary MDS is often called treatment-related, because the most common cause is earlier treatment for cancer. Secondary MDS is much less likely to respond to treatment.

This is  the lovely effects of Chemo for 3 years.  They gave him a blood transfusion yesterday and starting on Monday he will have infusions of drugs to help treat it.  From what I understand his counts will probably dip down before they go up so I'm sure he has some rough days ahead of him.

He is still coming in to work when he is able.  He is such a strong man it's unbelievable!!  My Mom has been dropping him off at my house and I take him into work with me and then either Bill or I take him home.  

My Mom is being a trooper!  I know she is tired, scared and most of the time irritated with him.  He can be quite a bear when he isn't feeling good.  Not intentionally but sometimes he gets snappy and grumpy.  I've had visions of Duct taping him in the closet just to get some quiet ha ha ha!

Bill and I had a Birthday BBQ for both my Mom and my Dad since their birthdays are 13 days apart.  We surprised them and invited some of their friends to help celebrate.  It turned out really well and I think they both enjoyed it.

I'll keep you all updated as he starts his treatment next week.  Please keep him and our family in your prayers!  

Kim