karenulijohn

The test results from Harvey’s PET scan on Monday arrived in our online health information site, and after reading around the “medical speak” we were very encouraged by the outcome.  Bottom line, there is no visible cancer in the area of the tumor, however, the writer cautions that because of “inflammation associated with recent radiotherapy, residual malignancy may also be present” and advises that follow up imaging might be appropriate.  A few other things were noted that had not been seen on previous scans, most notably a spinal stress fracture in the area of the radiation treatment.  This may have been caused when Harvey fainted with the A-fib episode.  He complained of back pain, but we attributed it to the Neupogen.  The summary also refers to shadowy areas in the lower right lung, but again, it is most likely inflammation from the radiation.  All of our conclusions were confirmed by Dr. Suhag when we saw him on Wednesday.  He was very pleased with the results of the treatment.  When Harvey asked if this means he still has to see the surgeon, Dr. Suhag looked somewhat startled and then answered in the affirmative.  Harvey followed up with “What if I don’t have the surgery?”  Dr. Suhag dissembled a bit, saying “You really need to talk to the surgeon about that.”  Then, he tipped his head to one side and apologetically said, “It may come back, and you cannot have any more radiation and, further, chemotherapy will eventually stop working.”  All will be revealed, I hope, on Monday when we visit Dr. Graves, the surgeon.  I will try to give a more comprehensive report after we meet with him.

Harvey has continued to gain strength and stamina over the past couple of weeks, and his appetite is returning apace.  His sister, Hilma, from Spokane and niece, Lynda, from Kennewick came to visit with us for a few days this past week.  It was lovely to see them and gave Harvey a reason to “perk up.”  We drove them around Lincoln and Lincoln Hills on Tuesday and then had lunch at Beermann’s Brewery where Harvey tucked into a large slice of meatloaf.  We all enjoyed our meals and the service was very good.  If you haven’t tried Beermann’s since it reopened, you really should treat yourself.  On Wednesday, Harvey had a hankering for prime rib, so we arranged to have dinner on the patio at Meridians with our favorite waiter, Wallid, in attendance.  Good friends dropped by to join us for a drink and to meet Lynda and Hilma, whom Harvey refers to as his “much older sister.”  It was a perfect evening to be outside, and we sat and talked well past dark.  Thursday we took a driving tour around Sacramento and showed them the usual sites including the Capitol and Old Town.  We were so glad that they took the time to come to CA to visit, and we thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent together.

Our prayers have been answered.  Thank you all for keeping Harvey in your thoughts and prayers.  We are sincerely grateful.

It has been two weeks since my last entry, and Harvey is making slow but steady progress.  He had a followup visit with Dr. Suhag on August 30th when Harvey asked what the next phase would entail, and when would it start?  There will be a PET scan at the end of this month followed by another visit with Dr. Suhag to review the results.  We will then see Dr. Graves, the surgeon, to discuss the options for surgery.  For the month ahead, however, Harvey will be free of doctor and treatment visits.  His day to day recovery is minimal but, if viewed over the period of a week, the improvement is significant.

Yesterday, Harvey met with Dr. Y, the cardiologist.  After an EKG, Dr. Y. reported that Harvey’s heart rhythm had settled into a normal sinus rhythm and was holding steady.  His pulse, however, is very low, so Dr. Y. reduced Harvey’s daily medications by half in order to allow the heart rate to increase to an optimal level.  A resulting increase in pulse rate may make him feel more energetic.  I think he was encouraged by the Doctor’s visit because he enjoyed a visit with friends in the afternoon, and then went to the Merry Melanomsters’ meeting at the Infusion Taproom in the evening.

One of Harvey’s endearing qualities is his imprecise reporting of details involving numbers.  For example, when he was traveling for business, I would ask him what time his flight was arriving?  He would say, “Oh, around 9:00 PM.”  When I checked with the airline, the flight was actually scheduled to arrive at 9:55 PM.  I spent a lot of time waiting around airports until I finally caught on to this idiosyncrasy.  When Harvey was weighing in at Dr. Suhag’s office last week, I was stunned to see his weight registered 183 lbs fully dressed with shoes and wallet.  I blurted out “Have you been lying to me?”  He had been telling me his weight was about 190 lbs.  The following day, as I was hanging over the scale, he actually weighed 180 lbs, naked!  In another instance, he was on the phone with one of the pharmacists at Sutter who was following up on Harvey’s progress with the heart medications.  As I walked past, carrying some laundry, I heard him say that his pulse was ranging between 60 and 70 bpm.  I shook my finger at him and said “Tell him the truth!”  Before owning up, he asked the pharmacist if he was married and whether or not his wife nagged him?  While I was cackling in the background, he admitted that his pulse rate is actually between 45 and 55 bpm.  There is a definite pattern here!

With only a couple of weeks left of summer, I am looking forward to enjoying Fall, my favorite time of the year.  I was happy to begin choir practice at the church yesterday afternoon, and the ladies trio I sing with began rehearsing again last Thursday.  I continue with my workouts every day not only for the physical benefits, but the psychological and spiritual uplift I get from spending time with my friends.  We are so grateful for the support and love of our friends.