Update 2

BASED ON MAMI'S CONVERSATION WITH DR RICHARDS:

Dr. Richards and the Renal Doctor have decided not to do a kidney biopsy at this time as Pop Pop's numbers are not high enough and it can be a dangerous procedure for him in his current state.  The area that a biopsy needs to be taken from is small and if the kidney is punctured he can bleed internally.  His creatin level is 2.22 (normal is 0.70 - 1.30).

The treatment plan for now is two days of Chemotherapy (today and tomorrow) after which he will be sent home.  She would like him to return every three weeks for Chemotherapy (2 days) during which time they will monitor him to check and see if the treatment is is effective in keeping the cancer immobile.  Between treatments he will continue to have his levels checked. 

For the time being he will not receive radiation.

Pop Pop is in control of his treatment plan.  At any time he feels that the chemo is too much for him or there are too many side effects he may choose to stop treatment.

KIDNEYS:

Although Dr. Richards does not feel that Pop Pop has cancer in his kidneys, they are still unsure what is wrong with his kidneys (other than the existing issues of his kidneys functioning at 22%). He MUST drink a lot of fluid (6-8 bottles) daily. Insufficient fluids will only harm his kidneys further.

JAW:

They are not sure what is wrong with his jaw.  On the PET Scan it presents as a hollow ring (much like a life saver).  If it shrinks with the chemo, it may be cancer however if it continues to grow they will biopsy it.  They do not feel that it is an abscess as it would have looked different on the scan.

WHY NOT BIOPSY NOW?  Pop Pop's platelets are still too low (43). 

CHEMOTHERAPY:

Rituximab, Bendamustine

Update

No one was in the room with daddy when Dr. Richards visited today.

HERE IS HIS REPORT:

Yesterday, they put in the port...last night it was hurting so he had a Percocet (she told him to have more if needed).  

Today, they are supposed to biopsy the kidneys however his levels are not high enough to do that.

Richards has a meeting with the renal doctors today to see if the kidneys are showing any improvement

MAYBE  Chemo today, she has to confer with the Renal doctors first to see if they want to and can do a biopsy first

The Lump in the jaw... Richards spent time reviewing the PET Scan.  The PET Scan does not show anything cancerous on the jaw; however, they need to keep an eye on it.  If it continues to grow they will have to biopsy it.  Although the PET Scan does not show anything now, the scan is not definitive, some areas can become cancerous or show as cancerous later.

The spots on the face she is unsure if they are skin cancer ... he will have to see a dermatologist.

For now PET Scan shows all the cancer to be localized to the right side (Thigh and Butt). 

Bone Biopsy came back clear.

Friday, October 28 2011

Pop Pop is in UNC and has a port in again.  We are still waiting on test results to learn more about where the cancer has traveled to and hope to hear no later than Friday.  The doctor has expressed that she would like to discuss options to keep the cancer immobilized (not cured) once we have all the results back.