Great news everyone!!! DAD HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR THE CLINICAL TRIAL. He will start on Monday, July 14th!!!!!!!!
The other day, I hooked my laptop up to the TV as Jennifer wanted to show some videos to Dad, Mom, and I. After we got done, I was just randomly picking videos to watch as a family. I was browsing between Youtube and God Vine. I was on God Vine’s website when I came across this 1 video. I clicked on it and as we were watching it, I started crying.
Basically, it’s husband / father dying from cancer. While he was lying there in the hospital bed, the doctors tells the wife that there is nothing else they can do. Throughout this entire video, you can see he is hooked up to an IV and receiving meds through an IV. At the very end, the husband makes it and pulls through because he underwent a “Experimental: First in human trials” aka clinical trial.
Like I mention, I was randomly picking videos and this was the entire families first time watching the video. What was the chances of me picking something that was related to a clinical trial when Dad is scheduled to be in a clinical trial starting next week? I personally think it was God telling me to click on to it so that Dad knows everything will be alright.
Here is the video I am talking about:
Today is Wednesday, July 9th. Dad is schedule to start his clinical trial on Monday, July 14th. However, the insurance company is dragging their feet and wont give us a yes or no answer if they are going to cover it or not.
One thing we did get approved that we are super happy about, the insurance company authorized dad to have a PETScan done tomorrow, July 10th. You see, the insurance company has denied dad from getting PETScans for about year to year and half now. They would only authorize CT scans with contrast. They claim the CT scans with contrast is just as good.
The thing about is, the PETScan shows the whole body where as the CT Scan is isolated in 1 spot. So, if the cancer has spread, you wouldn’t know about it unless you did a CT scan of the whole body. I guaranteed you, they have not done that either.
Below is a link that MD Anderson wanted Dad, Mom, Jennifer and I to watch couple weeks ago. I thought I would share it with everyone. The purpose of the video is to communicate to patients, their families and health care providers information they may need to know about Phase I clinical trials at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
- MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Phase I Clinical Trials: Access to Hope
- 28 min 44 second video
Well folks, today’s been an interesting day at MD Anderson. Dad was schedule to:
- Get a feeding tube put in his stomach
- Removed the small, temporary drainage tube for his right lung
- Insert a bigger drainage tube in the right lung, just like his left lung
- Remove the left lung drainage tube
Dad has been off his heart meds the last couple days for all these procedures that was schedule for today. His blood pressure was fine, but his heart rate was too fast for the doctors comfort level since dad would be put under. So, MD Anderson actually did an EKG. Naturally, Dad was in a-fib which I think he is in a-fib 24/7.
The final decision was made… all procedures was cancel except removing the small, temporary drainage tube for his right lung. Supposedly he will have the procedures done next week.
MD Anderson discharge dad and he is now home.
Hey Folks,
Dad went to the pulmonary doctor today. Mom and Jennifer went with him and I stayed behind to do some errands around town, plus take care of the dogs. Well, mom call me and from my understanding, his left lung is basically good. I am not 100% sure if the left lung drainage tube was clogged or not given the reason why we went in the first place.
He now has problems with the right lung. I am not going to go into all the details, but I will say that the doctors are admitting into the hospital. Why? Well, Dad needs a procedure done ASAP to resolve this issue. Problem is, Dad is on a blood thinner for his a-fib condition.
Due to the nature of Dad’s current condition, MD Anderson does not want to wait for the blood thinner medication to be filter out of his system. They want to do the procedure today. Therefore, there is a risk in doing the procedure and that’s why they are admitting him to MD Anderson.
More details as soon as I know something…
“Doubt is a virus that attacks our self-esteem, productivity and confidence. Faith that you and your life are perfectly unfolding is the strongest vaccine.”
—
Sean Stephenson
I just got off the phone with Mom… it wasn’t good news. All the results came in… portions of the cancer is getting smaller. Though, other portions of the cancer is getting bigger. Therefore, Dad is no longer a candidate for regular chemo.
- Surgery is off the table because it’s too wide spread
- Radiation is off the table because he has maxed out his limit.
- Regular chemo is off the table because it’s not 100% doing the job
What does that leave us… clinical trial chemo. To say the least, we aren’t happy about being put on the clinical trial but it’s our only option left. Dad will have to go MD Anderson – Downtown to receive the clinical trial chemo. At the current time, it’s unknown when he will start the trial or what kind as we have to meet with the clinical trial doctor and see what our best option is.
I will definitely give you more updates as soon as I know something.
So, I just realized several major things have happened to dad that no one has posted here on the blog.
- Dad visiting MD Anderson hospitable:
- Dad went to MD Anderson ER due to having hard time breathing on May 27, 2014.
- After doing a variety of test, MD Anderson admitted him into the hospital due to fluids on the lungs, mainly his left lung.
- I must say, Dad’s room was like a VIP room… it was huge and very fancy and he was all by himself.
- On May 28th, MD Anderson drained his left lung and also put a drainage tube in his left lung so he can be drained from home.
- On May 29th, Dad was discharge Thursday afternoon from the hospital.
- On a side note, he was suppose to get more chemo on May 29th, but due to him being in the hospital, they actually post pone the treatment to the following week.
- Dad went to MD Anderson ER due to having hard time breathing on May 27, 2014.
- On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday, we drain fluild from his left lung at home.
- We will continue to do this producer until he stops dripping less than 150 ML per drain for a solid week. Once he does that, then we can call the doctor and see if the tube can come out.
- Dad’s new nickname is “Drano“.
- From June 1st – 4th, Dad accomplish something that he hasn’t done in awhile.
- For the first time in months and months, dad went to work every day and did not have to come home early! He was worn out but he did it!
- Remember, he works a 4/10 shift Sunday – Wednesday nights.
- On June 5th, Dad received his drip chemo from MD Anderson – Clear Lake . In addition, he took 5 chemo pill per day for a 7 days straight.
- On a side note, Dad is schedule to get another dose of chemo on June 19th and repeat the same process.
Jennifer posted this on her Facebook wall and I thought I would share this with everyone since the other day was Father’s Day.
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To all the father’s out there… may you remember how much the gift of time is means more than any toy that you can give a child. My best memories is not the toys but the time spent with my parents. A Husband is About to Go on 1 of the Most Important Dates of His Life, But it’s Not With His Wife.
Long story short, the CT scan from Sunday basically fell through the cracks. Furthermore the radiologist hasn’t read the CTs. So, the test results are unknown. 😐
We are suppose to call the doctor over the next couple days to find out the results.
At 7:40am CST this morning, Dad is schedule to get his last CT scan before he and mom gets the test results at 11:30am. This round, Dad has had 4 treatments of chemo. Remember, dad is maxed out on his radiation, so chemo is the only option.
When dad was in the ER several weeks ago, they told us that the cancer has not grown, but it hasn’t shrinking either. The chemo is just maintaining it. Furthermore, dad is already schedule for additional chemo on May 29th and we haven’t even seen the doctor yet.
I will let you know more as soon as I know something…
Some of yall know this, but most don’t… the Cunningham family have been doing some major, I mean MAJOR spring cleaning.
But first, let me explain something. Dad is a miniature hoarder. He likes to keep things for “future projects”. He has been saving things in the shed and barn for years. I found things that I had no CLUE was back there. Over the last 10 or so years, both buildings have been falling apart to the point of structure instability. For the last several years, we have always stated that we wanted to tear down both the shed and barn, but never did. Well, I said enough is enough and I push mom to see how much it would cost for a big dumpster so we can clean the shed and barn out out. She found a company in Pearland and so Jennifer and I rented the dumpster.
On April 26th, ten people from United Airlines that Dad works with and myself cleaned up the front and back yard and torn down the shed. These men that dad works with, they were doing this with pure respect and actually wanted to help. THEY WERE NOT, I REPEAT, THEY WERE NOT ASKING FOR ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION. This guy’s respects Dad so much that they are willing to do about anything and everything for Dad and if that meant cleaning of the yard up, then that’s what it takes. Anyways, the yard got cleaned up along the shed got torn down and put in the dumpster.
On April 28th, we had the dumpster people pick up the load, dump it, and bring the dumpster back to the house. I then started cleaning the barn. It was in worst shape than the shed as far the physical structure and more creatures. Due the nature me working a full time job, it was a little bit slower cleaning process since it was just me instead of a crew of 10 people plus me. Mom helped me when she can, but she mainly supervise and make sure I didn’t get hurt or get bitten by a creature.
On May 3rd, two United Airlines people came out to the house and help me do some more cleaning in the barn. One of them brought a tracker with a front end loader, so it was easier to move things for the heaver stuff.
I continued to clean the barn. On May 7th, seven United Airlines people and myself torn down the barn and clean the rubble up. Currently, I have to clean some piles that I raked up and put tree limbs in the dumpster. I should have all of this done by May 11th.
To summarize, the front and back yard got cleaned up, the shed and barn was torn down along cleaning most of the junk that was inside them in the dumpster. Without the folks at United Airlines, I probably would not have been able to finish what needed to be finished in the allotted time frame.
The Cunningham family greatly appreciates every United Airlines guy that came out and help me clean the property up.
Some of yall may or may not know, Dad went into the MD Anderson ER Wednesday night (April 23th). Thursday morning, they admitted him. This afternoon, he was released from the hospital. Long story short, he had fluids on both lungs.. his left lung was much worst. Once they drained the liter of fluids from his left lung, he was able to breath better. They are treating him with some meds to reduced the fluids from his right lung.
When Dad was in the hospital, they did do an CT scan. The cancer hasn’t grown, but at the same time, it hasn’t shrinking either. Dad is maxed out on radiation and surgery is out of the question due to it being too wide spread. So, chemo is the only option.
Also, we have delayed the proceedings in dad getting the balloon stint in his esophagus. When Dad’s one MD Anderson doctor schedule this procedure, she forgot to mention the high risk involved in the procedure. We found out by another doctor that if the balloon collapses, Dad will be on a feeding tube for the rest of his life. He will not be able to eat through the mouth ever again.
To say the least, the whole family was upset, especially mom. She didn’t take the news very well. We have a consultation with the GI doctors on May 14th to discuss about this procedure. We are hoping to move the consultation up, but no guarantees.
In addition, dad has a ulcer which is near the cancer. One of the general MD Anderson doctors says that if the balloon stint collapses, it will most likely be right where the ulcer is… that is another reason why we delayed the proceedings.
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
― Thomas A. Edison
As yall know, Dad chemo treatment is: 1 week of chemo, 1 week of no chemo, 1 week of chemo, 1 week of no chemo, ect… Well, Dad will be starting his 2nd dose of chemo today. He will be getting a drip chemo through an IV later on today. Furthermore, the next 7 days, he will be taking chemo pills.
“Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.”
—
Walter Anderson
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You know, its funny how life is. This quote was sent to me via email today, March 20th. The same day that Dad starts his chemo treatment. These quotes that I periodically send out is coming from Thoughtful-Mind.com, which I am subscribe to.
The esophagus cancer might be winning the battle right now, but reinforcements are coming and Dad will win this war. Go Team C!!!!
MD Anderson just called Dad. All the doctors had that conference meeting and discuss what is the next course of treatment. They looked over the results again and they agree that the cancer has now moved into his lungs… probably a good reason why Dad has this constant cough. Furthermore, they said he is back in stage 4 cancer. I am not sure if that means his lungs, his esophagus or both.
Anyways, the plan is still go down to MD Anderson on March 10th and discuss the treatment options with us.
Edit: March 5, 2014 @ 9:45pm
I got clarification on the stage 4 part. Basically because the cancer moved to another organ, MD Anderson automatically classify it as Stage 4 cancer no mater where the cancer is at.
As you may or may not know, Dad went to MD Anderson and got a GI Endoscopy done on his esophagus along with a CT scan on the neck on Tuesday, Feb 25th. The results on the GI Endoscopy was that he had a mass on his esophagus again. They did a biopsy on the mass to see if it was cancerous or not. Furthermore, he got a CT scan on chest and ABD on Wednesday, Feb 26th. Today, Feb 27th, we found out the results. The biopsy showed that it is cancerous. Plus, there were more cancer cells in several lymph nodes around the neck area.
To say the least, my family is devastated. This will be the 3rd time the cancer has come back for my Dad… this time it’s really hitting my dad as far as emotions. All of Dad’s MD Anderson doctors are going to meet next Tuesday, Mar 4th to discuss what the next step is. Most likely, there will be chemo involved. Due the nature where the current cancer is, Dad has already been radiated in those spots. Therefore, radiation is off the table. On Monday March 10th, that’s when Dad’s one doctor will sit down with him and discuss options.
I ask you to pray for my Dad as he journeys into fighting cancer again. We have beaten cancer twice now and we will beat it again… 3 times is a lucky charm. Go Team C!!!
Hey guys… mom just called me from MD Anderson. Dad had his GI Endoscopy done today . Sadly, they found another tumor. They are going to do a biopsy on it to see if its cancerous. Will know the results in a few days.
Please pray its not cancerous. However, if it is, the Cunningham family will yet again fight and win the battle. Go Team C!!!