[stanford_status] Port is in, chemotherapy has started

[John R Larsen]

Hello Everyone,

Stanford is back home after his first two day session up at Dartmouth Medical Center (DMC).  Friday 
morning, July 28th, the "port" was surgically implanted.  An involved series of ECG tests were done to 
get a baseline of his heart function.  The chemo drugs can cause heart damage so they needed a 
baseline to compare with later.  Next another CT scan was taken to get an exact baseline of how things 
look like right now.  Then the chemotherapy started.  

Three of the five drugs were administered during this two day session.  Stanford will return to DMC on 
Friday, August 18th, for a five or six day period.  During that time the other two drugs will be given.  Three 
weeks later this will repeat.  Dr. Chaffee said that hair usually falls out after about two weeks.

Stanford was given anti nausea drugs along with the chemo.  Amazingly he has been feeling fine.  The 
staff at DMC were very surprised that he wasn't feeling sick and thought it was somewhat miraculous and 
he was only given about one fourth what is normally given.  Two weeks ago he had been asked to prepare 
a talk in church for sacrament meeting today.  He was feeling well and gave a good talk.

Stanford has several prescriptions for different events.  One is a tranquilizer for anxiety.  Another is for 
anti nausea.  Another is to prevent pneumonia and infections in the bladder.  He has felt fine and hasn't 
needed the anti nausea or anxiety medication.  We're hoping this continues.  On Monday he needs to go 
to his primary care physician for an injection of a follow-up drug.  There is a lot to read and understand.

There still isn't a definitive diagnosis on the cancer type.  However, it is in the category of "small round 
blue cell" sarcoma type tumor.  They know it is not lymphoma and they have also eliminated several rare 
sarcomas.  They are using a standard protocol for this category of sarcoma.

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.

John
_______________________________________________________
John R Larsen <john at larsen-family.us>
http://larsen-family.us