Sam was diagnosed with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma on September 4, 2004.
That day turned out to be absolutely unbelievable. He went to the doctor that morning because he thought he was having some gallbladder problems. By that afternoon our world had been turned upside down. We have comprised a list of chronological events that has happened since that date in hopes that it will be of benefit to anyone that is battling this disease. I promise to keep it updated.
8/19/04
First real symptoms of liver tumor - hearburn and stomach pain; had to sleep on
my back. Prior to 8/19/04 very healthy, never sick, logged in over 14,000 miles running since age 40; ran 21:38 5K at age 62, worked out with weights 5 days/week, ate very healthy.
9/4/04
Found liver tumor with ultra-sound at local hospital in Demopolis, AL
9/5/04
X-Ray and CT at DCH - Tuscaloosa, AL
9/7/04
Biopsy of liver tumor at DCH - Tuscaloosa, AL; diagnosis - malignant liver tumor
(8 cm x 5 cm)
10/5/04
Upper and lower GI at Health South - Tuscaloosa, AL. Results were negative for any other signs of cancer.
10/6/04
CT and PET at UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center - Birmingham, AL
(Dr. Selwyn Vickers) Diagnosis - intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma confined to left lobe of liver.
10/21/04
Started 28 days of chemo (Xeloda twice/day) and radiation (once/day) at UAB
(Dr. Russo) to attempt to reduce size of tumor so that liver resection could be performed.
12/3/04
Completed 28 days of treatment. Worked 1/2 day each day and then made 250 mile round trip every day. This was hard but wanted to be at home and try to continue to work.
1/6/05
Scheduled for liver resection at UAB (Dr. Selwyn Vickers). During surgery it was
determined that resection could not be performed; did RFA on liver tumor instead. In the process of the radiation shrinking the size of the tumor, blood supply was cut off to healthy part of liver making resection impossible.
1/14/05
Dr. Vickers had been in touch with Mayo Clinic at Rochester. Sam was not a candidate for a liver transplant. Went home from hospital.
1/16/05
Went to church.
1/17/05
Went to work 1/2 day for 16 days, then back to full days. Stayed on very limited
pain medication for 6 weeks; no pain medication since that time.
2/7/205
Doctor appointment with Dr. Vickers - condition stable.
3/28/05
CT at UAB - condition stable.
4/14/05
Meeting with Dr. James Posey (oncologist at UAB) to discuss if more chemo might be necessary.
5/16/05
CT at UAB; mets to internal mammary artery, lungs and chest wall.
6/27/05
Betty's birthday - not good news. Met with Dr. Vickers and Dr. Posey. CT and
PET showing tumors growing and new nodules in both lungs.
7/18/05
Started Rebecca Myacin trial (XL 119 vs. 5FU); 5 days of chemo; 3 weeks off.
8/15/05
Started second round of Rebecca Myacin trial (5 days on; 3 weeks off).
9/10/05
Ran 165 miles since original diagnosis but had to stop running today and near future due to chest and back pain.
9/12/05
CT and meeting with Dr. Posey; tumors still growing. Trial ineffective; began
treatments with Gemzar (once every other week 9/12/05, 9/16/05 and 10/10/05)
10/24/05
CT and meeting witwh Dr. Posey; Gemzar not effective alone; added Oxaliplatin to treatments every other week (started 10/24/05 but had to stop to have radiation to soft tissue tumor in upper right chest area which was causing extreme pain in shoulder and arm).
11/1/05
Meeting with Dr. Fiveash (radiologist at UAB)
11/19/05
Started 3 days of radiation to upper right chest area (11/9/05, 11/10/05 and 11/11/05 - seemed to be very effective at stopping pain)
11/17/05
Resumed chemo treatments of Gemzar and Oxaliplatin on a schedule of once every other week.
12/1/05
CT and meeting with Dr. Posey (mixed feelings about results; seemed to be working but not sure since only had two treatments); very slight shrinkage on a couple of the tumors.
1/24/06
Still working full time (only work missed has been on days of treatments) but
have an office job, VP and General Manager of large paper manufacturing facility which really keeps the mind occupied - good therapy.
1/26/06
Not good news. CT and meeting with Dr. Posey; tumors still growing and new nodules in both lungs. Did not receive last treatment of Gemzar and Oxaliplatin
as it appears to be ineffective. Waiting to receive call from Dr. Posey as to our next steps.
That day turned out to be absolutely unbelievable. He went to the doctor that morning because he thought he was having some gallbladder problems. By that afternoon our world had been turned upside down. We have comprised a list of chronological events that has happened since that date in hopes that it will be of benefit to anyone that is battling this disease. I promise to keep it updated.
8/19/04
First real symptoms of liver tumor - hearburn and stomach pain; had to sleep on
my back. Prior to 8/19/04 very healthy, never sick, logged in over 14,000 miles running since age 40; ran 21:38 5K at age 62, worked out with weights 5 days/week, ate very healthy.
9/4/04
Found liver tumor with ultra-sound at local hospital in Demopolis, AL
9/5/04
X-Ray and CT at DCH - Tuscaloosa, AL
9/7/04
Biopsy of liver tumor at DCH - Tuscaloosa, AL; diagnosis - malignant liver tumor
(8 cm x 5 cm)
10/5/04
Upper and lower GI at Health South - Tuscaloosa, AL. Results were negative for any other signs of cancer.
10/6/04
CT and PET at UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center - Birmingham, AL
(Dr. Selwyn Vickers) Diagnosis - intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma confined to left lobe of liver.
10/21/04
Started 28 days of chemo (Xeloda twice/day) and radiation (once/day) at UAB
(Dr. Russo) to attempt to reduce size of tumor so that liver resection could be performed.
12/3/04
Completed 28 days of treatment. Worked 1/2 day each day and then made 250 mile round trip every day. This was hard but wanted to be at home and try to continue to work.
1/6/05
Scheduled for liver resection at UAB (Dr. Selwyn Vickers). During surgery it was
determined that resection could not be performed; did RFA on liver tumor instead. In the process of the radiation shrinking the size of the tumor, blood supply was cut off to healthy part of liver making resection impossible.
1/14/05
Dr. Vickers had been in touch with Mayo Clinic at Rochester. Sam was not a candidate for a liver transplant. Went home from hospital.
1/16/05
Went to church.
1/17/05
Went to work 1/2 day for 16 days, then back to full days. Stayed on very limited
pain medication for 6 weeks; no pain medication since that time.
2/7/205
Doctor appointment with Dr. Vickers - condition stable.
3/28/05
CT at UAB - condition stable.
4/14/05
Meeting with Dr. James Posey (oncologist at UAB) to discuss if more chemo might be necessary.
5/16/05
CT at UAB; mets to internal mammary artery, lungs and chest wall.
6/27/05
Betty's birthday - not good news. Met with Dr. Vickers and Dr. Posey. CT and
PET showing tumors growing and new nodules in both lungs.
7/18/05
Started Rebecca Myacin trial (XL 119 vs. 5FU); 5 days of chemo; 3 weeks off.
8/15/05
Started second round of Rebecca Myacin trial (5 days on; 3 weeks off).
9/10/05
Ran 165 miles since original diagnosis but had to stop running today and near future due to chest and back pain.
9/12/05
CT and meeting with Dr. Posey; tumors still growing. Trial ineffective; began
treatments with Gemzar (once every other week 9/12/05, 9/16/05 and 10/10/05)
10/24/05
CT and meeting witwh Dr. Posey; Gemzar not effective alone; added Oxaliplatin to treatments every other week (started 10/24/05 but had to stop to have radiation to soft tissue tumor in upper right chest area which was causing extreme pain in shoulder and arm).
11/1/05
Meeting with Dr. Fiveash (radiologist at UAB)
11/19/05
Started 3 days of radiation to upper right chest area (11/9/05, 11/10/05 and 11/11/05 - seemed to be very effective at stopping pain)
11/17/05
Resumed chemo treatments of Gemzar and Oxaliplatin on a schedule of once every other week.
12/1/05
CT and meeting with Dr. Posey (mixed feelings about results; seemed to be working but not sure since only had two treatments); very slight shrinkage on a couple of the tumors.
1/24/06
Still working full time (only work missed has been on days of treatments) but
have an office job, VP and General Manager of large paper manufacturing facility which really keeps the mind occupied - good therapy.
1/26/06
Not good news. CT and meeting with Dr. Posey; tumors still growing and new nodules in both lungs. Did not receive last treatment of Gemzar and Oxaliplatin
as it appears to be ineffective. Waiting to receive call from Dr. Posey as to our next steps.
posted by Betty Johnson | 2:04 PM
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