Radiation Oncology

We are so happy that we can see Dr.s in the West side! I forget how beautiful Grand Rapids truly is. This morning as we were driving US131 and the sun was coming up, the buildings seem to have their own character. It was nice for me, as I was not the one weaving in and out of the early morning rush hour traffic.

Dr. Buth received all the paperwork from U of M and had a clear idea of Tom's surgery and recovery needs. He stated that the issue after the surgery is that there still could be microscopic disease still on both side of the neck and his upper medium Steinem. To get this will require 30 to 35 treatments of radiation. Dr. Buth's concern was that radiation would attack his Salivary glands - permanently diminish his saliva during treatments. He is considering giving Tom an injection of Nythenal before each treatment could begin. This would have to be done 1/2 hour prior to radiation and carries the risk of causing high blood pressure and nausea. So, a simple 20 minute treatment regiment has more than likely become complicated. Such has been the whole progress with Tom's treatments!

Before radiation can begin, Tom will have to go through a "simulation" which is set for next Tuesday, October 23. They will create a plastic mold and will run a computerized treatment. Tom will need another CAT scan which will be simulated with the pre-op PET scan to make sure all effected areas are covered. Tom may have beams from the front and back which will also need to be determined. Then it's onto a "DRY RUN" before actually starting. Once the treatments are started Tom will have the risk of becoming tired and have a sore throat. Dr. Buth said that the skin will feel sun burnt and the same feeling with his esophagus, in which your skins get the tightening feeling when burned.

Thanks to so many people who have been so generous. The meals that we received were awesome! It really helped as we were concentrating on Tom's recovery, as I was the "taxi cab" for all the kids, and as we have the continual paperwork shuffle for each new step that takes more and more time to fill out and double check. The kids even learned to like new things that they would not have even tried if I had put it on the table. Please continue to pray for Tom's recovery and that his steps with all his Dr.'s have a clear, smooth path. Help Tom and myself as life has been different around the house. We seem to notice the small things we had taken for granted.