Update on Aunt Lillian from Jack

Email from Jack Crossley 9/25/07:

Hi to all, just got home from the hospital. I had to take Mom to the hospital Sunday night around midnight. She was very weak again. She is very anemic. The stomach tumor seems to be bleeding again. They are going to go look inside with the endoscope on Tuesday afternoon, (today) to see if the tumor is the cause.
Mom has been doing well with her treatments up this point. We will let you know as soon as we get the results. So far she has only taken 2 units of blood this time, it was 11 units last time, I'm sure this will change.
That is about all for now. Everyone else is doing good. Ben is getting around very well, he is even doing some light work now. He may need another small graft in winter to close one small area and to repair the area on calf were they took tissue for his toe.

Band practice

The Knoxville Community Recreational Band began practice last night for their new performance season. They practice in a school, so must limit their practice time to days when school is in session. They practice on Tuesday evenings.

Earl went to practice with them and was greeted enthusiastically by everyone. I think a lot of them had written him off as a goner! Some stated they did not think he would ever be back. They asked him to tell about his ordeal, so he spent a few minutes telling the group about his last five months.

He came home tired, but excited to have been able to go for the practice and see all his friends. Said it felt good to be able to play his trumpet for that long. He had not played since April until about three weeks ago. This session did him a lot of good!

Earl goes for his sixth treatment tomorrow, then he will be off for 14 days. Then three more treatments. He's counting the days! He should be finished with chemo around Oct. 15th. providing the scans and tests that follow do not indicate the need for further chemo.

WOW!

We wonder just how low it will go!

Blood was drawn before the second series of chemo began last week. The results of the CA19-9 tumor marker this time was. . . . . "less than 2". This is down from the Aug 1st. test that was 5.

I think I'm running out of ways to say how thankful we are by all this. We're very glad the number is still going down and not heading up!

CA19-9, done monthly, will not be done again until right before the start of the third series of chemo at the end of Sept.

Earl's progress

Earl goes for his fifth chemo treatment tomorrow, 9/6/07. He will then have four more to go. He'll be on the downhill path.... over half way! He is eager to find out the results of last week's CA19-9. We hope it is still in the normal range. The 5 was wonderful a month ago. Hope to see another one tomorrow.

Still not gaining much weight, but is eating more. He is trying!

He is doing just fine with the treatments. No problems. I am very glad that he isn't suffering.

At the same time, it just doesn't seem fair :-)

I went thru a full year of pure ...... let's just say I wouldn't wish that year on anyone. Guess this just proves science keeps learning and making things easier and better, we hope! I need to ask the Dr. what the treatment is now for my stage and type of cancer. It had changed to six months right before I completed my year. This was 15 years ago, so it may be even less now! I'm not really complaining.... it worked and I'm still here!!

My fear seems to be that these nine treatments might not be enough to prevent a recurrence in a couple of years. It seems so little for such a deadly cancer! May be the "no pain, no gain" thing.

Earl has been so touched by all the warm greetings he has gotten at church the last two Sundays. He is so glad to finally feel like playing his trumpet again. It wears him out, but he wants to do it. Does him good to make the effort! Keeps him going.

Lillian Crossley - Stomach cancer update 9/4/07

Email from son Jack:

The doctors decided to give her a modified chemo treatment
any way. She had her second treatment today and is doing
very well so far. She is also eating much better with meds
they have given her.  The side effects have just started,
she is loosing her hair but her spirit is good. Gets
tired fairly easy and sleeps a lot as is expected, but
still tries to work out side a little each day. 

Speedy at the grocery!

Beware! He might run over you!

No chemo this week

Earl has done very well with his chemo so far. The only thing he has complained about is headaches the afternoon and next morning following chemo. No problems with nausea.

He was glad to not have to go for chemo this week. He will start second series of treatments on Aug. 30th.

He has been taking something to make him feel hungry, so he is eating better. Has gained maybe five pounts in the last couple of months.

He started practicing his trumpet this week and plans to play at church tomorrow. Another milestone!

Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement.

Lillian

Lillian Crossley - Stomach cancer update

The news about Aunt Lillian is not very encouraging today, but at least the doctors have started treatment. She would only have one to two months without any treatments. She received her first chemo treatment on Wed. She got another dose of medicine on Friday for something.... sorry I don't remember what Jack said about it.

She and/or family has been told the anemia was caused from the tumor causing her to lose blood thru the stomach. This is what put her in the hospital as reported here earlier. Click on the "Crossley" label to filter the other posts about her.

The stomach cancer has been identified as a lymphoma and is taking up 1/3 of her stomach. The lymphoma in her neck is also getting larger.

Jack reports she is doing okay right now. Assume this means she is still up and about. He did say she can get confused about things at times.

Jack is trying to make plans to bring her to see my Mother, (her sister) Ruby Trentham, sometime soon as he can.... if she feels like she can make the trip. Mother just isn't able to travel these days.

At this point, they don't know how long she will receive chemo. Guess it will depend on how well the tumor responds to chemo.

Please pray for Aunt Lillian and her family as they face and fight this devastating disease. She has two sons, Jack & David, who have given her several grandchildren. Her husband died in 1984.

Lillian T Lancaster

Death in family

Horace "Whitey" Yeaton, 87 year old husband of my Aunt
Gladys Trentham Russell Yeaton died on 8/14/07 at his
home.

Receiving friends and service will be Friday,
Aug. 17th at Maryville Friends Church starting
at 6:30. Memorial service at 7 p.m.

Lillian T Lancaster 

3rd Chemo Treatment

Earl is doing very well with his chemo. He has not been sick or nauseated immediately following chemo or the next day.

He was sick Sat. night and did vomit in the wee hours of the morning, but we don't really think this was because of the chemo.

Oncologist is talking like Earl is Superman or something. Earl's blood work today before chemo showed his white count to be over 5000, which Dr. said is "normal". He said most people have counts down around 1000 to 2000. He doesn't seem to understand why Earl's is still so normal.

Either this is another of God's miracles or perhaps the flax oil Earl takes every day. We have been wondering how much the flax oil might be helping. Maybe this is an indication!

Whatever and however, we gratefully accept the results and give thanks!

Lillian

CA19-9 results history

I looked up Earl's CA19-9 history.

On 4/3/07 it was 572 before bile was drained
On 5/1/07 it was 309.6
8/9/07 it is now a grand total of 5 (This blood was drawn before first chemo)

Great News!

Earl went for his second chemo treatement today. Test results were there from blood drawn last week, before any chemo.

I don't remember the exact numbers, but his tumor marker, CA19-9, before the bile was drained the first week of April, was over 500. When Drs. were debating surgery, it was still a little over 300 when 200 was desirable for surgery.

Today his CA19-9 was 5. Dr. Grossman was shocked. He says normal is between 0 and 35 and that surgery must have gotten all the cancer. But, he also said "we're still doing chemo". We know there is the possibility that cancer cells may be wondering around looking for a place to set up housekeeping!

Thank you everyone for all your prayers and please continue to remember Earl as he continues with his chemo.

Prayers are answered! God is so good!

If any of the nurses from 3rd floor at Fox Chase read this, I would appreciate it if you would let Dr. Watson know about this. I plan to check to see if the results were sent to FCCC, but would like Dr. W to know. This is so wonderful!

Lillian Lancaster

First day of chemo

Chemo went fairly well. Took about two hrs. total after they
finally got him hooked up. He got nausea medicine thru IV
first, then the chemo. I think I should have got some nausea
stuff, too.

I don't know if it was just being in "that place" or what.
Lots of memories...and smells... from the days when I was
there. Almost like I was getting a treatment. :-(
I was relieved to get out of there!

They called in two medicines for nausea, just in case.
Hope he doesn't have to use them!

He didn't get sick or anything, so this first treatment
wasn't too bad. He didn't feel too good today, but
hopefully he'll feel better tomorrow.

I think I was in worse shape afterward than he was. I never
even thought about how I would feel or react to being in
that setting again after all these years. It was almost
like I was back in the middle of chemo again. Memories
flooded back that I had not thought about for many, many
years!

God's blessings to you all!
Lillian

Earl Chemo Scheduled

Earl's chemo starts early tomorrow morning. We are to be there at 8:30 a.m.

He will get weekly chemo for three weeks, then skip one treatment, which means he'll be "off" chemo for 14 days, then back on for another three weeks. This will continue for about three months as long as his blood counts remain high enough to continue. Dr. Grossman said Gemzar (gemcitabine HCI) is harder on the bone marrow than the 5-FU I received for colon cancer. More info on Gemzar. He will have blood work before each treatment.

Chemo will stop after about three months, then radiation will start. He will not get both at same time. After he finishes the radiation treatments, he may get another couple months of chemo. The way I counted, this is six to seven months of treatments, which will run into January or February 2008.

At this time, a port is not being recommended. Each treatment will only last about 30 minutes, so he'll only spend about an hour there each time.

Three months of treatments will only be nine infusions. Another two months of chemo after radiation, would be six more. This is approx 15 treatments. Unless he starts having real problems with his veins, he probably won't get a port.

I really dread these treatments for him. I went thru a full year of a similar schedule and remember all too well.... Dr. Grossman was my oncologist.... I felt today like I was starting my treatments all over again! That this should be me, not Earl!!

He has already lost so much weight. I just could not stand the smell of food, much less stand to eat at times. He will likely lose more weight.... Oh, I hate this for him! Tears won't help, but..... here I sit....

Well... I made it thru a whole year. With God's help and your prayers, Earl WILL make it thru a few months! :-)

Earl admitted this morning that THIS had him scared. Today was a hard day for both of us!

Please remember us as you pray.

Lillian

Crossley

Aunt Lillian was released from the hospital on Sunday. She is home, up and around some. She is not eating very much, but the blood she received while in the hospital has strengthened her some.

I talked to her son, Jack, today. They have not received any results from any of the testing done in the hospital. He said she has an appt with her doctor on Friday. He will let me know when they have any news.

Crossley update

Lillian Marie Stogner Crossley
June 16, 2007

Not much info, but did find out the biopsy report is not expected until next mid-week. Family does not expect any decisions regarding treatment or surgery until the doctors get the lab report.

I do have the phone number for her hospital room. If you want it, please let me know. She is in St. Luke's Hospital in Allentown, Pa.

Trip to Pa. canceled.

When Mother told me this morning she did want to go see her sister, I knew she would back out. And she did by about 11:00 a.m. I had just hoped she wouldn't. I hate it so much that they won't ever see each other again. They look so much alike and have always been very close. There is another photo of the two of them here on the blog. (Click Crossley label)

Lillian and Ruby

1946 in Gatlinburg, TN

Mom had started trying to get some things packed and wore herself out with what little she had done. She has decided she just cannot make the trip. It's hard for me to prepare for traveling and being away for long, so I can imagine how hard it would be if I were almost 90 years old!

Blessings and hugs,
Lillian

Doctor appointments, Earl & Sam T

Earl said he climbed the stairs from our basement twice today without his cane. That's progress! He doesn't use it much while walking around the house, but does still take it when he leaves the house.

Earl has an appointment with the oncology doctor on Wed. Aug 1st. We assume chemo will start soon after.

My father, Sam Trentham, has an appointment on Aug. 2nd with Knoxville Orthopedic. One of his feet/legs is getting numb from just below the knee down. He has finally agreed to go get it checked out.

As you pray, please remember my guys as they face these appointments.

Blessings,
Lillian

Lillian Crossley - Stomach cancer

I got news a few minutes ago that Mother's sister, Lillian, has stomach cancer...tumor at top of stomach. It's 7-8 cm and was not there a month ago. Drs aren't talking surgery. She's 87 and has lymphoma in her neck and chest. Kidney's aren't operating at full capacity, either. She's in hosp. already having problems getting food down. Does not sound good at all. Dr mentioned feeding tube. They took biopsy of stomach tumor, no results yet.

When family took her to hosp. she was very anemic. She got 11 units of blood.

I will probably go with Dad & Mother to Allentown, Pa. tomorrow to see her. I went to see her while we were in Philly. So glad I did! Guess we'll head out in the morning and I hope to get back Monday or Tues. as I have to work!

Please put her and sons , Jack and David and their families on prayer list.

I put a photo of her and Mother on the blog back in June. Click on the "Crossley" label on the right side of screen to jump to it.

More later as I get news.

Lillian

Earl fell on Saturday

I have debated about whether to tell you about Earl's fall. It scared me so badly.... I'm still not over it. He probably won't appreciate me telling on him!

He is ok except for a 1/2" cut across the bridge of his nose and a scratch above his eye. Minor carpet burn on his right knee. His right hip was sore for a few days, but he's getting around better now.

I think this fall may be related to the sleeping pills he has been taking. After we got back to Tenn., he was having a hard time getting back to sleep after getting up to go to the bathroom during the night. At times he would still be up around 5 or 6 a.m. He went to his Dr. who agreed with Earl that he needed to get his days and nights turned back around. Dr. prescribed something to help him sleep. Suggesting he take 1/2 pill when he could not get back to sleep.

Earl had been taking the sleep aid about two weeks was sleeping better. Then, he got up Sat. morning about 6:15 a.m. and fell. He said he could feel himself falling, but there wasn't anything to catch himself to keep from falling. The crash woke me with such a scare!

His head landed about 10-12 ft. from anyplace he should have been. I imagine him, in his mind, falling forever! His head was about a foot from the wall and about two feet over from a large wall mirror. Glad he didn't hit/break it!

I don't know now how I did it, but after making sure he wasn't hurt badly, I picked him up!! I know! I've paid for it for several days! I had gotten his walker and he used it to get on to the bathroom. He was very dazed and almost fell a couple of times by the time I got him back into bed. I have wondered if he might have taken too much sleeping aid and over medicated himself.

Monday morning, about 6:45, he almost fell again. This time, he was using his walker going to bathroom. He woke me when he fell forward holding on to the walker and hit the door facing going into the bathroom. If he hadn't stumbled into the door, he would have fallen head/face first over the walker. This time, I was furious! It almost had to be the sleeping pills. He has never done anything like this in all the weeks since his surgery!

We bought some Tylenol P.M. which he took last night. (I hid the sleeping pills!) Then about 6 a.m. this morning he insisted on taking 1/4 of a sleeping pill. Fortunately, there are only a couple of pills left, so I'm hoping I can talk him out of getting any more. I know it's aggravating when he can't get back to sleep, but I don't like cleaning up blood, applying bandages and worrying about broken bones!! Both of his hips have already been replaced, so he sure doesn't need to break one of them or something else!

We still have not heard from the chemo Dr. but we'll contact him, if we don't hear from him this week.

Earl is cooped up here at home.... working a couple of hours daily now in his home office. It means a lot to hear from friends. Thank you to everyone who has sent cards, called and visited.

Please continue to remember us in prayer. I'm praying for more patience!! :-)

Lillian

If you are reading this blog, I bet you can relate to this!

Thanks to my niece, Stacie, in SC for sharing this. Enjoyed a good laugh!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2007 when...

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your
coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )

12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list

AND NOW YOU ARE LAUGHING at yourself.