So week one down. And a tough one. Not so much the chemo/radiation (yet) but rather from the fact that his pain got too intense to eat or speak - this is from the tumor. So he was literally starving to death and was dehydrated. So he was a walking zombie. We started two liters of fluid by IV every day after radiation, but that still had him dragging. On Thursday, the nausea hit - they were able to get that under control pretty quickly while he was on the IV - kit him with zofran, dexamethazone and pepcid. The kept him of the dexa for two more days, Now they have him on Zofran three times a day (until the chemo starts again when they give him the Aloxi and dexa by IV) and he is taking olanzapine every night. It seems to really work. They are pretty confident they can keep that under control.

On the pain side, they moved him to Fentynl patches and that did the trick. He was able to stop the morphine but he still uses oxycodone breakthrough.

They finally did the PEG yesterday (I got it moved up a week) and he is like a new person already. Taking food and water like crazy. He really recovered fast.

I also got him started on Celexa yesterday and am hoping that will give him a little more fight.

And this is the guy who never saw a doctor, swore he would not see a doctor and wouldnt take meds. What a trip for him. I am way proud of how far he has come.

So here we are - pain under control, nourishment and water going in. Finally where I wanted to get him when I first flew out to meet him. I am hoping he gets a week or so of respite before the side0effects of the RAD and chemo really kick in. He has been in pain from the tumor for so long, he really needs a mental break from pain for a week before it all starts up again from the sores.

Personally, I got myself a hotel nearby and am staying with him and his wife for the whole 7+ weeks. My wife and kids will join when they can. I am going to see this through with him!