We hate to say anything encouraging because literally the next day (or hour) something backfires.  But, for the past two weeks Nancy seems to be responding to the higher Cyclosporine and the reduced Methylpredisone.  Her muscle counts are now normal and her strength is coming back.  She is now driving (hasn’t driven since October) and is walking 10 minutes outside with her friends again.  The itching on her neck is still there but the doctor said that is because the nerve endings from the shingles are trying to regenerate.  Hopefully the derma and the shingles are on their way out.  Now, we need to still pray for the Xeloda to work on those tumors.  I told Nancy for every day we don’t have to go to Huntsman, I’d give $5.  I think she is demanding $50.  She’ll get it either way.

Thanks for all your love, kindness and support.  – Kevin

P.S. On my birthday, March 8th Tim and Nikki had a 6 lb 10 0z 19 inch baby girl.  She is perfect.  She looks like a little china doll.  Her name is Marley Marie Haslam.  Pretty cool.  It is by far and away the best birthday present I have ever received.

Nancy went in Huntsman early this morning to have an endoscopy done to see what is causing the intense periodic pain just under her sternum.  The doctor discovered it was not a ulcer, but she had a hernia and a small growth they removed and sent to the lab.  His conclusion was she has extreme acid reflux and the new medicine she takes 4 times a day should keep it at Bay.  In the meantime, Dr. Ward has begun lowering her Methylpredisone and increased her Cyclosporine.  Nancy has also experienced non-stop itching at the back of her head and neck which seems to be from the Shingles or the Dermatomyositis.  They gave her some cream that should help.

Hopefully, as the next chemo cycle begins (tomorrow) the two auto-immune diseases will start to dissapate.  Thanks again for all your concern, thoughts, meals and prayers.  – Kevin

After having the best six straight days of feeling good (since Oct. 31) Nancy and I decided to spend Presidents Day Weekend in St. George.  Last Friday I was going upstairs to begin packing and Nancy told me she had extreme pain in her upper abdomen.  In the hospital they always ask the patient to rate their pain 1 to 10.  Nancy said it was a 9.  Without even getting her dressed, I rushed her up to Acute Care at Huntsman for evaluation.  They gave her some pain medication (IV), then did an EKG, then 2 CT Scans of her lungs and middle.  They thought it was either a heart attack (ruled out), an upper GI bleed (ruled out – her blood work was normal) or a blockage.  Nothing showed on the scan, so just as she was to be released Friday evening, she had a flareup again so they admitted her to the hospital.

After two days of observation, they concluded it was either a blockage or perhaps the liver tumor, which had grown from the last CT Scan ,was larger and perhaps it was growing rapidly and it was pushing on other areas – thus causing the pain.  Nancy finally got things moving, the pain subsided and we went home late Sunday evening.  After being home for about 3 hours, in the space of about 10 minutes, she was pale, nauseated again and having pain in her abdomen.  We stayed home, and today she still has some symptoms, but not as severe.  We will be calling back tomorrow morning to see what they suggest.  – Kevin

Finally, after two and half months, Nancy has been cleared to get back on a chemo treatment plan.  She began taking the oral drug, Xeloda, which is 2000mg a day for 14 days, then 7 days off.  Dr. Ward indicated that many of his patients have tolerated the drug with little side effects (no hair loss but sensitivity to a patient’s hands and feet) and have been on the drug for years.  The word years to a Stage 4 cancer patient brings hope.  Her shingles seem to be fading away, but the pain still persists.  Hopefully, in the next few weeks, it will be gone.  Nancy was given some advice by a neighbor whose husband had shingles.  She was told put honey on the sores and the pain would go away.  Amazingly enough, she has no pain from the rash and sores when she swabs the areas with honey.

The trick now is to have the chemo attack the large liver and small lung lesion, reduce the Dermatomyositis, which will reduce her need for methylprednisone.  If she tolerates the Xeloda and it does it job, maybe she will begin to feel better.  Having the shingles run its course, the Dermatomysositis begin to fade,  getting her completely off the methylprednisone, and taking her off the Lovanox (she is now back on Coumadin) allows me to think perhaps she can begin to regain her strength and energy.

Nancy has been gone through a lot of pain and suffering, but the support everyone gives her by their messages, visits, dinners and prayers has helped her get through this tough time.  At least she knows everyone is pulling for her and she is well loved by everyone.  On behalf of her family, thank you for all your caring.  We all hope things get better -  Kevin