After a two month confluence of doctor meetings, I'll update on reports from all the docs.
Oncology (cancer)- no new lesions, lesion on/in bladder has increased slightly (less than centimeters), the Zytiga (chemotherapy drug, pill form, 4 pills=1000mg/night) continues to work after 30 months) normal range of Zytiga is one year. Lesions on spine, sacrun, and bony pelvis remain unchanged. Every 3 months receives a shot of Lupron (hormones) and every month a shot of Xgeva (bone strengthener)
Pulmonologist (lungs)- only an office check, remains on 24/7 oxygen 2 liters, also using Spiriva, Breo and abuterol inhaler (although Roger feels it does not help) His lung capacity is down to 30% (as of 2/2015) and no testing has been ordered to see if he has lost any more capacity. His COPD diagnosis is related to emphysema. Emphysema does not get better, only worse. He will always be on oxygen. He finished 36 sessions of Pulmonary Rehab (7/2015) to learn to breathe. It got Roger out of the house.
Cardiologist (heart)-Office visit with doc resulted in an order for a nuclear stress test to assess heart function. This test is 7/24/2015 (tomorrow, by my estimation) Roger has had two episodes in the last month which resulted in taking Nitroglycerin, which took care of the chest pain.
Urologist (pee-pee) - office visit to check function of kidneys and urostomy. Both okay, no kidney stones or anything worth noting.
So, perhaps this will keep everyone informed.
All the medications have different effects, one persistent problem is controlling bowels, one day it is diarrhea, the next day it is constipation-- this has been the "norm", the battle for 4 years now......
....and he seems "loopier and discombobulated" more often.
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