Sid Bacon

I am sorry I didn’t blog yesterday.  I was at the hospital from 7:30-12:30, and then was pretty wiped out after that.  I knew all would understand.  Indeed, I’ll probably keep today’s blog short, as I’m still a bit fatigued and I have time-sensitive work to do on my grant.
 

Cathy and I went on a nice walk after she ran.  I wasn’t moving too fast, but I wasn’t moving too slowly either.  It was just nice to be out walking.  Despite increasing the dose on my fentanyl patch, I am dealing with pain.  The pain is reduced, so that is good, but the reduction seems to come at a price of being pretty groggy.  I think I’ll get over that, as I get used to the higher dosage.
 

We have an appointment with a pain specialist at Mayo this afternoon. We’ve seen her before.  We hope she has some good ideas.
 

It is so nice to be going through all of this with Cathy.  She is so wonderful to be by my side at every step of the way.  We have always made quite the team.  I’m just sorry she has to go through this hurdle with me.
 

Dan and Liz are now in Spain at a conference.  I am confident that they are having a great time.  Laura, on the other hand, is in Phoenix and is playing a major role in my care giving.  Yesterday she brought me home after the procedure and stayed with me until about 8:00 last night.  We had fun watching basketball together. It is nice to have the love and support from Cathy, Laura, and Dan.
 

And of course we couldn’t do this without the tremendous love and support we receive from all of you. Thank for all you do.  This is definitely a time to band together and fight hard against this disease.  We have to keep fighting! Go Team Bacon!

Yesterday Cathy and I went to Mayo to meet with one of their pain specialists.  The decision was made to take me off the fentanyl patches and put me on methadone. The disadvantage there is I need to remember to take it every 8 hours, rather than put it on and leave it on until it is time to replace the patches with new ones. I’m sure I’ll get used to the routine.  The physician also had me increase the dosage of the oxycodone that I’m using to control break through pain.  The medicine hadn’t kicked in last night, so I didn’t get a very good night’s sleep, but it should be in full force tonight; I sure hope so, as I could use a good night’s sleep.
 

Cathy and I went on a nice walk in the desert this morning.  The temperature was very nice and the company was spectacular.  I sure like spending time with her.
 

On Monday I start a new chemo regimen, as part of a new clinical trial.  We are optimistic that it will do some good.  In a couple weeks we should have the results of the biopsy, which presumably will guide us to the next treatment. 
 

I am anxious for the biopsy results, but am hopeful that the phase I clinical trial will be successful.  I am also hopeful that my pain will subside significantly, regardless of what chemo treatment we use.
 

I am going to keep this short so I can rest and get back to my progress report (for my grant).  Thank you for all your love and support.  It is so meaningful; we can’t thank you enough. We have a strong team with great strength and resilience.  I rely on our team a great deal.  Go Team Bacon!

I am sorry I didn’t blog yesterday … I definitely wasn’t feeling up for it.

On Thursday of last week Cathy and I went to Mayo to speak with someone from the Palliative Medicine team.  My pain level had escalated and I needed a change in my pain medication.  The decision was made to switch me from fentanyl patches to methodone. On Friday night I was more or less unable to sleep because my pain was too intense. Cathy was on the phone with Mayo; and she even went out at midnight to get a new prescription for a new breakthrough medicine (dilaudid) to replace oxycodone.  I also was told to double my intake of methodone. Thus, in an attempt to control the pain, we used a new breakthrough medicine and an increased dosage of methodone. Nothing seemed to help, so we went to Mayo hospital on Saturday.  They put me on yet a higher dosage of methodone and an increased dosage of dilaudid. I had a pump that allowed me to deliver the dilaudid as needed (within limits).  We had the pain under control, and we convinced them to discharge me on Sunday so I could be at Piper Monday morning to start the new clinical trial.  Unfortunately, my pain escalated again and I was unable to sleep Sunday night. 

We made it to Piper Monday morning, but for various reasons, the decision was made to not start me on the new clinical trial. One of those reasons was that we wanted to wait on the results of the molecular profiling of the tumor on my liver, to see if there might be a better chemo cocktail. Another reason is that they wanted me to get my pain under control.  That all makes sense.

We went home from Piper in the afternoon on Monday, and decided it was time to go back to Mayo hospital.  We were directly admitted (didn’t have to go through ER).  So far so good, in that the methodone – administered orally – alone has kept my pain under control.  It is possible that it simply has taken this long for the methodone to reach its peak performance.  I will be in the hospital at least one more day, but I am optimistic that we have the pain under control.

We have consulted with a member of the Pain Anesthesia team regarding my pain management (in particular, the methodone vs. a CT-guided nerve block vs. an implantable pain pump).  For now, since the methodone seems to be controlling the pain, we are likely just going to go with it, knowing that we have other options available should we need them.

Laura and Cathy have spent a great deal of time at the hospital. It has been great to have them here. We’ve had NBA playoff basketball to watch, which has certainly helped pass the time.  I’m lucky to have so much support from my family.

Today we had the special treat of Liz’s mom playing in a string quartet (assuming I counted correctly from my vantage point) in the lobby of the hospital.  She is so talented, and of course it was nice to see her and speak to her, if ever so briefly.

I will try to write again tomorrow, although I need to get the progress report for my grant done soon, so I may need to keep my blogs short.

Cathy and I appreciate all the support we receive from you all.  It means a great deal to us.  We keep fighting, though the foe is certainly formidable.  It takes a team, and we have the best one around.  Go Team Bacon!

Last night at dinner we had a professional musician (Phoenix Symphony Orchestra) play classical music in my room. It was great! 

Laura, Cathy, and I watched a couple basketball games last night.  We’ll be doing the same tonight.  It is probably not the most enjoyable place for Laura and Cathy to hang out, but they are real troopers and I am grateful for it.  It is so nice to spend the time with them.

Because I am not receiving anything intravenously, I am no longer tethered to the infusion pump – I no longer need to roll the pole along with me wherever I go.  What a treat.  I think Cathy and I will go outside and sit in the patio just outside the hospital cafeteria.  It is landscaped so well that it doesn’t feel like you are at a hospital.  I really enjoy desert landscaping.

Cathy and I appreciate the concern that you have expressed regarding my pain and overall well-being.  We’ll keep fighting … it is our only choice.

Go Team Bacon!

We have just spoken with someone from palliative medicine; they are in charge of my pain management.  She wants to take me off toradol and start me on a steroid to boost my appetite and help control my nausea.  Their preference is to have me stay one more day. I am okay with that, as I want things as well under control as possible before I leave the hospital.  (On a later visit this morning, the decision was made not to put me on a steroid just yet, but to keep it as an option.)

Cathy’s cousin, Cathy, and her daughter Jen are going to pay us a visit later this morning. Jen is in town from Kansas City for her twin sister’s graduation from pharmacy school. It will be good to see them. Cathy and Jen both are pharmacists, so I can get good inside information about the drugs I’ve been taking and may start taking. 

My wonderful wife has been a real trooper these past several days, spending the better parts of her days here at the hospital. The days begin with Starbucks coffee and the newspaper.  Not quite as nice as our morning walks, but a pretty good substitute … what is important is that the days begin with Cathy.  We spend the days talking and catching up on email.  We have a lot to talk about, and not all of it is pleasant, as we have to deal with the fact that my cancer is advanced and my tumors are growing.  We are still hopeful, however, that the molecular profiling of my tumor will lead to a successful treatment option. We’ll keep fighting.

Dan and Liz have been in Europe the past eight or so days, first Spain (for a conference) and then Paris (for a vacation). As you can see, Team Bacon is strong even in France.  They got back to San Diego last night and are at work today … they will be tired, but they are young and will make it through the day.

There are no basketball games tonight, but I still hope to see Laura.  She has been really good about visiting me in the hospital. I am incredibly lucky to have such a loving family.  I don’t know what I’d do without them.

I am grateful for their love and for the love and support from all of Team Bacon. All your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated.