News as at Sunday night 24 May 2009

I am writing on behalf of Peter as he is not feeling too well. Unfortunately, the past 2 weeks have been a bit of a trial. Peter became very nauseated on Monday 11 May and for 4 days we couldn't crack it, that is, none of the usual drugs worked. At the same time he was bringing up a lot of clear, very viscous and bubbly saliva.

The palliative care service sent us out a doctor on Thursday 14 June and she was concerned that Peter was so unwell with the cyclic dry retching that she thought he should be admitted to the hospice but there were no beds. So on consulting with 2 other specialists with whom Peter has been involved, the pall care doctor organised for him to go to the National Capital Private Hospital in Woden with the gastroscopist as the admitting doctor. I took Peter in that afternoon and he stayed for a week. Luckily, his other palliative care doctor, with whom he enjoys a really wonderful and respectful relationship, was able to prescribe 2 drugs which sorted out the nausea and the saliva. One acts to dry up secretions and the other acts on the nausea.

While he was in hospital, the gastroscopy specialist took a look down Peter's oesophagus and the next evening he attempted to dilate it, which was only minimally successful. Unfortunately what he found was that Peter's oesophagus is "caked" in tumour just at the base of the neck and it had closed over so much, I think, that Peter couldn't swallow his own saliva. So the bad news was out! What this means is that no surgery is possible. Our hopes had been that the stricture causing the problem was scar tissue from radiotherapy which could be helped with the insertion of a stent to keep his osophagus open. But this is not possible with the tumour in place.

Surgery is also not possible. So tomorrow, Monday 25 May, Peter will commence another round of chemotherapy. This time he will be using a drug called Taxotere (which is not on the Pharmeceutical Benefits Scheme and so is not low cost) but it is the best hope for some shrinkage of the tumour to allow Peter some extra time with us. The benefit of tumour shrinkage is offset by the nausea, increased susceptibility to infections, body rash, pins and needles in the hands and feet and other side effects. I am hopeful that he can cope with the full 6 cycles of 3 weeks each (18 weeks altogether) as apparently some people can't and don't complete the full period. I know that neither of us is looking forward to the next few weeks but we want to stay together for as long as possible so will take any opportunity which offers some hope of further time together. We will also be trying to avoid people with any infection as we can't afford for even the slightest cold to appear. We have both had our flu shots back in March/April and Peter has also had a pneumonia vaccination which I hope will be helpful in warding off any infections.

Peter has not been using the computer or Skype now for several weeks. So I would suggest if you want to contact you do so by email (if you don't have my email address, write to Peter's and I will log on occasionally to collect them, I just don't want to put my email address into cyberspace) and I will provide his replies to you. Either that or phone calls are okay after 9.30am Australian Eastern Standard time.

I will write in the blog once per week to keep you informed, as best I can. But I know you will understand if, sometimes, it might be too hard to do so.

We send our love, best wishes and thanks to all Peter's friends and relatives. Until next time, as Peter would say "Salut". Leanne