Second update on my Dad
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Jean Jastillana
Mar 24, 2009, 1:25:26 AM3/24/09
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Dear family and friends,
Thank you for replying to my first email in regards to my Dad and his current condition. There was such an outpouring of support, love, and prayers from many of you, and my family and I were greatly encouraged and blessed by that. We've gotten calls and emails and Facebook/MySpace comments and, on behalf of my family, we thank you for that. Everything is greatly appreciated! Please know that, and may God bless you for being so caring and remembering my father in your prayers.
I just wanted to give everyone a heads up on how he's doing. I have to be honest: there are bad days and there are good days. Things like these are never easy to go through, much less comprehend. However, I also see that God makes it possible for him to continue to keep the faith regardless of the situation. For me, personally, there's been days that I've been so stressed out of my mind, worried sick, wondering as to what the course of treatment for him will be.
Well... I've got some good news and some not-so-good news. I'll go ahead and dish the latter first.
So, it's not just one tumor or carcinoma in his lung: where once was only one, now there's three. They're small in size, still in the realm of millimeters, but significant growth nevertheless. With cancer, nothing is simply "insignificant"--any type of growth or abnormality, you've got to be vigilant about. Maybe it's just me, having spent some time in the oncology unit at the hospital where I worked at when I was a practicing CNA... and maybe it's just knowing what I know. What somewhat... infuriates me is the fact that his old oncologist kept telling him (after x-rays and such) that there were "no changes" and reduced the dosage of the chemo drug... and THIS is what it all boiled down to. I think about how, if this doctor kept on with his negligence and leniency, we could've been dealing with something greater than carcinoma/lesion growth... and I shudder at the thought.
The good news, however, is that his new oncologist along with the radiation specialist he's been referred to both think that the tumors are treatable and that they could reduce the size to little or nothing at all. Best yet (if one could call it that) the cancer is localized in that one lung and hasn't spread. That is definitely one thing I'm very, very much thankful for.
In regards to the treatment plan, instead of the five days a week for twelve weeks chemo/radiation combo treatment, he might just be doing radiation with spurts of chemo here and there for SIX weeks. To me, this is good news. Although I'd rather that Dad not have to go through chemo or radiation at all since it can be taxing and toxic on one's body, and I'd rather that the tumors not grow at all and just disappear completely, the fact that it's a short course of treatment (as far as his new oncologist and radiation specialists know) is an idea that I'm more comfortable with compared to the more aggressive type of treatment the old oncologist was touting.
Currently, I'm trying to learn as much as I can about what his illness is all about as well as the treatment. I'm certainly wanting to be there when the treatment starts. Right now, my work schedule can get pretty hectic but I am in the process of finding a way to tone it down and be able to spend time w/ my Dad and our family when the six-week course of treatment comes along.
So... so far, so good. However, it is still going to be quite a journey ahead of us and I certainly... crave your prayers. Please continue to keep praying for my Dad. As I said earlier, your support and love is very, very much appreciated. It is priceless and a wonderful blessing... a reminder of just how faithful God is that He has provided us with such an amazing extended family and network of friends.
I will try to reply to each email/call that I have received individually over the next two weeks or so. I feel kinda bad just sending another mass email, but with limited time on my hands whenever I come home from work, it's been tough. I'm gonna have to set a day off aside just for replying to email. Just know that I truly appreciate the emails you've sent and the calls you've made. It truly means a lot. My parents are also amazed at just how many people I've emailed, haha...
I'll go ahead and end this second "novel" of mine (as I've heard it described!). You all know me: I like to write!! Thanks for bearing with me though!! :)
May God bless each and everyone of you... I will keep you all updated as I know more details and especially, once he starts treatment.
Much love,
Jean
PS - Thank you to my Auntie Espie and to Tito Larry de Villa for passing this email on to other family members and friends, respectively, and spreading the word regarding my Dad... I don't have everyone's email, unfortunately.
SUPPORT THE CAUSE AND CANCER RESEARCH TO FIND A CURE!!!
Livestrong - http://www.livestrong.org
Stand Up to Cancer - http://www.standup2cancer.org
American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org
--
Jean Jastillana
Medical Secretary/Scheduling
(Tyler Gluckman MD/Geoffrey Wilson MD/Jennifer Drew PA-C)
Columbia Cardiology Associates
9427 SW Barnes Rd, Suite 498
Portland, OR 97225
503.297.6234 ext. 140 (phone)
503.819.5961 (cell)
jean.ja...@columbiacardiology.com
Thank you for replying to my first email in regards to my Dad and his current condition. There was such an outpouring of support, love, and prayers from many of you, and my family and I were greatly encouraged and blessed by that. We've gotten calls and emails and Facebook/MySpace comments and, on behalf of my family, we thank you for that. Everything is greatly appreciated! Please know that, and may God bless you for being so caring and remembering my father in your prayers.
I just wanted to give everyone a heads up on how he's doing. I have to be honest: there are bad days and there are good days. Things like these are never easy to go through, much less comprehend. However, I also see that God makes it possible for him to continue to keep the faith regardless of the situation. For me, personally, there's been days that I've been so stressed out of my mind, worried sick, wondering as to what the course of treatment for him will be.
Well... I've got some good news and some not-so-good news. I'll go ahead and dish the latter first.
So, it's not just one tumor or carcinoma in his lung: where once was only one, now there's three. They're small in size, still in the realm of millimeters, but significant growth nevertheless. With cancer, nothing is simply "insignificant"--any type of growth or abnormality, you've got to be vigilant about. Maybe it's just me, having spent some time in the oncology unit at the hospital where I worked at when I was a practicing CNA... and maybe it's just knowing what I know. What somewhat... infuriates me is the fact that his old oncologist kept telling him (after x-rays and such) that there were "no changes" and reduced the dosage of the chemo drug... and THIS is what it all boiled down to. I think about how, if this doctor kept on with his negligence and leniency, we could've been dealing with something greater than carcinoma/lesion growth... and I shudder at the thought.
The good news, however, is that his new oncologist along with the radiation specialist he's been referred to both think that the tumors are treatable and that they could reduce the size to little or nothing at all. Best yet (if one could call it that) the cancer is localized in that one lung and hasn't spread. That is definitely one thing I'm very, very much thankful for.
In regards to the treatment plan, instead of the five days a week for twelve weeks chemo/radiation combo treatment, he might just be doing radiation with spurts of chemo here and there for SIX weeks. To me, this is good news. Although I'd rather that Dad not have to go through chemo or radiation at all since it can be taxing and toxic on one's body, and I'd rather that the tumors not grow at all and just disappear completely, the fact that it's a short course of treatment (as far as his new oncologist and radiation specialists know) is an idea that I'm more comfortable with compared to the more aggressive type of treatment the old oncologist was touting.
Currently, I'm trying to learn as much as I can about what his illness is all about as well as the treatment. I'm certainly wanting to be there when the treatment starts. Right now, my work schedule can get pretty hectic but I am in the process of finding a way to tone it down and be able to spend time w/ my Dad and our family when the six-week course of treatment comes along.
So... so far, so good. However, it is still going to be quite a journey ahead of us and I certainly... crave your prayers. Please continue to keep praying for my Dad. As I said earlier, your support and love is very, very much appreciated. It is priceless and a wonderful blessing... a reminder of just how faithful God is that He has provided us with such an amazing extended family and network of friends.
I will try to reply to each email/call that I have received individually over the next two weeks or so. I feel kinda bad just sending another mass email, but with limited time on my hands whenever I come home from work, it's been tough. I'm gonna have to set a day off aside just for replying to email. Just know that I truly appreciate the emails you've sent and the calls you've made. It truly means a lot. My parents are also amazed at just how many people I've emailed, haha...
I'll go ahead and end this second "novel" of mine (as I've heard it described!). You all know me: I like to write!! Thanks for bearing with me though!! :)
May God bless each and everyone of you... I will keep you all updated as I know more details and especially, once he starts treatment.
Much love,
Jean
PS - Thank you to my Auntie Espie and to Tito Larry de Villa for passing this email on to other family members and friends, respectively, and spreading the word regarding my Dad... I don't have everyone's email, unfortunately.
SUPPORT THE CAUSE AND CANCER RESEARCH TO FIND A CURE!!!
Livestrong - http://www.livestrong.org
Stand Up to Cancer - http://www.standup2cancer.org
American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org
--
Jean Jastillana
Medical Secretary/Scheduling
(Tyler Gluckman MD/Geoffrey Wilson MD/Jennifer Drew PA-C)
Columbia Cardiology Associates
9427 SW Barnes Rd, Suite 498
Portland, OR 97225
503.297.6234 ext. 140 (phone)
503.819.5961 (cell)
jean.ja...@columbiacardiology.com
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