Dulce Hanson

Incision Finally Healed.

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:53:39 -0700

Dulce has been doing well, and the drains are finally out of her leg and the incisions are all closed. Sorry that I haven’t posted more, but there has not been a lot to report. She still has a lot of lymphedema of the left leg, but this it to be expected as a normal result of the surgery. Further Chemo is still on hold as she wants to wait until after Alyssa’s wedding.

Chemo on Hold

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:18:28 -0700

Dulce continues to improve although the drain is still in her leg, and producing about 60 ccs of fluid every 24 hours. It was a good decision to leave in the drain. She has been getting around better every day and has been down to the office to “supervise.” Her continued chemotherapy will remain on hold until the leg is healed and she will discuss near term options with the oncologist next week. I talked with Dulce this morning, and she states that she feels pretty good.

Feeling Better

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:12:39 -0700

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads! Dulce is feeling better, and there is still a single surgical drain in the thigh, which is still draining a small amount of clear serosanguinous fluid. Jolly and Dulce took an outing to the grocery store today and Dulce was able to get around in an electric cart. This did her good.
The chemotherapy is on hold for now as we deal with the infection in the leg. She has not had a fever, and is generally on the mend. She is scheduled to see a Sonora surgeon to remove the drain from her leg Monday. However, they will probable leave it in if there is continued drainage (which is probable the best idea!). Thanks for all of your comments! Dulce has been reading them.

Eventful Week

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:17:50 -0700

It is been a long week for Dulce as she did OK with the first round of Chemo, but it made here really tired. She has had a persistent cough, which is felt to be an allergy, and a low grade fever. This past weekend, it began to look as if the leg was getting infected. She saw her local health care providers, and then went to see the surgeon in Stanford. She was admitted this past week and had a surgery to explore the leg. The found the infection and drained and debrided the area. They installed two drains, and took one of them out yesterday, as she is recovering rapidly. We are hopeful that she will be discharged today.
Sorry that I haven’t updated the blog this week, but Judy and I are traveling and on vacation.

First of the Chemo

Thu, 5 Jun 2008 07:48:21 -0700

Dulce started her Chemo 48 hours ago and so for so good. She didn’t get nauseated, but is extremely tired from the medication and has a facial rash. She received one drug, Gemzar, in the initial dose. The next go around will be with two medications.
Sorry that I haven’t posted more. It has been a long stretch at work for me. The wound in her leg was a problem for the past two weeks as the seroma underlying caused to wound to partly dehisce (open). This is a good thing in that it allows collecting fluid to drain. There has been no infection. She has had a low grade fever and a slight cough.
Dulce has been back to Stanford for a consult, and they concur that the surgery went well and the leg should continue to heal. Think the best for the chemo, and we won’t know the effects of if until followup imaging is done.

Dulce’s Treatment Plan

Sat, 24 May 2008 06:34:03 -0700

Dulce went to see her oncologist on 5/21 and results of the CT scan demonstrated that in 6 weeks, the tumors of the lungs and liver have increased 1.0 cm. The leg continues to improve, but there is some swelling from a persistent seroma which is to be expected, and shoulder resolve on its own in a couple of weeks.
After careful consultation with the oncologist regarding the risks, benefits and alternatives of various treatment options, Dulce has decided to go forward with a two course regime of Taxotere and Gemzar. She had a central line placed in her chest wall 5/22 in preparation of administration of the medication. The decision point to go further will come once she completes this, and imaging and physical examination will ultimately determine what if any effect this has on the progression of the tumors.
Please keep Dulce and Jolly in your thoughts and prayers, and hope for the best during this stage of her treatment.

Back to the Oncologist

Wed, 21 May 2008 07:57:36 -0700

Dulce’s day yesterday could have been better. On the good side, was that a significant portion of the swelling in the left leg was a seroma. The vascular surgeon at Stanford drained about a liter of fluid from it yesterday during their appointment in followup of the femoral artery graft. The graft is in excellent condition, and is functioning normally. The bad news is that when they harvested the vein graft from her right leg, they found another small sarcoma just below her right knee, which they didn’t remove, and didn’t tell Jolly and Dulce about until yesterday. Today, they trek back to Modesto to see the oncologist to receive the results of the CT scan done last Friday. Please keep Dulce and Jolly in your thoughts and prayers.

Back at Home Week 2

Sat, 17 May 2008 18:00:19 -0700

Dulce made the trip to Modesto for a contrast CT Friday, and we are all waiting for the results of the imaging study, which will assess the change in the lesions in her lung and liver. Let’s hope and pray that there is none. The trip was long, but Dulce did well with some swelling in the left leg from being depend for a long time. Pain is better, and she is feeling better every day.

Back at Home Week 1

Mon, 12 May 2008 12:15:30 -0700

Sorry that I haven’t updated the blog for some time. Thankfully, there has not been much to report. Everything positive at this point. Dulce continues to improve and is getting around the House pretty well. She has a appointment for additional imaging this coming Friday to assess the lesions in her lungs and live. Let’s hope that they haven’t progressed since the last imaging about 5-6 weeks ago. Her NP Claire Mills has been up to visit, and she has a visiting nurse to help out. Pain is better, but the incisions in the legs are still tight and make walking and sitting stiff. She had a nice Mother’s day with Ed, Debbie and Jolly, and Judy and I are here today. Keep Dulce in your thoughts and prayers!

Back at Home Day 2

Sun, 4 May 2008 13:15:25 -0700

Had a good conversation with Dulce today and she gets up and is walking the house regularly and plans to walk out on the deck. The weather is wonderful in Tuolumne, and she plans to enjoy it. Jolly has outfitted the shower with a chair and a shower head on an hose to make bathing safer and more comfortable. Nothing like a hot shower raise your spirits after laying in a hospital bed for one week! Keep the comments and calls coming as Dulce enjoys them.