Remission

On July 6, Dad had an appointment in Seattle with Dr. B to assess the results of a recent PET scan. After reviewing 950 pictures, Dr. B. determined that Dad is in REMISSION!!! 

In the near future, Dad will be able to have his feeding tube removed, and he needs to broaden his variety of foods and maintain his weight. On December 28, he will have another PET scan and follow-up with Dr. B to be sure he is still in remission (he will not be considered cancer-free until after 5 years). 

The battle is still not completely over for Dad, or for so many other cancer patients, but we do have a milestone victory here to celebrate! Thank you for all of your support!

Relay for Life

On June 24, the Union-Wallowa County Relay for Life held an event at Eastern Oregon University (where Dad received his undergraduate degree). The Kennewick High staff purchased angel pins and donated funds to cancer research through a representative, Ruth Ann Hodge (my Grandmother/Dad's Mother-In-Law, who is also a cancer survivor). Their donations and loved cancer patients were represented on decorated luminaria (many done by my Aunt Rhonda) that burned through the night around the University track.

Thank you for your donations and help in raising awareness and funds for research!

Ruth Ann and Dexter Hodge

Lighting the Luminaria

"Light Up the Night"

Getting Closer...

Dad is so close to starting chemotherapy and radiation! On one hand it has only been a month since his diagnosis, but on the other we have all been so anxious for him to begin treatment that it has seemed like a very long wait.
Procedure update:
Last week he met with Dr. R again and had a simulation/virtual image done on Friday. A dietitian determined the caloric intake he will need through his feeding tubes during the times that he won't  be able to eat solid food. Sunday night his sister had my parents over for a soup dinner (thank you Aunt Sherry!). Today he is getting fluoride trays made - with the concentration of radiation to the area around his mouth he must take fluoride doses throughout. Tomorrow Dr. C will assess how well he's healed from having his teeth pulled. Once he has healed enough they will start treatment... most likely by Friday or next Monday!

-Alyssa

Briefly, what has been done?

On November 30, 2010, dad went to the dentist because of some swelling in his jaw that he thought was caused by a tooth problem. From there he was referred to an orthodontic surgeon, who discovered swelling in his tonsil. After multiple scans, tests, and biopsies, he was diagnosed December 30, 2010, with squamous cell carcinoma. Since his diagnosis, he has met with a variety of doctors including a specialist in Seattle and those at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center.
The best route of treatment will be a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. To avoid future complications with his jaw, he had to have six teeth pulled last week, as well as feeding tubes placed and a port into his neck for chemotherapy. He will begin chemo and radiation after his mouth is fully healed from is oral surgery, which is hopefully very soon! The chemotherapy drug will be cisplatin, which is the most aggressive drug used for head and neck cancers. Treatment will begin with three all-day sessions of chemo and seven weeks (five days per week) of radiation treatments. Approximately three weeks after these initial rounds, another cat scan and pet scan will be done to assess the results.
His next appointment is Thursday, January 27th, with Dr. R* to set a date for radiation to begin.

-Alyssa