Tumor No More/ Tom Meyer Cancer Fund
Donation protected
Unfortunately Tom is on Hospice and requires 24 hour care. His wife Shelley has taken on the role of care giver and is currently unable to work at this time. Please help this family with their monthly living expenses. Any donation big or small can help this family during this difficult time they are facing.
In late 2013 Tom Meyer was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma account for less than 1% of all new cancer cases each year. Tom and his wife Shelley sought medical treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. A PET scan revealed the primary tumor in Tom's left lateral neck had metastases to both lungs, T1-T6 spine, third right rib, right femur and hip. Cycle 1 of 4 chemo cycles was started in late January. During cycle 4 of chemo, Tom became very sick and wasn't rebounding like he should. MD Anderson docs sent him home for a 2-1/2 month reprieve from chemo. On July 9th, Tom and Shelley returned to Houston for a follow up PET scan and oncology appointment. The scan revealed the cancer had progressed and was now severely compressing the spinal cord. An emergent MRI was done and Tom was admitted to the hospital immediately. Currently Tom's surgery has been put on hold temporarily. The docs will start radiation tomorrow at 0900 unless he becomes symptomatic neurologically before then. Fingers crossed, he won't. Because of the size of the tumor and the location, the docs have decided surgery is to dangerous and lengthy unless it becomes absolutely necessary. After radiation therapy, the docs will repeat the PET scan or MRI to determine the plan of care. They may very well determine surgery is necessary if the spinal cord remains severely compressed. Currently Tom is on a PCA pump of Fentanyl where he gets pain medication every 8 minutes and a bolus every hour. Compared to the pain he had before the pump, it is somewhat controlled. We will take 6-7 out of 10 pain scale. Much better than 10/10. He has been in a wheel chair since we arrived in Houston and is currently on bed rest with only bathroom privileges.
In late 2013 Tom Meyer was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma account for less than 1% of all new cancer cases each year. Tom and his wife Shelley sought medical treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. A PET scan revealed the primary tumor in Tom's left lateral neck had metastases to both lungs, T1-T6 spine, third right rib, right femur and hip. Cycle 1 of 4 chemo cycles was started in late January. During cycle 4 of chemo, Tom became very sick and wasn't rebounding like he should. MD Anderson docs sent him home for a 2-1/2 month reprieve from chemo. On July 9th, Tom and Shelley returned to Houston for a follow up PET scan and oncology appointment. The scan revealed the cancer had progressed and was now severely compressing the spinal cord. An emergent MRI was done and Tom was admitted to the hospital immediately. Currently Tom's surgery has been put on hold temporarily. The docs will start radiation tomorrow at 0900 unless he becomes symptomatic neurologically before then. Fingers crossed, he won't. Because of the size of the tumor and the location, the docs have decided surgery is to dangerous and lengthy unless it becomes absolutely necessary. After radiation therapy, the docs will repeat the PET scan or MRI to determine the plan of care. They may very well determine surgery is necessary if the spinal cord remains severely compressed. Currently Tom is on a PCA pump of Fentanyl where he gets pain medication every 8 minutes and a bolus every hour. Compared to the pain he had before the pump, it is somewhat controlled. We will take 6-7 out of 10 pain scale. Much better than 10/10. He has been in a wheel chair since we arrived in Houston and is currently on bed rest with only bathroom privileges.
Organizer
Whitney Myers
Organizer
Mulvane, KS
