I am writing this for my best friend of 33 years Allen Thomas. Allen was diagnosed with Esophagus cancer a year ago:
Below are the time frame details:
Last Year 2014
On September 5th, Allen received results of endoscopy revealing a polyp in his esophagus. The polyp is partially blocking his esophagus causing difficulty swallowing.
On September 11, PET scan shows 9mm mass on left lung.
September 25. To avoid a separate surgery on the lung, Allen chose to have a outpatient needle biopsy of the mass on his lung. However, after arriving, the practitioner decided not to do the procedure. The size was too small, the risk of collapsed lung was too great and mass was too close to his heart.
September 29. Allen had an operation at Johns Hopkins Hospital to remove the mass on his left lung. The operation went well, only took about 45 minutes and they were able to use robotic assist.
October 21, 2014 Allen started Chemotherapy.
October 24, 2014 Allen had some heart pains and was taken to the Hospital were they preformed a CAT scan and discovered multiple tumors in both lungs making Chemo the only treatment.
February 2015 Allen has had 7 out of 12 Chemo Treatments.
May 4, 2015 Allens last Chemo Treatment.
May 20, 2015 PET scan still shows cancer so they will restart Chemo.
June 20, 2015 Allen posted this in his Updates:
Over the last 2 weeks I have been having terrible reflux symptoms along with chest pains and a general feeling of fullness in my heart area. Also over the last 4 days or so swallowing has become painful.
So earlier this week I met with my doctor, and he had some CAT scans done. He was worried about a pulmonary embolism, but the scans ruled that out thankfully. However it did show that the tumor that was in my lung has started growing very rapidly, and my esophagus appears to be thickened (cancer). So on Thursday chemo starts again. Because of the neuropathy he is going to use another drug.
September 14, 2015 Allen has another PET SCAN.
September 16, 2015 Allen Posted some disheartening news:
I received bad news today. The last course of treatment was not effective. The tumor on my lung has grown rapidly and I have 3 new tumors in my lungs. The esophagus however was clean. Maybe the cancer has mutated. I have to get à brain MRI this afternoon. Because the new course that starts Tuesday can cause brain bleeds. So they have to look for weak arteries.
September 17, 2015 the doctor informs Allen that the MRI of his brain shows he has a Tumor.
September 21, 2015 Doctors are planning to do CYberknife surgery for the brain tumor. The planning for the Surgery will take about 2 weeks.
October 5, 2015 Allen wakes up with a severe headache and nausea and is taken to the emergency room. They preform a CAT scan and find the Tumor in his head has doubled in size in 2 weeks. He is transfered to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for brain surgery to remove the tumor as Cyberknife is no longer an option.
October 7, 2015 Surgery is scheduled for 9:30am and will last 4-5 hours.
Below are the time frame details:
Last Year 2014
On September 5th, Allen received results of endoscopy revealing a polyp in his esophagus. The polyp is partially blocking his esophagus causing difficulty swallowing.
On September 11, PET scan shows 9mm mass on left lung.
September 25. To avoid a separate surgery on the lung, Allen chose to have a outpatient needle biopsy of the mass on his lung. However, after arriving, the practitioner decided not to do the procedure. The size was too small, the risk of collapsed lung was too great and mass was too close to his heart.
September 29. Allen had an operation at Johns Hopkins Hospital to remove the mass on his left lung. The operation went well, only took about 45 minutes and they were able to use robotic assist.
October 21, 2014 Allen started Chemotherapy.
October 24, 2014 Allen had some heart pains and was taken to the Hospital were they preformed a CAT scan and discovered multiple tumors in both lungs making Chemo the only treatment.
February 2015 Allen has had 7 out of 12 Chemo Treatments.
May 4, 2015 Allens last Chemo Treatment.
May 20, 2015 PET scan still shows cancer so they will restart Chemo.
June 20, 2015 Allen posted this in his Updates:
Over the last 2 weeks I have been having terrible reflux symptoms along with chest pains and a general feeling of fullness in my heart area. Also over the last 4 days or so swallowing has become painful.
So earlier this week I met with my doctor, and he had some CAT scans done. He was worried about a pulmonary embolism, but the scans ruled that out thankfully. However it did show that the tumor that was in my lung has started growing very rapidly, and my esophagus appears to be thickened (cancer). So on Thursday chemo starts again. Because of the neuropathy he is going to use another drug.
September 14, 2015 Allen has another PET SCAN.
September 16, 2015 Allen Posted some disheartening news:
I received bad news today. The last course of treatment was not effective. The tumor on my lung has grown rapidly and I have 3 new tumors in my lungs. The esophagus however was clean. Maybe the cancer has mutated. I have to get à brain MRI this afternoon. Because the new course that starts Tuesday can cause brain bleeds. So they have to look for weak arteries.
September 17, 2015 the doctor informs Allen that the MRI of his brain shows he has a Tumor.
September 21, 2015 Doctors are planning to do CYberknife surgery for the brain tumor. The planning for the Surgery will take about 2 weeks.
October 5, 2015 Allen wakes up with a severe headache and nausea and is taken to the emergency room. They preform a CAT scan and find the Tumor in his head has doubled in size in 2 weeks. He is transfered to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for brain surgery to remove the tumor as Cyberknife is no longer an option.
October 7, 2015 Surgery is scheduled for 9:30am and will last 4-5 hours.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kelly Thomas
Beneficiary