Rick Newton's Cancer Fund
Donation protected
Rick's story began on Wednesday, February 7th, when Irene was called into work in the middle of a snow storm. Rick went out to shovel snow. He called Irene as she was driving to work to say he had just coughed up blood. The next day Irene called to make an appointment with Rick's PCP and he was seen on Monday the 12th. The physician ordered a Chest Xray and immediately saw the mass. He then sent Rick for a CT scan which was done the next day and showed a 7cm mass near the large blood vessels in the center of the chest. The doctor called and told them he thought it was cancer.
Rick was then referred to see a Pulmonologist who reviewed the CT scan and told them he thought the mass was Squamous Cell lung cancer- a form of Non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Rick needed a biopsy.
The biopsy confirmed the original diagnosis of Squamous Cell lung cancer. It also confirmed the cancer was in Rick's lymph nodes. The plan would be to try to shrink this large tumor with radiation and chemotherapy and then once it was operable- remove Rick's right lung (pneumonectomy).
To check for metastases, Rick had an MRI on February 23rd. Driving home from the test, the doctor called Rick to tell him that the imaging showed brain "lesions" and treatment would need to start right away.
Later that same day, the Newtons saw Rick's MRI which showed several large lung cancer metastases in his brain-2-4cm in size. He had at least four tumors on the right and a couple on the left. He also had brain swelling due to the tumors displacing brain tissue and shift of his brain to the left from swelling. Rick was told he should no longer work or drive. He was also told that he now had Stage IV lung cancer.
The focus was now off the lung and onto the brain. The plan now was to do whole brain radiation. The tumors were too big to do focused radiation. Now they had to find out if the cancer was anywhere else in his body. A PET scan was set up for Monday, Feb. 26th, the same day that radiation would begin.
The PET scan showed a metastasis on his right adrenal gland and possibly three other small areas that were not clearly defined- in his pelvis.
Everybody has been wishing him well, dropping off food, and helping to drive him around. Irene is continuing to work as much as possible, but has had to cut her schedule way back. Their lives are changing day to day and it is difficult not knowing what tomorrow will bring. We can only hope that Rick continues to do well and that the treatments will shrink the tumors and give him more time. He is determined to live and stay in all of our lives.
Our next fundraiser is Bocce and BBQ for Rick! on Saturday, June 16th, at the East Chatham Fire Company
East Chatham Fire Company
14 Frisbee Street
East Chatham, NY
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
#teamnewton
Follow this link:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ricknewton/journal
to read all about what's happened so far and to see updates as they occur.
Rick was then referred to see a Pulmonologist who reviewed the CT scan and told them he thought the mass was Squamous Cell lung cancer- a form of Non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Rick needed a biopsy.
The biopsy confirmed the original diagnosis of Squamous Cell lung cancer. It also confirmed the cancer was in Rick's lymph nodes. The plan would be to try to shrink this large tumor with radiation and chemotherapy and then once it was operable- remove Rick's right lung (pneumonectomy).
To check for metastases, Rick had an MRI on February 23rd. Driving home from the test, the doctor called Rick to tell him that the imaging showed brain "lesions" and treatment would need to start right away.
Later that same day, the Newtons saw Rick's MRI which showed several large lung cancer metastases in his brain-2-4cm in size. He had at least four tumors on the right and a couple on the left. He also had brain swelling due to the tumors displacing brain tissue and shift of his brain to the left from swelling. Rick was told he should no longer work or drive. He was also told that he now had Stage IV lung cancer.
The focus was now off the lung and onto the brain. The plan now was to do whole brain radiation. The tumors were too big to do focused radiation. Now they had to find out if the cancer was anywhere else in his body. A PET scan was set up for Monday, Feb. 26th, the same day that radiation would begin.
The PET scan showed a metastasis on his right adrenal gland and possibly three other small areas that were not clearly defined- in his pelvis.
Everybody has been wishing him well, dropping off food, and helping to drive him around. Irene is continuing to work as much as possible, but has had to cut her schedule way back. Their lives are changing day to day and it is difficult not knowing what tomorrow will bring. We can only hope that Rick continues to do well and that the treatments will shrink the tumors and give him more time. He is determined to live and stay in all of our lives.
Our next fundraiser is Bocce and BBQ for Rick! on Saturday, June 16th, at the East Chatham Fire Company
East Chatham Fire Company
14 Frisbee Street
East Chatham, NY
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
#teamnewton
Follow this link:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ricknewton/journal
to read all about what's happened so far and to see updates as they occur.
Organizer and beneficiary
Laura Shea
Organizer
East Chatham, NY
Irene Newton
Beneficiary
