Remedies

Everyone seems to have their remedy of what Roger should or should not be doing or be taking to get rid of his cancer and make him well...some think that a nice vacation or a cruise or to play his favorite golf course, but what it all boils down to is.... what Roger really wants is to be pain free and not to feel like he has the flu everyday. His avtivities are very limited and if he does look to do something it wears him out and he is ready for a nap. All of you that are concerned must know that there is no cure, only pain management at this time. He looks good and still has an appetitie. I will attest to the fact that he is not Roger anymore. He does not want to do anything or go anywhere unless it is a really good day for him.
thank you for all the calls and concerns... we really love all of you....Dianne

Remedy's

Blogging by requests

We have been so busy between coordinating treaments and family reunion things, I just have not had time to blog lateley, but you know what they say "no news is good news"? well kinda sorta......Roger is feeling a little better with the pain in his arm, but I think that we may have overdone it today with yard work......He is still my little junk food junkie.....he won't eat anything that is good for him....he is just craving junk food....I hope this passes soon....He is getting a little frustrated with his oncologist of whom won't call him back....Roger has some very valid questions regarding the upcoming IV of Zometa for his bones....he really does not want any bad side effects....he is trying to get over the side effects from the radiation....We will be hosting his family reunion in July, so I hope by then he will be a little better and can enjoy all of his family.....He still has not played any golf...so right there you know Roger Torbeck does not feel well....He did go to our neighborhood meeting place (the Union Hall ) and had two beers today....most he has drank since February!!!!
Aunt wilma is slowly progressing at Life Care Nursing Home and she is so hoping to go back to her home soon....We will have to discuss her future driving, though. Colbie Marie is doing good and she now weighs 6lbs and 8oz. and is still so pretty....She is being monitored by Children's Hospital regarding her heart....if it has not self- repaired by the time she is one year she will have to have a procedure done. We all pray that it won't have to be done....One side of her heart is bigger than the other and has to work very hard to keep up, but she is eating and being very normal otherwise......
Unless things change in any way I probably won't write for a while, but I know that all of you are concerned and want to know how Roger is doing....please feel free to call or come by...Roger usually naps in the early afternoon. Just come to the back door and peek in.....Love to all Dianne

Rough day at the Ofiice

Just wanted to let all of you know that are following this blog and care very much for Roger, that we went to his oncologist today. He came right in a blurted it out that the news he had was not that good....Roger's cancer is definitely spread to his bones in certain areas....the rib, the lower spine and under his left arm.....He is not having any symptoms other than his left upper shoulder /arm of which he has had surgery, cyotherapy and now 10 days of intensive radiation....His pain seems to be a ltitle better and the doc says that he is convinced that he will continue to be better as the days go on....as for future ....again there is no cure, just keeping him under control and hopefully pain managed...they will continue to treat him with hormone therapy until it has completely convinced the doc that it is not helping anymore...The VA Docs and their systems have not left us with a good taste for what they did to Roger and how they went about his treatment with him, but that is neither here nor there now....the cyrotherapy according to Dr. Barnett was just unnecessary and he would have gone right to radiation.....OH WELL....this whole time Roger and I have learned so much that do not let INSURANCE dictate to you the kind of care you need to have......NEXT...Roger took the news like I knew he would....Like a man and then just wanted to eat some lunch and go home...they will also be treating his bones with an intavenous drug that will keep them from becoming too brittle and subject to breaking...that he will endure once a month and will also continue hormone shots....they really have nothing else to offer at this point....If you know or have read anything at all about prostate cancer you would know that there is no cure and that the oncologists around the country are just trying everything to prolong life until they find THE CURE......Roger is not bed ridden and would love to see any of you....just call, and if it is a good day he and Iwould love to see any of you.....love Roger and Dianne

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

What the heck does that mean?......Roger is the most patient man in the world....I know that he doesn't like feeling the way that he feels of late, but I still do not hear any negativity from him....He is hopeful that everything will be better when the next day is here....today is sat. and he had a very down day....He is not on any morphine, just Ibuprofen, but that alone is taking its toll on his stomach.....If you want some humor in all of this, he is craving junk food LIKE CRAZY. The nurses told im he needs to eat all the calories he can, because of the radiation. So he listens to them and its whatever he feels like and how much....kind of like a pregnant women....(he is getting female hormones still....I wonder if that has something to do with it?) He hasn't asked for pickles and ice cream yet......We will go to the Doc this tuesday to hear all about tests and results and plans. We will let you all know all about it next blog. thank you again for the food (yummy yummy potatoe salad and beans from Mark and Lori! ! ! Yummy peach cobbler from Terry and Shirley, you all are great.....thank you Patti P. for watching out for us on a daily basis...hope I haven't forgotten anyone......must go for now......

memories

Here is, today, remembering all those who gave their lives for our country and those who have passed on of whom we remember and love. For those of us who are here, let us make the most out of every day....I wake up each morning feeling very sorry for myself and as the day progresses and the people that I encounter throughout my day, inspire me and awe me and keep my life in check. Roger is one of those people.....He is strong and patient and very kind.....He is not feeling very good most of the time, because they are giving him three times the radiation that they gave him before. His body is not accepting it very well. He has read a 900 page book and watched a lot of TV and Movies....Many of his friends have stopped by. His cousins from Ne. and St. Louis came this Sunday to wish him well. Believe me, all of you, he is doing the best he knows how to do.....we are both hoping that this next week of radiation will give him great relief and that he can get back to what he really loves doing and that is playing some golf....we will be hearing the results of most of his tests June 2nd with his oncologist, Dr. Barnett, here in town. We are so hoping that the cancer has not spread anyhwere else and that we can have a little reprieve from what we have been going thru in these last 6 months or so....Thank you again for all the prayers and concerns and (chase lounges)and food and anything that you all do for Roger....it will not go unappreciated and we will be forever grateful for your love......thank you, thank you....Love , The Torbecks

STILL FIGHTING

Have not written for a few, so here goes... Roger is now in Longmont for his treatments for the bone cancer they found in his arm...I don't have a clue what the cryotherapy did, but his pain was and still is there.....They say that the radiation will help the pain.....We have no results yet from the MRI that was done at the VA. Roger went for a pet scan today that will tell us if the cancer had spread to any other parts of the body.....liver, lungs, etc......Roger is still trying to keep the stiff upper lip. I know that he is trying to stay strong for me, I just wish that I could make this all go away for him, because I know what is in store. He will keep on fighting, because that is who he is....He is a dear man and husband, who does not deserve to go thru what he has gone thru so far....The health insurance system in our country needs a big revamping and I would not know how to even begin that task. I just know that for our grandchildren, I hope that it will be better......soon! Roger's fight has been mainly predicated on what Insurance will or will not do for him and when....the system sucks.....hope your Insurance is better......signing off for now.....Love Dianne