Update after Radiation

It's been almost four weeks since Stevan had radiation. He's been tired. His head has been red, dry and scaly. Each night I put Aloe Vera Gel or Aquaphor on it to try and heal it up and keep it moist so that it wont make him scratch at it, since it itches. It looks a lot better now, but I continue to put Aquaphor on it since it still seems to get dry, I guess due to the cold weather. He looks good bald. Before we got married he told me I didn't have to worry about him going partially bald, that he had a good hairline. I told him I liked guys with either a full head of hair or completely bald. I guess I'm getting the latter this part of our marriage. LOL.

Stevan is now taking his Velcade shots and his Zometa infusions in Paris. He just finished his 2nd round of Velcade last Thursday. His second round of Velcade has hit him harder. He has been nauseous after he eats but has nausea pills that he can take to help. He says since he's not been throwing up, he hasn't bothered to take them. He has been more tired than usual but it could be from the after affects of the radiation too. He has been in more pain with his bones. We don't know if its due to the Zometa, the bone hardening medicine, doing its job or if its just the fact that his bones are so soft, causing the pain. He had pain with Zometa last year after he began taking it. The pain less as his bones harden and the medicine does its job. It might take a month or two though. Today he said his left hip seemed to popped out causing him so much pain he went to his knees. He said he was sitting when it finally popped back in, again being painful. He's worried that his hip bone has deteriorated, which is not good because that area has already been radiated, so it can't be treated with radiation again.

We know his bones are very soft for the most part because during his bone biopsy in the hospital the doctor hit a couple of places that were very soft. Those were the most painful places for Stevan and the doctor had to change the place he was biopsying so that Stevan could stand the process.

Two weeks ago seemed to be the hardest on Stevan. He had some things going on which made him depressed, seemed to make the pain worst, as well as his personal outlook. He told me that he really thought he was dying, and he just didn't have the motivation to keep going and do things because he hurt so badly. I believe some of it was emotional pain, not just physical pain, even though he was having plenty of that. With much prayer and support from family, friends and myself I think he's working though it. Last Friday, when I came home he told me he had finally had a good day. He said he hadn't had much pain, and he had done some walking around Brinkley's Auction that afternoon and it didn't seem to bother him. Saturday and Sunday also seemed like good days for him as well. Monday night he told me that he thought he was going to make it, he didn't feel like he was dying.

I share this because we have come to realize not everyone understands the scope of his pain and the emotional toil his cancer is taking on him, as well as me. Stevan doesn't complain much, except to me and a few others close to him. He's a very private person and defiantly doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for him, but he wants them to understand what he's going though and understand him. God has walked with us throughout this journey, holding our hands, wiping our tears, and carrying us when we could not go any further. He always provide for us when we have no idea where the next dollar will come from. We have had some wonderful friends and family that have helped us out and continue to ask what they can do for us. I even have parents from school asking to pray for us. All is appreciate and never turned down. We are humbled by how much people care and love us. We just wish that we could do more for those that help us, but I pray that God will bless those who give and protect you from the evils of this world. You are special to us and we love you.