The Journey of Erika Te: A New Port / Neuropathy / Hip Replacement

End of 2013

Since she is on her last phase of chemo treatment, which only requires one line to inject chemo into, they decided to replace her central line with a port. The procedure was done on December 31st 2013. A port is subsurface the skin and allows her to shower, bath, swim, etc. She still goes in for chemo weekly, now every Friday.

First time using the port.

Once done with the days chemo, the special needle is taken out. Easy peasy.

This is where the central line was once dangling out.

Incision below the bruise is where the port sits. This was taken two days after the procedure.

2014 Reintroducing Vincristine

For about 3 months, Erika has been off of Vincristine due to neuropathy on her feet and hands. In January they brought it back into her treatment of chemo, since her neuropathy has gotten better. As of today, the neuropathy is crawling back down to her feet. Nothing on her hands yet. Next week we'll see if the doctors will approve the continuation of it.

Our Second Visit with the Orthopedic Surgeon

Last year doctors noticed necrosis in her hip, which was causing her extreme pains from walking, sitting up, or simply rolling over on the bed. They believed it may have been caused either by the high doses of steroids (which is commonly known to happen when used as a chemo treatment) or from Peg-Aspariginase (the clinical trial chemo). For a period of 2 months they stopped Peg and the steroids, and later reintroduced the steroids at a lower dosage then later the PEG to completion. In mid January 2014, Erika was suffering from hip pains again. They did a 2nd MRI of her hip and found that it has gotten worse than before. Today we consulted with an orthopedic and he said a hip replacement is inevitable. The pain will get worse and the hip will not get better for the chemo has damaged it to the point of no return. Erika is going to tough it out and see if she can live with the pain in combination of medications. We both feel if any surgery is going to happen, it will be after the treatment is over. The steroids has been taken out of treatment. Tonight, we are just taking in the results. I can tell Erika was getting real bummed reading the materials given regarding the surgery and all the pictures were of people in their golden years. Yet, as usual, she is a tough one and holds herself together.