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A. W (Bill) (Peanut) Johnston Class 1943 |
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5/1/2010
IIt is with great sadness that I pass on to you the email from Bill Johnston. I'm sure that Bill would appreciate your support and prayers for him and his family. Should you desire to send Bill a word of encouragement his address, etc., follows:
Mr. A. W. "Bill" Johnston
128 Hamby Drive, Allston Point
Pauley's Island, SC 29585-7669
Telephone: 843-237-4086
Email:
wbtower@aol.com
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Bill writes 4/11/2010
"After seeing my oncology doctor today, the good news is he is
not putting me back on
chemo. However, the bad new is I have approximately six
months left.. Thank you for your support and payers. God
Bless.
Bill"
Bill writes 3/4/2010 February 25, 2010
Received the following self-explanatory email
from Bill Johnston. Please continue to keep Bill & Shirley
in your prayers.
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First I am pleased to report that my wife
Shirley is improving each day with therapy. In my case my
Oncology doctor keeps trying different treatments. The
chemo treatment caused a serious medical problem, loss of appetite,
nausea resulting in the loss of 16 pounds. On my visit to
doctor today he took me off chemo and had recommended a procedure
called pleuraldesis to be preformed at MUSC hospital in Charleston,
S. C. This procedure is supposed to drain the fluid off my lung
and at the same time push the left lung close to the wall, thus
alleviating the fluid problem. A Catheter may be required.
Following this procedure if successful radiation treatments may
start again.. Whatever it takes I
am still thinking positive. All the best
February 4, 2010
Subject:
Bill and Shirley medical update.
As
info I am please to report that Shirley is doing much better this
week. She is staring to eat a little bit more each day
and she seems to have more energy I had a cat scan and X-ray of
my chest yesterday and the X-ray showed a large mass of fluid
on my left lung that is responsible for my breathing problem over
the past several weeks. The oncology doctor immediately
sent me to the hospital to have the fluid drained. The radiology
doctor drained 1500 cc from my lung. he did not get all of the
fluid out of he lung and
recommended
that I return to remove he rest of the fluid in a week.
The procedure turned out to be rather painful, but necessary.
All the best. Bill.
December 26, 2009
Competed 15 radiation treatments last week
and the first ten treatments went fine. However the
last five had some side effects such as coughing and fatigue.
Have experienced some pain but can handle it with medication.
Will have a catscan in four weeks and will see my oncology and
radiation doctors. Will learn then what treatments next.
Hope it is not chemo but whatever it takes will follow the doctors
advice.
Otherwise both Shirley and me are
hanging in there. Three of our four children will be with us
for Christmas. Bill
November 17, 2009 Keep Bill in your prayers.
As info my oncology doctor and the radiation
doctor have now decided that I should start taking radiation
treatments. While the treatment will not cure the cancer it
should slow the growth and alleviate the pain I am now
experiencing. I am scheduled to start treatment Nov 23 and
will take treatments daily for three weeks or a total
of 15 treatments. I am doing ok and have no complaints and
have so much to be thankful for.
November 6, 2009 Gentlemen, As info I had a catscan Monday Nov 2. Saw my oncology doctor Nov 5 and I am pleased to advise you that the type of lung cancer Bronchiololoalveolar Carcinoma that I have has been slow growing and the doctor does not want to start aggressive treatment at this time. However, the chest xray showed fluid on my left lung that has caused pain. A surgeon will drain the fluid from my lung and in six weeks my oncology doctor will have me take another chest xray and check to see if the fluid has returned. Other than
some pain in the left chest I am feeling
good. Have held my weight at 190 for the last several months.
Appreciate your concern and prayers on my behalf. Bill
Johnston
This is an email reply from Bill to Jim Sell. Continue to pray for Bill. 8/17/2009
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"Jim, thanks for your concern and prayers
on my behalf. I was hoping the new cyber knife radiation was
an alternative to chemo. However, the radiation oncologist
ruled the treatment out due the cancer spreading to the other
lung. Needless to say, I was disappointed with his evaluation.
The only thing that is my favor is that the type of cancer I
have is broachoalvelolar carcinoma and is slow growing.
I strongly suspect that my oncologist
will treat me with chemo later this fall. Many thanks
again with sincere appreciation.
Bill"
Received the following from our dear friend and alumni, Bill Johnston:
Email from Bill Johnston:: 5/11/2009
As info, had a catscan May 5 and visited my
Oncology Doctor today May 7. The medication tarseva that I
have been taking for twelve weeks did not slow the cancer growth.
The doctor has taken me off tarseva and since it is not working is
good news since the drug was causing so many side effects.
My next visit will be on June 4th and at that time the doctor will
recommend radiation or chemo. Fortunately this type of cancer
is slow growing and should allow more time to treat. Your prayers
and concern are most appreciated.
Otherwise, I am doing ok and have not
lost any weight. Now weigh 190 and should weigh 185.
Bill
Update:
3/24/2009
As info just returned from seeing my oncology
doctor and he has agreed to reduce my medication in half. In
other words from 150mg to 75mg due the the side effects
causing severe rash over most of my body.
Will return in six weeks for another catscan to
check to see if the medication has slowed the growth of the
cancer. Hopefully the drug tarseva will slow the growth and
give me a couple more years the good Lord willing. Many thanks
for your concern and prayers. Bill
"During a routine physical in Oct, 07 the chest xray showed a small nodule on the left lung. The doctor ordered a cat scan and since the first cat scan I have had four more cat scans and two pet scans. The last Cat scan taken in January showed the nodule had increased in size. The pulmonary doctor felt that it was malignant. I requested a second opinion and a biopsy be taken at the MUSC hospital cancer center in Charleston, S. C. On January 30 the biopsy was performed and today February 3rd the pulmonary doctor at MUSC informed me that the test showed that it was malignant. He did say that it looked like a slow moving type of cancer was the only good news. The doctors at MUSC will inform me the type of treatment ie, oral a new drug or chemo within the next few days. Had it not been for the chest xray and the follow up cat and pet scans I would not have been aware of the problem since I have not had any indication of some thing being wrong. Your prayers will be appreciated. Bill Johnston"
Keep Bill and his wife Shirley in your prayers. Should you desire to send Bill words of encouragement, a phone call or email, his information follows:
Bill
Johnston
128 Hamby Drive,
Allston Point
Pauley's
Island, SC 29585-7669
Telephone:
843-237-4086
Email:
wbtower@aol.com
For the younger generation, Bill was an outstanding athlete at BHS in the early 40's, he graduated in 1943. He served in the Marines during WW2. Bill became a high ranking official on the B&O/CSX railroad and Association American Railroads, the position he held at time of retiring. |