Lack of Local Expertise Forces 63-Year-Old Rugged Outdoorsman and Contractor to Seek Cure for Peritoneal Mesothelioma in Houston. East Grand Forks, MN
Beverly and Ernie Kasprick - June, 2001
Until about a year ago, life was very good for 63-year-old Ernest "Ernie" Kasprick, a self-employed contractor, and his wife Beverly. Ernie had lots of work with his contracting company, and when he was at home evenings and Sundays, he stayed busy, and happy.
The Kaspricks have 26 grandchildren, almost all of whom live within a 100 mile radius, and they love them all. Their home welcomes the grandkids. Little Jacie, now seven years old, spends a lot of time with her grandparents, who have her after kindergarten and some weekends.
CUTTING LOGS WHILE THE SUN SHINES
Their East Grand Forks, Minnesota home has five acres which Ernie and Bev have gardened and maintained immaculately. Right across the river from North Dakota, the winters are long and harsh, and gardening can require fast work. Construction work and chopping firewood also helped keep Ernie trim at five feet, eight inches and 165 pounds. He would take his tractor out into his woods, cut a tree with a chainsaw, and then bring the wood back to the woodstack, where he split the logs by hand, with a maul. With a woodstove in the house, another two in the shop, and a very long winter, Ernie could go through five cords of wood.
Ernie built all of the cabinets in his house, and in his spare time, would build shelves and the like for the kids. On the weekends, he and Bev would "go down to the Legion" or some other place for dinner.
NO TIME TO GET SICK
With so much going on, Ernie had neither the time nor the inclination to get sick. So it was unusual when he began having stomach cramps and diarrhea about a year ago. He noticed a lump in his groin area. He went to his physician who sent him to a specialist. The specialist did a colonoscopy but did not find anything, and sent Ernie home.
Ernie Kasprick at work
Over the past year his stomach began to swell. The lump in his groin also increased in size. On April 6, 2001 Ernie met with surgeon and urologist Dr. Michael Segal at the MeritCare Clinic in Fargo, North Dakota. Dr. Segal performed a CT scan which revealed an increasing number of peritoneal ascites as well as diffuse peritoneal carcinomatosis with studding of his anterior abdominal wall. Dr. Segal immediately ordered an ultrasound of the groin area which confirmed a bilobar, solid, mass lesion. Dr. Segal recommended removing the tumor with an inguinal incision with a radical orchiectomy. At that point, Dr. Segal suspected that Ernie had "an incurable malignancy."
EXPLORATORY SURGERY
On April 11, Ernie underwent an inguinal exploration and right radical orchiectomy with removal of tumor from the peritoneal space. During the surgery, Dr. Segal noticed the 'tongue' of the tumor extending out from the peritoneal cavity. Dr. Segal called in the Chief Surgeon, Dr. Stover, who assisted in the removal of the tumor. The tissue specimens were examined by the pathology department at the MeritCare Center which diagnosed malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum. Dr. Wold of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota confirmed the diagnosis.
Ernie consulted with an oncologist, Dr. Mohammed Ranginwalal, who wanted to treat him using chemotherapy. The Kaspricks were not convinced that Dr. Ranginwalal had the answers, so they began researching their treatment options.
NO EXPERTISE AT THE MAYO CLINIC
They contacted the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and were told that there was no physician on staff that treated peritoneal mesothelioma. They then contacted Dr. Harvey Pass, who similarly advised that there was no physician at Karmanos Cancer Institue that treated peritoneal mesothelioma.
Ernie Kasprick at M.D. Anderson
Houston, Texas - May, 2001
The Kaspricks then turned to this website, which introduced them to Dr. Claire Verschraegen, a peritoneal mesothelioma oncology specialist at the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Hosptial in Houston, Texas. The Kaspricks telephoned Dr. Verschraegen and made an appointment to meet her on May 8, 2001.
As the appointment approached, Ernie coped with increasing abdominal girth and discomfort. He was unable to eat much because of the pain. A small meal could instigate a fair amount of regurgitation. He had lost about fifteen pounds of muscle weight since November, 2000.
DR. VERSCHRAEGEN ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS
On May 8, the Kaspricks met with Dr. Verschraegen and members of her staff to discuss three vital questions: a second opinion; further evaluation; and treatment options.
M.D. Anderson's pathology department confirmed the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum, epithelial type. Dr. Verschraegen quickly set to work answering Ernie's other concerns. She admitted him to M.D. Anderson for peritoneal catheter placement and a subsequent paracentesis. On May 9, a catheter was inserted in his abdomen, and approximately three liters of fluid were drained. The Kaspricks were informed that not all of the fluid would be removed.
CISPLATIN AND CPT-11
Ernie and his granddaughter
During this first paracentesis, Cisplatin was introduced intraperitoneally over two hours followed by 60 milligrams of CPT-11. Throughout the day and all night long, at 20 minute intervals, nurses rolled Ernie in order to keep the fluid free-flowing. A second paracentesis was performed at approximately midnight of the same day. This time about four and one-half liters of fluid were removed.
On May 10, CPT-11 was administered intravenously on "Day One" of the cycle. On Day Eight and Day Fifteen, further doses of CPT-11 were also administered, again intravenously, but this time at the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo, North Dakota. Day Fifteen concluded one cycle. Ernie reports that he has suffered from nausea from these treatments, among other symptoms. While at home, Ernie must drain any fluid himself. He was instructed by the nurses how to drain the fluid, dispose of the bags and keep the catheter clean. He was also instructed to not drain more than two liters per day.
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
Ernie last saw Dr. Verschraegen on June 14. So far, Dr. Verschraegen's treatments seemed to have prevented the growth of his tumors, althought Ernie acknowledges that mesothelioma can spread like wildfire. Ernie tries to stay busy as much as his flagging energy will permit. He tries not to think about the future and what will happen to all he and Beverly have built, to his children and grandchildren.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Ernie as he shuttles between Minnesota and Texas to fight mesothelioma.
*** POSTED JULY 26, 2001 ***
An Update -- 10/1/01
Ernie has had better weeks. He had a CT scan recently, and as of Tuesday, September 25, 2001, was hoping that the results would be good so that he could continue with his chemotherapy. The next day, Ernie received the dispiriting news that the tumor had grown, and he needed to cease chemotherapy. He continues with Roxycet for pain relief. Ernie will consult with Dr. Verschraegen regarding the next stage of his fight against mesothelioma.
An Update -- 7/18/02
Late last year, Ernie was accepted into the SS1(dsFv)-PE38 out of Oklahoma University. After his third treatment, he developed hives from head to toe. Before his fourth treatment, he was discontinued from the study. Dr. Verschraegen tried another chemotherapy cocktail, but it too produced hives. For the next two months he was treated with thalidomide, which seemed to stabilze the tumor growth, enough to consider removing it surgically.
Ernie traveled to the Mayo clinic in hopes of have the tumor debulked, but the doctors discovered too much fluid in his abdomin. He returned home and is presently consulting with his local oncologist.
Today, Ernie is still in plenty of pain. He also continues to tire easily but tries to stay busy. Unfortunately, according to Ernie, "There are days where I have to just sit back and not do anything for lack of energy."
He continues to have fluid drained almost daily. Today, they removed 1600 ccs of fluid compared to yesterday when they removed 4000 ccs. Several months ago he had his catheter removed, finding it was more trouble than it was worth. He travels to his local doctors office to have the fluid removed. Ernie states "I don't think they'll ever find a cure for this thing, or even a way to slow it down."
Mr. Kasprick passed away on September 6, 2002
Ernie Kasprick was my best friend (grandpa) and I like that you put that up thank you. I am the girl in the picture the very bottom one . I'm eleven now I was eight. My grandpa was my best friend and I used to go to his house more then I was at my house. I helped him build. I'd hammer while he held the nail I'd hit his hand most of the time but grandpa didn't care. He loved me so much I remember he use too put me and grandma in the scoop of the tractor I always keep him my heart hope you do!!! My grandpa my best friend. (12/3/2005)
Hello...I'm Jacie Folstrom...I wrote you last time..and I just wanted to give you a quick update on how the family had been doing..I am thirteen now and this month was his birthday and his death day..Not a good month for our family..Me and my grandma struggle past this month slowly and sadly...But we are doing ok. I miss my grandpa so much these days. it hurts. and It hurts me that he won't be there for my wedding or anything..But i will see him again someday. and that's ok...
~Jacie (01/27/2009)