Mixed response is medical-eze for "no clear indicators of treatment efficacy." Recent tests returned offsetting results. In sum:
*Cancer markers May 4th vs April 5th – Calcitonin (thyroid) down 27%. This is promising, indicating less cancer activity from the thyroid. CEA up 6%, a marginal movement, indicating increased overall cancer cell activity in my body. Something to watch.
*Liver function May 16th vs May 4th – all three improved to within normal range. This means my liver is doing its job separating the good stuff from the waste and sending the unwanted on to the next stop out.
*Red blood cell and hemoglobin are markedly down. This is a matter for concern and may indicate suppression of the bone marrow’s ability to generate new RBCs.
Treatment recommendations discussed with our oncologist today:
*Blood transfusion to boost my body’s ability to withstand a course of chemotherapy. We have scheduled this for Monday, May 21.
*Resume chemotherapy using different medications: Xeloda for 14 days supplemented with Temodar days 10 through 14 to begin Tuesday, May 22. Rest for 14 days; resume cycle on day 28.
My subjective perspective: I have been losing ground very gradually during the past four weeks, particularly as to strength, endurance, and stamina. This is disappointing. Nevertheless, I am focusing on retaining gains and moving on to the next step.
We will confer with the medical team at the Issels Treatment Center/Oasis of Hope Hospital to discuss the advisability of concurrent treatments: their vaccine therapy plus the Xeloda/Temodar course of chemotherapy both administered here at home.
Maybe now is the time to dig out those best-of-the-best Seinfeld episodes and generate some giggle time here to loosen things up a bit.
Copyright 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Happenings
In chronological order: Friday, May 4
Laboratory Bloodwork: Calcitonin (thyroid cancer indicator) and CEA (cancer antigens) plus the periodic complete blood and metabolic scan including liver function indicators. Results due this week.
Needle Biopsy of two nodules in my thyroid. This was done because an earlier test showed activity there plus the until recent continuous rise of Calcitonin. The need to do the biopsy sooner was overshadowed by the urgency of starting an effective treatment to protect my liver from further tumor growth. Results due this week.
That was just the morning!
Emergency Room visit. In late afternoon a surge of pain and pressure unlike anything I have experienced suddenly gripped my lower right abdomen. We are acutely sensitive, despite recent good news, that my liver continues under stress and that we must be alert to symptoms of failure.
To my good fortune and great comfort we found my own internist on duty in the ER. Over the course of the next four hours, one CT scan and the second complete blood work-up of the day he suggested possible causes: gallstones, kidney stones, gall bladder enlargement of unknown cause or simple gas. Now we "wait and see" and track the symptoms, mainly pain. Hard on the nerves, but each episode yields more nuggets of diagnostic usefulness. As a precaution, I stayed overnight at the hospital.
The GOOD NEWS: the CT scan from the ER noted that the liver tumors are still the same size they were on the January 3 CT!
We have much to be thankful for as we await results in your supportive company.
Copyright 2007
Laboratory Bloodwork: Calcitonin (thyroid cancer indicator) and CEA (cancer antigens) plus the periodic complete blood and metabolic scan including liver function indicators. Results due this week.
Needle Biopsy of two nodules in my thyroid. This was done because an earlier test showed activity there plus the until recent continuous rise of Calcitonin. The need to do the biopsy sooner was overshadowed by the urgency of starting an effective treatment to protect my liver from further tumor growth. Results due this week.
That was just the morning!
Emergency Room visit. In late afternoon a surge of pain and pressure unlike anything I have experienced suddenly gripped my lower right abdomen. We are acutely sensitive, despite recent good news, that my liver continues under stress and that we must be alert to symptoms of failure.
To my good fortune and great comfort we found my own internist on duty in the ER. Over the course of the next four hours, one CT scan and the second complete blood work-up of the day he suggested possible causes: gallstones, kidney stones, gall bladder enlargement of unknown cause or simple gas. Now we "wait and see" and track the symptoms, mainly pain. Hard on the nerves, but each episode yields more nuggets of diagnostic usefulness. As a precaution, I stayed overnight at the hospital.
The GOOD NEWS: the CT scan from the ER noted that the liver tumors are still the same size they were on the January 3 CT!
We have much to be thankful for as we await results in your supportive company.
Copyright 2007
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