Latest Cancer Update

After a CAT scan yesterday, my parents and I had a meeting with Dr. Nassir, my oncologist. Basically, my disease is stable. The tumor has not grown but also has not shrunk. The spots in my lungs have disappeared, but there is a question if they were actually cancerous in the first place, or just the result of the asthma I've had all my life. While the radiologist did not comment specifically on the spots in my liver or in my bone, the oncologist believes both are stable. Because I have cysts on my liver, it is hard to get a true reading of the spots; but after some additional consultation with the radiologist, I was advised the spots are still visible, but stable.

So, things are stable, which is a good thing. The next step in treatment will be to modify the protocol so that I don't get so sick, and move me from an active, full time treatment to more of a maintenance regime. We are looking at another six cycles of chemo, or about three months. Hopefully by that time most of what I need can be accomplished either by shots self administered and by pills. Ideally I would be looking to go back to work in the fall, or, at least that is what we are all shooting for.

We had a very good meeting. I feel like we are all on the same page, and that we have the same goals, which are to continue treatment with as little side effects as possible and move toward a maintenance program at the end of the six cycles.