I'll be in Houston about two weeks. The first week will involve a series of tests. Also I'll be meeting with an oncologist in Houston in case there is some sort of problem and I have to be treated medically. The actual treatment will begin the following Wednesday and will last about 4 hours. The treatment involves me being infused with a isotope along with a hormone. The hormone seeks out the cancer; the isotope destroys the cancer cells. Other medication is administrated to prevent my kidneys from being overwhelmed by the isotope (amino acids and such; this is also done during standard chemotherapy). After the treatment I will be radioactive and will have to stay away from people for about two days (people will have to stay six feet away). I'll be drinking a lot of fluid to get the radioactivity out of my system as soon as possible. On Friday the doctor will do a scan to make sure the level of radioactivity is safe, and then I will be released from medical care. I'll go home on Saturday.
I'll be staying at a hotel for the entire treatment. The clinic works with hotels in the area so they know how to deal with patients who are undergoing this treatment. My dad John is coming with me and will stay with me until I begin the treatment the second Wednesday, then he'll go home (since I can't be around anyone), and I'll stay on until Saturday.
84 percent of patients who have received this treatment have positive results. A positive result means either stable disease (the disease is no longer progressing) or the disease has regressed (the evidence of disease has lessened), or the disease is in remission. Of the 84 percent, 20 to 35 percent are in the two latter categories. These statistics are in line with the results from Europe, where they have been doing this treatment longer (since 2000 as opposed to 2004 in Houston) and with a different isotope. It is by far the best option for me at this point. The major side effects are nausea, diarrhea, itching and hair loss. All of these are in line with standard chemotherapy side effects and can be managed. Long term side effects appeared in less then 5 percent of patients and were thought to be the result of progression of disease before treatment, not the treatment itself.
Since this is considered an experimental treatment, insurance does not pay for it. Many of you have generously asked how to donate to my treatment costs. If you would like to make a donation, please contact me via phone or e-mail and I will let you know how you can do that. Once I begin receiving donations, I will be setting up a bank account specifically for medical expenses related to this procedure. Any donation will be very welcome.
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