Cancer update: Tuesday December 9, 2008
In this issue:
Results of today's
visit
Treatment
details
Answers to frequently asked
questions.
For those who have not heard, today I went to UAB
for a consult with the oncology team there.
Results of today's
visit:
• I tentatively will take part in an
experimental treatment program that uses a protein bound to a toxin to deliver
the toxin only to those cells with a specific cell wall marker found in some
cancer cells. (CD-22, for those who are wondering)
• Over the next two weeks I will have
CT/PET scans, blood work, and biopsy analysis to make sure that this study is
appropriate for me.
• If all tests come back with acceptable
results, treatment may start as soon as the week after
Christmas.
Treatment
details:
• Treatment will involve the
protein/antibody discussed above (experimental) and a standard antibody
(Ritoxin, which attacks cell wall marker CD-20).
• Chemotherapy (of the kind that makes hair
fall out, fogs the brain, etc.) will not be involved. It is my hope that I
will not be as completely debilitated as I was with the two chemo
treatments.
• There are no placebos involved in this
study.
• The experimental antibody is known to
weaken the immune system and reduce the concentration of my platelets (blood
clotting) for 1-2 weeks after each treatment. I will need to be cautious
about exposure to the various bugs, flus, etc. that go through the department.
Nevertheless, I've informed my department chair that I can act as a
"Floating substitute" during the weeks that I can safely be with
students.
The last bullet above is
drawn from the assumption that the new treatment will be effective and timely.
That may be optimistic, since the future is unknown: that's why it's
called an experimental research drug! However, this drug has
gone through successful tests with both lab rats and with a first round of human
patients, so there is good reason to try this treatment to see what it does in
me.
Answers to frequently asked
questions
• How are you
feeling? I'm doing much better than I was even a month
ago. I have not used a wheelchair in over a month. I can walk
(slowly) and, other than a tummy ache, I'm feeling pretty good, though I fatigue
easily if I walk too fast.
• How bad is the stomach
pain? It's well controlled provided that I am careful what I eat.
As a result, any foods brought to my house by generous friends will likely
be eaten by the hungry college students that spend lots of time here. (But
they don't mind.) Viva's parents are here and are doing a wonderful job of
cooking foods that I can eat. This week eggs, baked and mashed potatoes,
mild cheese, and tuna fish sandwiches (plain) are ok; chips and salsa,
Ghiradelli chocolate brownies, yogurt and sugary foods are not. It's
boring a boring diet, but it's better than going hungry!
• Can we visit or take you out to eat?
For the reasons above, going out to eat is probably not
practical; I typically only drink water or mild unsweet tea when away from home.
Sometimes a milkshake, but that's beginning to be a bit troublesome too.
Visits, however, are welcome. Call ahead. If I'm too tired to
answer my phone, I won't; you can leave a message. If I'm not up for a
visit, I will let you know. With those caveats, however, please know that
all of you are very welcome to come and visit on those days when I'm at home.
Your support (and news from the outside world) make wonderful
conversation!
• Is your hair
real? Actually, this isn't a frequently asked question, since it
was asked only by one of our faculty members. YES the hair is real.
Further, due to the nature of the drugs in the experimental study, the
hair is likely to stay. I soon may be getting a hair cut for the first
time in several months!
Unless other
news comes up this week, I will let this count for this week's
newsletter.
Posted: Tue - December 9, 2008 at 05:36 PM
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