The results are in and they are good! The report came back that the small spot that had shown up on the film 2 months ago is no longer there. The doctor said that either it was nothing, as in "a blood vessel on end" that he had suggested it might be, or, if it was something, it has resolved, possibly from the Sirolimus (aka Rapamune). In any event, Pete will not have to go for another brain MRI for 4 months.
This is great news. He'll continue with the DTIC (aka Dacarbazine) infusions on the prescribed schedule, the next one being June 2, as well as the Rapamune. We can breathe a bit easier for a while.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Dacarbazine Infusion #3 - May 13, 2010
Pete had his 3rd course of this chemo Wednesday morning. He just relaxed for a bit after we got home and felt well enough to go out to dinner in the evening. He went to work today and it looks as though he'll be putting in a full day since it's almost time for him to be coming home. One of his co-workers had said she would give him his Nulasta shot since she's experienced at giving insulin injections and they're basically the same kind, just subcutaneous sticks.
Tomorrow he'll go for the brain MRI and then get the results next week at his appointment with the radiology oncologist, Dr. W2.
Tomorrow he'll go for the brain MRI and then get the results next week at his appointment with the radiology oncologist, Dr. W2.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
What Lies Ahead - May 6, 2010
On Tuesday, May 4, Pete and I met with Dr. K at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. Friday evening Pete had already been given the good news by Dr. W that the tumors had diminished in size, but since the appointment was not until 4 PM, Pete had time to pick up a copy of the report from the medical imaging facility. He showed it to me as soon as he got home. The largest lesion, the one that had been reported previously as 7.7 x 6.4 cm., is now down to 4.7 x 2.3 cm. Another tumor, according to the report, has gone from 1.0 x 0.8 cm. to 0.5 x 0.4 cm. Two others had significant reduction, and there was "resolution of a second left anterior pericardial node which previously measured 1.2 x 0.7 cm."
Dr. K seemed quite pleased with these results. She explained that Pete will continue with the current regimen of Dacarbazine (aka DTIC) at 3 week intervals and maintain the daily oral dose of Sirolimus (aka Rapamune). She will discuss doubling the dose of Sirolimus with Dr. W.
Pete will periodically have CT scans to monitor his status. To determine the next stage of treatment they will be watching for no new lesions (indicating no progression of the disease) along with continued reduction in size and/or number of existing lesions, and/or stabilization. When stabilization is attained, a thoracic surgeon at MSKCC will be consulted regarding removal of any remaining tumors in the lungs. She said that it is highly unlikely, though it is possible, for all the tumors to resolve. And even if the CT scan identifies a certain number of remaining tumors, there may be additional tumors found during the surgery. The reason for this is that the scan takes incremental "slices" and it's possible that a tumor can fall between these slices and therefore not be visible on the scan film.
The bottom line is that Pete will most likely have several more months of chemo, perhaps six months or so. Hopefully he will continue to tolerate the treatments well, continue working, and be able to enjoy a relatively stress-free summer.
That said, he has his next infusion on Wednesday (May 12), and his brain MRI is scheduled for Friday (May 14). Here's hoping that the 3 mm spot there has either disappeared, or at worst, has not changed.
Dr. K seemed quite pleased with these results. She explained that Pete will continue with the current regimen of Dacarbazine (aka DTIC) at 3 week intervals and maintain the daily oral dose of Sirolimus (aka Rapamune). She will discuss doubling the dose of Sirolimus with Dr. W.
Pete will periodically have CT scans to monitor his status. To determine the next stage of treatment they will be watching for no new lesions (indicating no progression of the disease) along with continued reduction in size and/or number of existing lesions, and/or stabilization. When stabilization is attained, a thoracic surgeon at MSKCC will be consulted regarding removal of any remaining tumors in the lungs. She said that it is highly unlikely, though it is possible, for all the tumors to resolve. And even if the CT scan identifies a certain number of remaining tumors, there may be additional tumors found during the surgery. The reason for this is that the scan takes incremental "slices" and it's possible that a tumor can fall between these slices and therefore not be visible on the scan film.
The bottom line is that Pete will most likely have several more months of chemo, perhaps six months or so. Hopefully he will continue to tolerate the treatments well, continue working, and be able to enjoy a relatively stress-free summer.
That said, he has his next infusion on Wednesday (May 12), and his brain MRI is scheduled for Friday (May 14). Here's hoping that the 3 mm spot there has either disappeared, or at worst, has not changed.
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