Life in the fast lane

We are home from a 2 day trip to MDA! And we made it out of Houston before 5 o'clock traffic! Hooray!

But wait! There is more good news!

Yesterday David had some blood work and a CT scan.

This morning he had more blood work, a chest xray and a 6 minute walk test. All this was to determine if the fluid around his right lung had improved or if he would need to have the fluid drained.

The fluid was significantly and dramatically reduced! Yea! No procedure needed. Praises and happy dance. 

The pulmonary doctor, Dr. O, doubts that David had pneumonia, but said he would have also given the round of antibiotics.  He said, at this point it didn't really matter what the cause was, we would just watch it and take action as needed.

Then we saw the research nurse, Marisa and the oncologist, Dr. T. They agreed that the fluid was much improved. There is still some there but they think it will resolve with further treatment of the cancer protocol. Dr. T thinks perhaps the fluid was produced by some of the nodules in the area bursting. 

And that's not all! Order now and we'll double the good news!

There are no new nodules, and the existing ones have shrunk! Slightly. We'll take it!

David received the 2nd vaccine today. He has one more week taking the Sutent for this cycle. Then he has two weeks off. We go back to MDA in 3 weeks for another vaccine, then in 3 more weeks he will have complete scans again. 

He has experienced mild side effects; metallic taste, elevated blood pressure, and a itchy rash at injection site. These are tolerable, especially if the treatment is working. We are claiming that it is!

Thank you for continuing to pray, these are my requests:

1. Fluid around lung goes away completely

2. No new side effects, mild to no side effects at all

3. No complications with this vaccine

4. Continued shrinkage of present nodules, no new ones

This whole experience is the worst kind of amusement park ride that I would love to get off of! But we continue to pray and hope and trust. And to take it one day at a time. Thank you for loving us!

Update on old news

David has been feeling great.

The injection site has been itchy and he has developed a rash just at the site.  He was told yesterday that he can treat it with some cortisone cream.  He wasn't supposed to use anything initially and he thinks the worst is over now.  So, oh well.

His cough has seemed to lessen and he has not had any more complaints of breathlessness. He finished the antibiotic for the pneumonia. Now we have to wait until April 21 to see if the fluid cleared up, if it was actually pneumonia or if the cancer has spread.

My prayer is that it was pneumonia and the fluid is gone. If the fluid is still there for whatever reason, he will have to have it drained. This procedure doesn't sound horrible, but he would still rather not. Thank you.

He has not complained of any side effect from the Sutent this round. Hopefully that continues and hopefully and prayerfully this medicine will work.  If he has to change to another med, it will be a whole new chance for worse side effects.

Please pray:
1. No more complications from fluid, cough, meds, injection, and anything else!
2. Fluid gone!
3. Sutent working!
4. Scans on April 21 show no progression of cancer, how about REGRESSION!!!

Thank you for continuing to pray!

Everybody remain calm

So. Today was supposed to be an easy day. Blood work early. Dr. Appointment before noon. Home by dinner time.

NOT!

I need to remember that MDA is not the real world. Not even close.

So the blood work went well. Then we had a little breakfast in the cafe there and waited for the 11:30 Dr. T appointment. And waited. And waited.

We finally saw the nurse for a few general questions about 12:45.

Then Marisa the Research Specialist Nurse spent about 30 minutes with us. Everything with blood work looked good. David looked good. Everything good to go. So David gets the vaccine. 3 small sticks under the skin. He didn't LOVE it. But it was okay. And no reaction to it so far.

So except for the time delay, it's good, we will be good to go after Dr. T sees us.

Don't freak out now. David has been coughing some. Not a lot, but it has increased the last 2 weeks. He has also mentioned, not complained, just mentioned that he has had shortness of breath a few times. Because we are talking about cancer in the lungs, it has been something to concern us. Marisa says she has had some reports of these symptoms with the drug Sutent. She will mention to Dr. T. If he even exists at this point, I wonder.

So he FINALLY comes in about 1:30. Yes I know he has other patients. He is all happy with how great David has handled the first round of Sutent. But he wants to listen to lungs. He decides the right lung doesn't sound right and sends us to get an xray. We have to wait until 2:30 to leave anyway, because they have to check the injection site for any reaction. So ok. We get the xray.  By then it is 2:40. We ask the nurse to please tell Marisa we are back to have site checked and get xray report.

Then we wait. Until 3:30.

Marisa says site looks fine. She'll go find Dr. T.

Remain calm. There is something more in the right lung that was not present in the previous xray, 6 weeks ago. Because they did an xray and not a CAT scan, it is not clear. It was read as either a progression of the cancer or pneumonia. Our choices are:
1. Go home. Take an antibiotic for pneumonia. Continue with the Sutent for 3 weeks. Come back for complete scans in 3 weeks as planned.
2. Have a Cat scan later this evening and spend the night.
Dr. T is okay with either.

David decides choice #1. Here's why:
1. He feels fine.
2. If it's pneumonia, antibiotic will take care of it.
3. If it's a progression of the cancer, he will have 3 weeks for the vaccine to work alongside of the Sutent.
4. He needs to feed his horse.

Dr. T says fine. If David has any worsening symptoms, if the shortness of breath becomes noticeable with normal activities, he is to go to the oncologist here that he has seen before for a CAT scan.

After Dr. T leaves, we ask Marisa if we did the right thing? She said she would have done the same thing.

So. It's funny, but pray for pneumonia.

If it is a progression, they will continue the vaccine schedule but switch the oral drug that goes with it.

We left the office about 4:30. For fun and thrills, I encourage everyone to experience Houston 5 o'clock traffic.

We made it home about 9:30.

I just looked at the actual radiologist report. While it does say there is this new mass in the right lung, neither Dr. T nor Marisa told us that the LEFT lung lesions have shrunk. So I have no idea why one lung would respond to the treatment and the other wouldn't. But I suppose cancer is not rational.

Please pray:
1. Pneumonia, not cancer progression.
2. Minimal side effects from 2nd round of Sutent.
3. Combination of Sutent and vaccine kicks cancer in the butt.
4. No complications for the next 3 weeks when we go back for complete scans and next vaccine.

We remain hopeful, knowing that there are many other drugs to try if the Sutent is not effective. One thing I have learned is that if MDA says it's not over, it's not.

The other thing I have learned is that you will not leave MDA in a timely manner. Just get over it.

Thank you for praying.