Today David had blood work and met with the Dr. This was a non protocol visit because they basically just wanted to look at him and make sure he is managing with the new medication.
He is doing fine. His BP has been up so they increased that med. He also has a raspy, hoarse voice. But it is not painful. This is a side effect. Weird!
We have to go back in 3 weeks for the clinical trial protocol. It will also just be blood work and Dr visit. No vaccine, no scans.
So. There is really no news. And there will not be another scan until the end of October. That is so so so scary!
Please pray:
1. Minimal side effects continue.
2. This new drug is WORKING-SHRINKING!
3. No drama, I'm tired!
Also keep in your prayers: Betty, Wade, Ty, another David, Holli, Mary, Greg, and Laura's mother.
Thank you for loving us!
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
A refreshing change
Look what a dear friend brought me today! So thoughtful, thank you Mike!
So far, (keep praying, it's only been 2 days), no side effects. Or at least he's not telling me so I won't tell the world!
So thankful he feels good and can do all the things he wants to do!
Please pray for these friends on another cancer journey; Mary, Wade, Greg, Betty, Holli, Laura's mom, Julie's father, and David. It seems everyday we add more to our list. Maybe we should pray for everyone else NOT to have cancer!
Thank you for so much love and encouragement!
So thankful he feels good and can do all the things he wants to do!
Please pray for these friends on another cancer journey; Mary, Wade, Greg, Betty, Holli, Laura's mom, Julie's father, and David. It seems everyday we add more to our list. Maybe we should pray for everyone else NOT to have cancer!
Thank you for so much love and encouragement!
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Lemonade anyone?
This is not the the news I wanted to post. Today life gave us lemons. I will try to make lemonade.
David's scans showed some increase in the size of the nodules.
However, there are no new nodules. So we can be thankful for that.
Because of this progression, they are changing his drug therapy. He will now be taking Inlyta. This is the second drug used for RCC. From what I have read, it has a slightly higher success rate.
We are concerned with the new set of side effects that come with the new meds. But we will just have to wait and see if/when he might have any.
And we have to go back in 3 weeks instead of 6.
David will still get the vaccine with the new medication. However, the next time there is a progression, the vaccine will stop. I found out today, the thought on the vaccine is that it hinders the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body by boosting the immune system. I don't know if there are lasting effects after the vaccinations stop. I guess that's why it's a trial.
Anyway. This continues to basically stink.
And then on the way home, the A/C in the car decided it's about done. So yippee.
I have been trying to drink all the lemonade I have been forced to make this year. And frankly, I don't care for anymore.
Please know I am fully aware of and very thankful for all the many blessings we receive daily.
Please pray:
1. No/mild side effects
2. No progression, new drug shrinks existing nodules! No new ones anywhere!
3. No more lemons!
David's scans showed some increase in the size of the nodules.
However, there are no new nodules. So we can be thankful for that.
Because of this progression, they are changing his drug therapy. He will now be taking Inlyta. This is the second drug used for RCC. From what I have read, it has a slightly higher success rate.
We are concerned with the new set of side effects that come with the new meds. But we will just have to wait and see if/when he might have any.
And we have to go back in 3 weeks instead of 6.
David will still get the vaccine with the new medication. However, the next time there is a progression, the vaccine will stop. I found out today, the thought on the vaccine is that it hinders the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body by boosting the immune system. I don't know if there are lasting effects after the vaccinations stop. I guess that's why it's a trial.
Anyway. This continues to basically stink.
And then on the way home, the A/C in the car decided it's about done. So yippee.
I have been trying to drink all the lemonade I have been forced to make this year. And frankly, I don't care for anymore.
Please know I am fully aware of and very thankful for all the many blessings we receive daily.
Please pray:
1. No/mild side effects
2. No progression, new drug shrinks existing nodules! No new ones anywhere!
3. No more lemons!
Sunday, August 3, 2014
True confessions
Forgive me friends, for I have not blogged. It's been 6 weeks since my last post!
6 great weeks of NOT going to Houston! While I know it is the best place for David to get the best treatment. I hate, (yes, I know it's a strong word), going there. And being there. And having to go there. And cancer. HATE IT!
My girls say I rant. So there it is. Rant over. Big girl pants on now.
We leave in the morning for scans tomorrow and a Dr. appointment on Tuesday. If all goes well we don't have to go back for another 6 weeks!
So please continue to pray:
1. Safe travels
2. Good scans- no progression, shrinkage! What if all the nodules were GONE?!
3. Continued nominal side effects from drug
4. Protection for girls
I'll update Tuesday evening with hopefully and prayerfully good news.
Thank you for loving us!
Here's a pic from our recent trip to the beach. My happy place!
6 great weeks of NOT going to Houston! While I know it is the best place for David to get the best treatment. I hate, (yes, I know it's a strong word), going there. And being there. And having to go there. And cancer. HATE IT!
My girls say I rant. So there it is. Rant over. Big girl pants on now.
We leave in the morning for scans tomorrow and a Dr. appointment on Tuesday. If all goes well we don't have to go back for another 6 weeks!
So please continue to pray:
1. Safe travels
2. Good scans- no progression, shrinkage! What if all the nodules were GONE?!
3. Continued nominal side effects from drug
4. Protection for girls
I'll update Tuesday evening with hopefully and prayerfully good news.
Thank you for loving us!
Here's a pic from our recent trip to the beach. My happy place!
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
super short!
This is just going to be super short. Because there isn't much, it's all good and I am super tired!
So. David had blood work early. Like 7:30 am. Why? Then he had a 3 hour procedure called pheresis. Evidently there are many kinds of this but his was to extract white blood cells to mix with his frozen tumor to make his vaccine. Like before, but they only had enough to make 5 vaccines and he got the last one today. This is good news because the treatment is working so they need more vaccines to continue the treatment! Yea!
No scans today.
Dr. T visit uneventful. We are now on a 6 week schedule instead of 3 weeks! After 2, 6 week cycles, we go to 12 weeks! As long as the current treatment is working!
Yea to not have to go back for 12 weeks! Boo to have to worry for 12 weeks between scans!
Please pray for continued success with current treatment!
Thank you for all your prayers, all this time!
So. David had blood work early. Like 7:30 am. Why? Then he had a 3 hour procedure called pheresis. Evidently there are many kinds of this but his was to extract white blood cells to mix with his frozen tumor to make his vaccine. Like before, but they only had enough to make 5 vaccines and he got the last one today. This is good news because the treatment is working so they need more vaccines to continue the treatment! Yea!
No scans today.
Dr. T visit uneventful. We are now on a 6 week schedule instead of 3 weeks! After 2, 6 week cycles, we go to 12 weeks! As long as the current treatment is working!
Yea to not have to go back for 12 weeks! Boo to have to worry for 12 weeks between scans!
Please pray for continued success with current treatment!
Thank you for all your prayers, all this time!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
MDA and Astros
David had blood work and scans yesterday and then for fun we went to an Astros game. The stadium is great and they won 7-2! Halfway through the game they opened the retractable roof so that was neat. Then during one of the times they show people in the crowd on the scoreboard, during the 'kiss cam', we saw a live marriage proposal! So cute! She said yes and everyone cheered! He had to be pretty sure of himself, don't you think?!
Anyway, back to see Dr. T. today. Only waited about 2 hours to see him. :/ David's scans and blood work were all good. There was a slight regression in some nodules as well as the fluid that still remains around the one lung. So we are good to continue with this course of treatment! Praises!
David will have to have the process where they collect white blood cells repeated so they can make more vaccines using his frozen tumor. We will come back in 3 weeks for that. After that he only has to come back every 6 weeks for a while and will then graduate to every 12 weeks! This is as long as the cancer is regressing or remains stable. Any progression and we have to change courses.
Right now we are waiting for them to check his vaccine site for allergic reactions and then we can head home!
Please pray for:
1. Safe travel home
2. Continued regression of cancer.
3. NO PROGRESSION!
4. Continued tolerance of medication
Also pray for my friends who have not received good news. Laura and her mother and Amanda and her mother.
Finally, Abigail graduates from high school this weekend! Yea! Here's a picture from her party with her two best friends and sister!
Anyway, back to see Dr. T. today. Only waited about 2 hours to see him. :/ David's scans and blood work were all good. There was a slight regression in some nodules as well as the fluid that still remains around the one lung. So we are good to continue with this course of treatment! Praises!
David will have to have the process where they collect white blood cells repeated so they can make more vaccines using his frozen tumor. We will come back in 3 weeks for that. After that he only has to come back every 6 weeks for a while and will then graduate to every 12 weeks! This is as long as the cancer is regressing or remains stable. Any progression and we have to change courses.
Right now we are waiting for them to check his vaccine site for allergic reactions and then we can head home!
Please pray for:
1. Safe travel home
2. Continued regression of cancer.
3. NO PROGRESSION!
4. Continued tolerance of medication
Also pray for my friends who have not received good news. Laura and her mother and Amanda and her mother.
Finally, Abigail graduates from high school this weekend! Yea! Here's a picture from her party with her two best friends and sister!
And we are headed home!
Thank you for loving us!
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Sorry to leave you waiting
I checked in on facebook this morning and then forgot to give an update. So sorry, I dislike very much the waiting room. Sorry to leave you there!
David had blood work this morning. It all came back in the normal range. Then we saw the research nurse, Marisa and Dr. T. Only about 30 minutes late! That right there was pretty exciting!
There is really nothing to report. Everything was good to receive the next vaccine and he will start the next round of Sutent tonight. We will go back in 3 weeks for another round of scans to check the (hopefully) further regression of the lung nodules.
We were home by 5:30. Wow!
Then the girls wanted to play 'prom hair practice'. Pray for me!
Also please continue to pray:
1. Minimal side effects
2. Sutent and vaccine effective in shrinking the lung nodules!
3. No spreading!
Also, please pray for several others on their medical journeys. Amanda and her mother, Laura and her mother, Greg and Nelda, Holli and Ronnie, and Caroline. God knows their last names and their needs. I am so done with cancer.
Thank you for loving us!
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