Deb's New Cancer Situation

Deb's cancer situation:

Deb had more of the experimental chemo today which required fluids and premeds. Same schedule for tomorrow, then home via Gracie, we hope.

We saw Dr. van Rhee today along with his nurses. He carefully analyzed Deb's test results and images. He is able to call up MRIs, PETs, and DWEBS images and compare one to another. The technology is amazing!

What we saw was of concern. The cancer on the breastbone is very much larger than it was in January. One of our big questions for the doc was "is the experimental chemo effective against the myeloma?"  We still do not have the answer to that question. So, here's the plan: Complete chemo tomorrow, come home. Return next Weds and have a full day and evening of heart and lung tests, several MRIs, a PET scan, blood and urine work, etc. Then we meet Dr van Rhee Friday morning to try again to get the answer we seek after he is armed with more information.

Right now, there will be one of three possibilities.

1> Continue on the experimental chemo two days per week. Three weeks treatment, one week off.
2> Increase the dosage of the experimental chemo
3> Return to the three week chemo regimen Deb was on before the stem cell transplants. Carry chemo pumps around with us and probably loose hair.

Obviously we would like option one to work. Please pray toward that and definitely against option three.

Classmates work on puzzles in the waiting area. Waiting is a big part of Cancer treatment.

Checking vital signs is done often. Sitting and standing.

Nurses accessing Deb's port-a permanent device implanted in Deb's chest so medications can be quickly given and so the veins will not be over used.

Dr Barlogies' ride. He is NOT a young man, but his ride is!

We were with three classmates from Macon, Georgia today. On the Markham House shuttle this evening we had two ladies from Pearson, Ga (between Valdosta and Waycross) The patient has been coming here for six years. Three Jewish men from Toronto were speaking to one another in Hebrew and Vern enjoyed chatting with them about his exchange trip years ago with the Israeli Air Force. Shalom!