Hi.
My cancer count has gone up from 54 (Nov 2009, end of chemo) to 127.
A sign that the cancer is coming back.
Liver function still seems to be fine.
Next steps...
CT scan in 3 to 4 weeks, followed by
Blood test and further consult.
If/when to begin second course of chemo (Oxalyyplatin - contains platinum, guaranteed to produce numbness in digital extremities - just the right thing for musoes!).
Numb.
Disappointed.
Sad.
Not angry...yet...
Let those who pray, pray.
Those who sing, sing.
Those who hope, hope.
We continue...
G.
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Having a plan of attack is good. Are they talking just oxaliplatin by itself or the FOLFOX combination? On top of the hand numbness, has anyone mentioned hearing loss as a possible side effect? I don't know if that's quite the right combination for you. The FOLFIRI seemed to do well. Do they like trying different things?
ReplyDeleteI've said it before - for a sick guy you're awfully well. What's being counted with that cancer count?
Thinking of you Gerald. And then there are those students to plan for, those musicals to produce, those friends and colleagues to talk to... You will face this setback in the same way as you did last year - front on! With the prayer warriors behind you, you can and will do it. March on strong one. God bless.
ReplyDeleteIan, they can't treat the new cancer cells with the same chemo (i.e. Folfiri) again (they are resistant to it).
ReplyDeleteWhich is what Dr Thompson told us first time around - there are 2 types of chemo, no repeats, it doesn't work. And yet - isn't it marvellous that for a sick person Gerald has had a simply fantastic, well, relaxed, time-out-of-time summer, as have all of us here as a result.
Not saying the combination of the weather and the pool haven't helped, mind ...
Not saying seeing Gerald so disappointed right now isn't painful, jangling and difficult, mind ...
Not saying it wouldn't have been so nice to continue on as we were, mind ...
L
Ian - no, hearing loss not mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be the Xelox combo (with fries?!)
Coralie - yes, there are many things I would like to do before I shuffle off - and I am not going to agonise over what is "most important" - no need for that stress.
It's partly about generating good strong memories for kids and Lois, family and friends - part of everyone's responsibility, no matter how long we have left...
I guess the most important thing actually is pointing the way to Jesus/The Light/God/Salvation/Resurrection...
And enjoying all that for myself NOW also.
Lois, Dr Thompson did mention having a "second bite at the apple" in some cases - not sure whether that applies to me...
If a good strong memory is dressing up in drag... well... =)
ReplyDeletePlease forgive my ignorance and insensitivity. The new cancer cells have presumably come from the old cancer cells that were still around at the end of the first round of chemo, If those cancer cells were resistant to FOLFIRI how come the cancer markers in the blood tests were continuing to decrease right to the end of the treatment?
ReplyDeleteSophi, Wophi!
ReplyDeleteIt's fun - not something I'd do every day!
I might start to get confused...
Ian, that is a good question!
Which I should have thought to ask!
I think the accepted dosage is a 6 month course, after which the toxicity of the chemo is thought to outweigh the benefits of killing off the surviving invaders.
G.