January 22, 2020
I’ve been here before. It’s not a comfortable place to be, but it is familiar. My PET/CT from November 27, confirmed that there was metabolic activity in the two nodules in my peritoneal cavity. These two areas didn’t appear to be aggressive but they still showed signs of growth.
We decided on Gemzar (Gemcitabine), an older drug reported to be a bit easier than the previous lines I have been on. On December 3rd, Jim and I showed up in the infusion room and Joe hooked me up to the IV pump. No need to pre medicate with antihistamines and steroids with this one, just a little Zofran for nausea. Until my ears and throat started itching, that is. It would seem that I’m one in like, hardly no one, who has a reaction to Gemzar. Joe stopped the IV, administered Zyrtec and Dex and we waited. I remained upright, breathing and conscious and the itching stopped so we slowed down the infusion rate and rallied on.
Let’s just say Gemzar wasn’t kind to me and I was glad that a scan was scheduled after four infusions to see if it was working. That scan took place Friday, January 17 and good news/bad news, I won’t be getting Gemzar any longer. The PET/CT showed continuing mild progression in the two nodules but the rest of me is doing just fine. No cancer detected anywhere else.
Once again, SNMWO has reached out to Drs. Camidge and Doebele for their valued opinions but also because qualifying for a clinical trial at UC is still the goal. Now that the largest nodule measures almost two inches, the hope is that a new biopsy will deliver the viable tissue samples needed for accurate testing. We are also expanding our clinical trial arena to see what other trials might be worth looking into.
I wish the damn stuff would just go away. In the mean time I sit in a familiar space, living in a surreal amusement park where the roller coaster morphs into a gentle giant teeter-totter, then into a red whirling dervish, then to a beautiful and slow carousel only to find myself back on the roller coaster, and so on and so on.
Sounds a lot like living life doesn’t it?
The Insightful Breath 
You are such a warrior! I know a good match will be found and the tumors will respond. Hurry up and wait-right? Think of you and Jim often. Our best- Ken and Mag!
LikeLike
Yes, it is life, and not an unfamiliar place… but I agree with you and wish the damn stuff would just go away. I hope they find just the right thing to kick its ass. In the meantime, I am holding you close in my heart and continue to be one of your countless fans.
LikeLike