A mazin Blue

Previously my surgeon wanted to wait and watch the tumors.  This is not an option according to me or my Oncologist.  Thus the reason we started Chemo last Thursday.  Yesterday I got a call from my Oncologist to talk about treatment options.  Two options are TheraSpheres or Hepatic Artery Infusion.  During our conversation he indicated He would personally choose TheraSpheres over Hepatic Artery Infusion were he in my case.  I respect his opinion but still have reservations about the procedure.  He is referring me to talk with one of the Radiologists who perform this procedure in town.  This will allow us to get our questions answered about TheraSpheres and Carcinoid vs Carcinoma Cancer.

He also thinks it wise for us to see a second opinion to help us objectively decide which treatment option would be safest and best.  He is referring us to University of Michigan to get what we hope is an unbiased opinion. 

Both of these appointments should happen within the next few weeks.  Until then we are hanging on for the ride.

--Kent

Who let the tumors out??

Yesterday I met with the PA from my oncologists office.  We discussed what happened since the Pet scan done middle of July.  In that time we met with my surgeon several times, schedule and received an MRI and had my case presented before the GI Tumor Board. 

Yesterday we brought up the question of how many tumors actually existed in my liver since we hear several different numbers at each appointment.  The PA and the rest of us read carefully through the MRI report to count the number of tumors.  We all came up with 5 Tumors including the 2 that are growing.  Again due to the number and the varied location of these tumors RFA (surgery) is not an option.  My oncologists also agreed that wait and watch is also not an option.  We don't have real answers on whether TheraSpheres are a safe option or whether we can push forward with Hepatic Artery infusion.  We will need to talk with Intervention Radiologist to get all our questions answered about safety and overall procedure.

Since we all felt Wait and Watch wasn't an option I was tossed back into a chemo schedule that started yesterday.   I will receive it every 2 weeks until We make a decision on the next major step of treatment.  Unfortunately I did not feel well the evening of treatment yesterday.

I'm hoping we come to an agreement on treatment soon.

--Kent

Where are the answers?

Yesterday we met with my liver surgeon to go over what the MRI showed and what the GI tumor board had to say about my case.

The MRI taken August 6 shows the 2 tumors but also shows some other nodules - probably microscopic at the time of the PET scan taken July 18. He is not sure they are cancer but given everything we know - more than likely they are cancer. The two bigger/more visible tumors have grown a few mm since the PET scan as well. But they are still considered very small and He does not feel that he would be able to see them well enough to do an ablation on them. He is still very much wanting to do a TheraSphere treatment. We again told him our hesitancy to do TheraSpheres due to the fact that the Hospital Leah's Dad had this done at is no longer doing this treatment.

We also asked about a treatment called Hepatic Artery Infusion.  This is a treatment where a pump is installed under the skin (via surgery).  This pump delivers Chemo (probably the same flavor as I was already getting in my pump) directly to the liver via the Hepatic Artery.  My surgeon was willing to consider this treatment but has only done this a 7 times himself and claims none of them have been very effective. We feel as though we should find someone with more experience doing this sort of therapy 

His options of preferred "treatment" were to wait and watch or TheraSpheres. Since the tumors are already showing signs of growth when the chemo was stopped, neither of these are favorable options for us.

As far the GI tumor board and My case, My surgeon has not presented that yet.  He was on vacation so that will happen this Thursday.  I need to contact my oncologist since sometime he attends this meeting and sometimes does not.

I also will need to follow up with them after Thursday to see what information I can gain from them.  I have an appointment with each Doctor next week.

 

While I meet with my oncologist and talk about maintenance Chemo and likely this Hepatic Artery Infusion.  We'll obviously ask about other alternatives for treatment.

Prayers are certainly needed for direction; for stopping the growth of the tumors; for peace of mind that we are doing the best we can do given all the info we have been given.

What's up Doc??

Since My last post here we had an Appointment with my Liver surgeon.  Due to the location of one of the remaining tumors he is hesitant to do surgery.  I can understand his risk and hesitation but his alternative he suggested is TheraSphere therapy.  This is a therapy our family is very familiar with and not very excited about for various reasons.  One of those is the Hospital Leah's dad had his done at has since stopped doing this type of treatment.

Since that appointment I have had an MRI to tell exactly the location of the tumor in relation to the Blood Vessel.  I am personally hoping the distance allows for RFA (RadioFrequency Ablation) instead of us finding a suitable alternative.

Early tomorrow morning I meet with my surgeon again to find out what he and the GI Tumor board have discovered about my case.  This appointment is effectively a fork in the road for the future of my treatment course.

More  after tomorrow's appointment

--Kent