CT Results are In

So it wasn't all bad news, but it wasn't what I was hoping for, either.  The adrenal tumor is now at 5 cm. That's about 2 inches.  Dr. Fastenberg was disappointed that the chemo regimen we had been on wasn't helping.


On the esophageal cancer front, all seems to be stable.  The main tumor has not changed, the one lymph node behind my trachea enlarged minimally, and one located near my shoulder was unchanged.  But the good news there is that there was NOTHING NEW!!!! :)


Starting next week, I will be part of a stage II clinical trial of CPT-11, which is already approved and in use for breast cancer and colon/rectal cancer.  It's known as Camptosar.  That will be an IV infusion every three weeks, but additionally, I will be taking Xeloda pills.  It will be a trial in more ways than one, and so I will be taking three months of short term disability and see how that goes. 


I asked Dr. Fastenberg point blank if I should be considering hospice and he said not at all; we still have options, and I'm still doing pretty well.  I can still walk, kinda, I can still eat, kinda, and I've still got hope.


I was so stressed out this morning, I had an ocular migraine during my consult with Dr. F.  That was... kinda creepy, and because my hemoglobin was down to 8, I had to have a shot of Procrit.  Let us hope that works well, otherwise next time, it's a transfusion and I have to go to the hospital for that. 


I'm exhausted.  It's a lot of information to digest; but I still believe that I have a chance.  Dr. F says that this trial has a 47% success rate so far.  By success, 15% have eliminated their cancer and the other 32% have their cancer under control.  I will happily take control if that's as good as I can get.  There are only 29 people in this trial.  I will be number 30.  I like that number. :)  Why so few in the trial? Because both of my cancers are relatively rare, our numbers are few.


I will start the trial on the 19th, so I get a week to rest up get strong.  And generate some red and white blood cells!  And try not to get sick.


And so I'm hanging in here, and sending love and hugs to all. :)