As I sit here writing this, Lauren and her friend Lexi are down at the swimming pool enjoying the sun and having a grand ole time =) These are the days I am thankful for! <3 She has been feeling really good, getting some really good exercise and PT time in and hopefully will be ready to start back to school in September. (fingers crossed)
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Next steps for her will be:
1) MRI tomorrow. There will be three 45 minute scans on her spine to check for metastasis. Last week, at her chiropractic appointment, she mentioned that when she bends her head up she gets tingling in her toes. Now, this isn't every time, but it is something to be alarmed about as it could be indicative of something pushing against her spine. God forbid she has new tumors there as that IS NOT the path we envision. Please pray we get good news and this is nerve/neuro related (geez, never thought I'd be wishing for one bad thing over another).
2) Follow up PET CT. This will be scheduled towards the end of this month. If there is no new growth (and of course, the MRI results are good), then she will begin a new protocol based on some suggestions from her ND. "Stable" to us would mean that she is once again in remission (the Oncs say "stable" because there is something showing up on the scan where the lung nodules were, but they are not "lighting up" so we "assume" they are dead (can you see me putting up the quote fingers when I write this? LOL).
Her physical therapy has been going really well and we are in the market for a new device that will stimulate her nerves via the calf and help her to pick her feet up when she is walking. People reading this from the cancerverse will be nodding their heads when I mention that Lauren has a severe case of the slap foot. It's a huge side effect of chemo and the peripheral neuropathy. We are still waiting to see what, if any, insurance will cover.
The video below is of her testing out the device. Pretty cool =)
Three drugs we are considering for next protocol are Noscapine, Tetrathiomolybdate (TM) and Parzopanib. Noscapine works via microtubule inhibition, similar to Taxotere, without the side effects. Tetrathiomolybdate selectively chelates copper to reduce ceruloplasmin and inhibit cancer related angiogenesis. It will work best once she fully returns to a state where there is no evidence of disease. Finally, Parzopanib in a non-cytotoxic targeted agent that was recently approved by the FDA for use in metastatic, treatment resistant sarcoma.
I will try to post on Friday if we get results from the MRI that soon. Please keep us in your prayers. I have asked before that you all also pray for Ariel and for Clayton. Ariel's journey has become beyond complicated and she and her family are in need of some prayer and positive energy. Clayton's family is spending each moment loving and kissing on him, knowing that a miracle needs to happen soon.
Also, I would like to offer my deepest sympathy to the White family. I mentioned Cynthia in my last post. Cynthia earned her angel wings last week and I know her family is hurting and still have many questions as to why and how this could happen. I have no words of comfort except to just know that cancer did not win. Cynthia did. She is now cancer free, running and playing in the fields of Heaven for eternity, waiting until one day when she is reunited with her family.
I hope all of you are having a wonderful holiday spent with family and friends making amazing memories. Love you all!
peace and love
-cherri
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