10-17-13

Even though the results of the endoscopy biopsy were negative, I have continued to have severe pain, nausea, and vomiting over the past three weeks, it seems worse than it did before. I was expecting my time off from treatment to be an enjoyable one that would allow me to regain strength and momentum – this hasn’t been the case.

Yesterday we had an appointment with Dr. G to discuss the next treatment, which will be Alimpta. During labs my port would not give a blood return, which means that TPA has to be put into the line, left there for an hour and then withdrawn; hopefully this will occur prior to the ct scan that is scheduled for Saturday. I am having a ct scan on Saturday so that we have an accurate baseline prior to starting Alimpta next Thursday. Alimpta is said to be a well-tolerated drug, a week prior to beginning treatment I have to start a daily dose of folic acid and have a b12 shot once every three months (which I received yesterday along with my flu shot). I also have to take a decadron dose the day before, the day of, and the day after treatment. Alimpta is administered once every three weeks.

UPCOMING APPTS:
Sat. 10/19: TPA (hopefully)and CT Scan
Wed. 10/23: GI Appt at BI
Thur. 10/24: Labs/Appt/Treatment

10-1-13

As I stated in the last post, my decision to stay on the clinical trial was a temporary decision until I could figure things out. I have officially withdrawn from the ABT/SCH clinical trial, and I feel as though a giant weight has been lifted. I still have to go in sometime next week to do the exit lab work and tests, at that point I will sit down with Dr. G and set the next treatment plan (which will probably be Alimpta). This might be an unpopular decision; but dreading treatment on a daily basis and constantly being sick isn't how I want to live my days. I will continue to search for a treatment that can give me the balance of reducing the tumors as well as allowing me to have more good days than bad, let's hope that Alimpta (or the next treatment) is it!