His latest MRI showed some tumor growth on the edges of the radiation damage. It's growth that wasn't there in his last scan in Oct. So, his current chemo has stopped working and it's time for a new plan of attack.
The surgeon looked at the scan and doesn't think that the benefits outweigh the risk of another surgery. He can't take out any more tumor without permanently damaging Mark.
There's a drug that's been somewhat effective for recurrent tumors, but it's usually the last drug you want to try - once you use that one, if it fails the new tumor growth is so aggressive there's virtually no other options left. Our doc was going to call up to Huntsman in SLC to see if there was a trial there that we could try before we used the new drug. We're waiting for a call to see what they say and if they want to see us this week.
Either way, we've started the paperwork process for beginning the new treatment. His new treatment will consist of an IV infusion every two weeks, with a trial drug (or a placebo) that he'll get every week, also as an infusion. He can't start that until 4 weeks after his last chemo dose, so he won't start treatment until Dec 6th at the soonest, and it' might be the 9th depending on when the meds get to the doc's office from their supplier.
So, that's the new news in a nutshell. Granted that's a large nut - maybe a brazil nut... or 4... :)
2 comments:
Boo for recurring tumors! But, horray for more options available. I hope something pans out soon.
The comments are making me do weird stuff...
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