Good News!

Mary Kathryn cleaning some of her treasures from Vero Beach




Dan and Bob at the Cancer Center


Dan had a non-eventful morning at the cancer institute this past Friday. He enjoyed having his father with him and the oncology nurses were running at max speed. I spent the morning having my hair done (quite a luxury!) and I met up with the boys after lunch. The minute that I walked into the office, I found out that Dan was in a patient room with his neuro oncologist. I ran back (feeling quite guilty that I had taken the morning for myself) only to see them all shaking hands and laughing. Apparently, they had just sat down for an unscheduled meeting moments earlier (providence at work).

We had a lovely talk with Dr. Nick about Dan's treatment routine and the next few steps (barring any adverse reactions). It was wonderful and encouraging. As we were winding down Dan asked Dr. Nick what he thought of the last MRI (we hadn't had a formal meeting over it for various reasons). Dr. Nick just beamed at Dan. He told Dan that it looked great! He even went so far as to say that it looked "squeaky clean!" Dr. Nick is not the type of doctor to just give us false hope. He is very optimistic, yet utterly truthful. If Dr. Nick says that Dan's last MRI is sqeaky clean, then it was. YAHOO! What does this mean?

It means that (a) the chemotherapy is effective and there is no visible cancer growth, (b) the cancer is being held in a non-reproductive state, or (c) Dan has been miraculously healed by God. Time will tell, but this is good news. We now know that Dan's current discomfort is probably from chemo (not cancer) and that his pain is possibly a lingering effect of the brain surgery, not tumor invasion. It also gives us time to work within the boundaries of Dan's particular strain of cancer. If we find out that one of the 3 chemotherapies allow the tumor to regrow, then we have a good chance of stopping it again with one of the other two chemos.

Dan's immune system is taking a big hit with this chemo and so we are still laying low for the time being. He will finish this course of treatment on March 14. We will have another MRI at that time to see if the CPT-11/Avastin combo worked, and we will fly up to Duke on Easter Sunday. Two weeks later we will begin the CCNU chemo. This will involve a pill dose every 6 weeks for a total of 2 pill doses. It sounds easier (and due to the lack of IV dosing it will be much more convienent). He will have to take the pills at the oncology office to make sure that he doesn't have an allergic reaction, but then he will be home to recover for 6 weeks. How does that work?

Believe me, I asked how one pill dose every 6 weeks could possibly be as effective as IV chemo every 2 weeks. Apparently, each chemo is gauged by how it effects the cells verses how much your body can tolerate berfore the toxins kill you. Different chemos hit your cells at different stages in the cellular life-cycle. The pill form of chemo that we are taking in the next round is much harder on the bone marrow. The CCNU attacks the younger versions of the cancer (and healthy) cells and has a longer "effective zone" as the cells mature. Therefore, if you take it too close together you would destroy the bone marrow completely as there wouldn't be enough young cells to mature into adult/fully-functioning cells. The current IV chemo is tough on the white blood cells and any fast growing cells (like Dan's digestive system). So, each chemo is tough in its own way. That is why we are doing this form of treatment. We are attacking Dan's cancer from every possible vantage point and due to Dan's strong body, the doctors are able to use the most powerful and effective treatments available.

As for now, we are winning the fight! Dan is sleeping late this morning (a minor miracle thanks, in part, to my parents who are watching our children today). Dan and I couldn't be more content and energized by our meeting with Dr. Nick. Bob, Dan's dad, flew home yesterday. Boy, was it nice to have him here. It was nice to know that Dan was in loving hands while I was able to take a little vanity break (never underestimate the effects of a good hair day). I know that Bob needed to hear some good news as much as Dan and I did. We are all walking on cloud nine right now.

It is amazing to live such an emotionally raw exhistance. I feel everything so intensely and deeply. I can no longer shield myself from the pain that I see in others. Each visit to the cancer center I meet another family suffering the painful effects of cancer. This week I met a lovely woman in her 30's with GBM. She was diagnosed in November and has just finished her chemo/radiation regimen. I met her as she was being sent home without treatment due to failing veins. Her veins could not support the IV line that would allow her body to receive chemo. She will have to have a port put in next week before she can begin her chemo. There is a real sense of sorrow and loneliness/disconnect surrounding many cancer patients. I was able to give this woman a hug and I have added her to my ever growing prayer list. I am so priviledged to be able to look these men and women in the eyes and say that I understand how hard it is to face this disease. It is a blessing to be able to look suffering in the eyes and not feel uncomfortable. It is a priviledge that is not unique to those of us who are suffering.

I am so comforted by your prayers, gestures of love and listening ears. It is not a trite and little thing. Offering prayer is wonderful. There are moments and days when my spirits are low and forming a coherent thought is almost beyond me. Those are the times that I know that my dear friends (some of whom I haven't even met, yet) are petitioning God on Dan's behalf and I can rest in the peace that comes from living in a community of believers. I draw strength from knowing that if I stumble that one of you will lift me up and help Dan and me (and all our family) to press forward. I fervently pray that there will be a cure for this and for all cancers. I also know that God has the power to intercede at any time and change all of our lives forever.

Praise God for Dan's "sqeaky clean" MRI!
Love,
Leah (and Dan)