Extraordinary for Good and Ill

Although I won’t be rescanned until after my next round of treatments, there is every indication that the chemotherapy treatments I have taken so far have significantly, even extraordinarily, impacted my cancer.  However, my body’s susceptibility to side-effects has also proven extraordinary; in terms of the intensity of the reactions and their duration, perhaps the worst my oncologist has seen in in years. 

As a result, the present course of treatments is unsustainable, and some adjustments have to be made to keep the treatments themselves from doing me in.  For one thing, we’ve delayed the start of my next round of treatments until at least April 17 (I was happy for that reprieve – I couldn’t imagine starting another round after a fairly miserable “week off,” plus I am hopeful about being more up-to-speed and feeling better for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday).  So our hope is that all of my intestinal maladies will pass this week in time for me to be in a better shape and somewhat rested up for a new 21-day round beginning April 17.  If not, it may be necessary to delay resuming the battle against the cancer again, and also to continue going in for fluid transfusions, which I’ve done three times in the past week. (There’s a prayer request in there, in case you missed it.)

Furthermore, we’ll be dropping one particular chemotherapy that has already caused significant neuropathy.  My loss of feeling and grip strength, especially in my right hand, is “what I had hoped we could avoid after 6-9 months,” according to Doctor Devore.  So no matter the good this particular chemotherapy drug is doing me, the harm is worse.  Please pray that the neuropathy will pass, which is probable but not a sure thing. 

And finally, my dosage of the daily chemotherapy I’ve been taking in days 1-14 of my 21-day rounds, the one responsible for all my intestinal trials, will be halved.  Dr. Devore expects to find a dosage my body can handle, and says that once we do that there will not be much of a difference in the effect on the cancer itself.  He expects me to be able to be stay on this therapy, once we settle on a dosage, and had me refill my prescription (which is now good for two rounds). 

Chemotherapy-wise, I still have the little-to-no-side-effect Herceptin going for me, thanks to my cancer having that HER2 property. 

Thanks for your prayers, as always.  And thanks for your continued love and support, and for the various ways that people have found to pick up some of my regular duties at church.  Robin and I love you all.