Round Three

I checked out for a little while. I think that I needed a non-cancer break. Forgive my lack-of-information...

It is interesting: the last few weeks have actually been good. Rob has been able to go to work for a few hours each day. He is completely exhausted when he gets back home, but he feels more like a human being than he has in a long while.

Yesterday was chemo day. It is funny how that works. One starts to feel a bit better and then it is chemo time again and it knocks one down on one's rear. We started the chemo prior to the appointment with the doctor as he was running two hours behind. (Thank goodness we had the chemo set up, right?) He is never that late - a fluke.

At any rate, it was a good appointment day. We talked with his doctor about what is next. We decided since Rob looks so much better than he did in December/January that the chemo must be doing something. He isn't coughing like he was, he is on oxygen only whilst sleeping, and his pain is being managed much better (thanks to Dr. Macpherson).

We have opted for one more round of chemotherapy and then we will have the scan a little over a week after that. Originally, we only agreed to three rounds of chemo. However, as far as we can tell (without a scan), it seems to be helping a bit, so it seemed prudent to get one more round in. Additionally, all of his scans have been three months apart. They also have generally shown an increase of 60%. If we were to get a scan after two months, it would be difficult to compare with older scans. Based on his clinical improvement (and the scan results), he can continue for one or two more rounds of his current drugs. If he shows response (meaning: growing as fast as it has) after that the additional rounds of chemo, then we would get rid of the carboplatin drug and keep on the alimpta drug as a type of maintenance.

Next chemotherapy: three weeks
Next scan: first week of April

Again, we are so grateful for the love and support we have received from so many countless people.