Unfortunately the results of my scan showed the IL2 treatments to have been mostly ineffectual. The nodules are growing and Dr Lufkin indicated it was not going to help me to keep working with plain Interleukin 2 therapy.
While it was mostly bad news, we did find that there were no new cancer areas which means either the IL2 did that at least or well, I'm lucky. Either way it's a silver lining.
Frankly it really sucks but there are other options with just as much chance as what we've pursued so far. My value menu choices are many, and there are new drugs and treatments being developed for melanoma at a fair clip right now.
After a good amount of discussion we chose to go with a treatment of 4 infusions called Yervoy (tm). This will be far less stressful on my system (unless I am uber lucky and my colon goes insane... Sounds like a super time, and/or my pituitary gland shuts off. Now both of these side effects hit a very low % of folks, and I don't expect to be featured on any fiber bases cereal commercials over the coming 4 months so this is my chosen path. Both of these symptoms can be managed with steroids so maybe I'll get all buff if this happens... I know it's more likely I'd get the puffer fish face with no muscles but hey, nothing to be done about it).
The way this treatment works is basically similar to IL2 except it takes a different approach towards the immune system (operates on different receptors blah blah medical talk ...). In the words of my oncologist, it takes the brakes off the immune system. So more of my body using it's own devices to fight this thing. I guess the difference in physical side effects are to do with the pathway to getting the immune system up and running? At any rate, there have been good results with "incurable" ocular melanoma patients and such so my version of melanoma stands a good chance to respond.
If this doesn't work well enough, we have biochemotherapy (combines IL2 and chemo... now that sounds lovely), 2 pills that have shown good promise, the possibility for my melanoma to be 1 of 2 genetic variants which they have specific treatments developed (this would be good) and some other things which we didn't discuss
Both Ki and I feel very upbeat about my choices and the future. I am resolute in my will to get this under control. There are options and we're going to keep fighting the good fight. He'll be back in Beirut (the nickname I've given his apt in Lebanon) in order to teach the students here at his school's campus this Fall, so I'll be coming up to Portland for the infusions and spending time between the place up north and the house in Talent during this process.
I wish it were better news, but rather than let my body swim in depressive chemicals and get down about this I'm choosing to focus on getting my body healthier (diet and exercise) so trips to the gym and focusing my mental state on low stress with fun activities.
Please continue to pray, light candles, meditate and send good energy, sponsor underprivileged children and those insanely cute animals (yes tigers and polar bears are cute) as I do believe it will all help. Much love and appreciation to all. I'll continue to update the blog through this process.
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