Thursday, December 30, 2004 10:47 PM CST
Today is a sad day. We're taking down the Christmas tree, and that's always a little sad. It's the time of year we think of Kyle more than usual, too. And today's news didn't help.
Dave's MRI was not good. The tiny spots that were treated with gamma knife have grown hugely since September 30. There is a lot of swelling from the growth and there is mass effect, which means his brain is being squished to the side because of tumor growth. It's pretty obvious the BCNU is not working with growth this rampant.
So we called UW. The doc there recommended carboplatin. We called Duke as well, but Dr. Friedman isn't in the office today. So we went ahead with the carboplatin. It's essential to get something going right away. And if Duke has something else to offer, the carboplatin shouldn't interfere. Worst case he might have to wait 3 weeks to start a different treatment.
We need a miracle, folks. Because Dave's tumor bed (the site where the original tumor was removed) opens to a ventricle, he is not eligible for many of the promising new treatments that are in clinical trials right now. We'll see what Duke says, but it looks like it's a matter of trying different chemos and combos of chemos and antiangiogensis agents (which inhibit blood vessel growth...tumors grow huge numbers of blood vessels to feed themselves).
So please pray. If you've been praying, thank you and please keep going. Pray every day. One trick I learned is put a little dot on your watch...when you see it it will remind you to pray for Dave. If you have a LiveStrong or brain tumor awareness wrist band...wear it every day and when you see it, remember to pray. Put Dave on any prayer chain you know about.
I guess I sound a little desperate. I feel a little desperate.
Lots of love to all of you, Shelley
Today is a sad day. We're taking down the Christmas tree, and that's always a little sad. It's the time of year we think of Kyle more than usual, too. And today's news didn't help.
Dave's MRI was not good. The tiny spots that were treated with gamma knife have grown hugely since September 30. There is a lot of swelling from the growth and there is mass effect, which means his brain is being squished to the side because of tumor growth. It's pretty obvious the BCNU is not working with growth this rampant.
So we called UW. The doc there recommended carboplatin. We called Duke as well, but Dr. Friedman isn't in the office today. So we went ahead with the carboplatin. It's essential to get something going right away. And if Duke has something else to offer, the carboplatin shouldn't interfere. Worst case he might have to wait 3 weeks to start a different treatment.
We need a miracle, folks. Because Dave's tumor bed (the site where the original tumor was removed) opens to a ventricle, he is not eligible for many of the promising new treatments that are in clinical trials right now. We'll see what Duke says, but it looks like it's a matter of trying different chemos and combos of chemos and antiangiogensis agents (which inhibit blood vessel growth...tumors grow huge numbers of blood vessels to feed themselves).
So please pray. If you've been praying, thank you and please keep going. Pray every day. One trick I learned is put a little dot on your watch...when you see it it will remind you to pray for Dave. If you have a LiveStrong or brain tumor awareness wrist band...wear it every day and when you see it, remember to pray. Put Dave on any prayer chain you know about.
I guess I sound a little desperate. I feel a little desperate.
Lots of love to all of you, Shelley
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