Interesting & Exciting News

Yesterday Brian had a new blood draw, which they always do before you start chemo treatments, and his CA 19-9 number is down from 8700 to 4100 BEFORE any chemo treatments!  We are so excited for this news!  The oncologist gave us the go ahead to keep up with the alternative treatments we are doing at home so long as the numbers are going down.
For those of you who want to know, Brian is doing high dose intravenous vitamin c treatments and edible marijuana (decarboxylation is very important).  Also, it is strongly suggested that Indica strains are used.  These treatments were started Feb 3rd, right after his last CT scan and blood draw.

CA 19-9 Screenshot

New scans and canceled ablation

Brian got a new CT scan today and we saw the oncologist.  His CA 19-9 levels have gone up  to 8700.  The tumor on his pancreas has grown by .5 cm.  The liver lesion has not changed.  The oncologist has decided that the ablation would not benefit Brian so he has canceled it and Brian is to start back on chemo within the next week or two.

Ablation appointment

Brian has been scheduled for Feb 5th at 6 am for Radio Frequency Ablation.  They will keep him overnight.

Finally heard back from the U of M

I finally got a call today from the U of M. The liver tumor board approved Radiofrequency Ablation for Brian liver lesion. They will be calling me within the next week to set up his appointment for the procedure. That means it will be another couple of months break from chemo. Brian is very happy about that:)

This is a one time procedure that they are hoping will take care of the lesion in his liver.

He has been feeling quite good the last few days but the few days before that he was not feeling good at all. He also has an appointment to have his stent checked to make sure it's still working properly.  That is something that has to be done every 3 to 4 months. 

Thank you all so much for all the blessings and prayers!  We will take all of that we can get. 

New scans and treatment plan

Both the tumor in the pancreas and the lesion in the liver are stable, meaning they have not grown or shrunk at all.  His CA 19–9 has gone from 200 to 336.   The oncologist is taking this information to the tumor board to talk to them about starting radiation on the lesion in his liver.  We will find out by Monday whether or not they approve the radiation. Otherwise he will begin chemo. 

Break

It has been two weeks since Brian's last chemo treatment.  It is so nice to be on break from chemo because now he seems to feel better and better every day, aside from mild pain and being a little tired here and there.  We are really going to enjoy the next couple of months!  I know it will go by so fast..