Moving On

Today I met with my oncologist to discuss the CT Scan I had had last week. The scan showed only a slight reduction in the size of the tumor, meaning that the chemotherapy is losing its effectiveness. That, coupled with a low white blood count, calls for a new treatment plan. Instead of the Taxol, Carboplatin, and Avastin combination that I have been receiving, I will receive only the Avastin, which inhibits tumor growth by blocking the formation of new blood vessels. We have gone from trying to shrink the tumor to just inhibiting its growth. It is disappointing to have reached this stage so early in the game, but I am grateful for the progress that has been made. And when the cancer starts growing again there are second line drugs to try like Tarceva and Alimita. It is a matter of finding the right one for me… so we move on.

Tonight Bob is in Hope, B.C. He will arrive in Bellingham tomorrow. (Hope was the beginning and end of our cross-country trip last year.) He has strict orders to pick up some maple dip donuts from Tim Horton’s before he crosses the border.