Vacation is over...back to work...

Dennis had a great time in Wyoming playing in the snow!
We resumed treatment on Tuesday January 20th. We will attempt another 11-12 consecutive treatments and then a follow up scan to see where we are. CEA is now 96 and is still a decrease but a slower rate. I asked Dr. Ardalan if we could increase the dose to get a better result but his reply was "you don't want to kill him do you"? It made sense to me to up the dose...wrong!
I sent a copy of Dennis's scans and reports to Dr. David Geller in Pittsburgh. He is a liver cancer surgeon and is willing to take a look and see where we stand. He has an amazing reputation.
Dennis has a BIG birthday ahead...60...on February 6th. I guess we need to celebrate this milestone.
Thanks again for all your prayers!

Test Results

A review of Dennis's PET and CT scans shows less activity in the liver and no new cancers. A new term was discussed "SUV" (Standardized Uptake Value) of his tumors and they decreased from 11 to 6 since his last scan at the end of October. CEA is at 100 from 12/31 blood work and we pray for this continued downward trend. Dr.Ardalan has planned to continue current chemotherapy treatment to reduce tumors. Dennis had chemotherapy yesterday #11 of this regiment and will take a 1 week chemotherapy break to give his body a break. He will resume on January 22.
Dennis's bloodwork continues to be strong so he is able to withstand this toxic mix. Dennis is flying out to Wyoming today to enjoy the mountains and snow. A most deserving vacation after 2 months of treatment. Keep praying for continued progress.
"2009 is going to be fine".

Upcoming

Next Chemo sched is 31 Dec.
CatScan Pet Scan on 2 Jan.
Should be interesting...

Christmas Eve

Cancer isn't taking a holiday. Natalie and Dennis headed to Miami very early this morning for Dennis's Doctor's appointment and chemotherapy. CEA tumor marker is down to 118! This is such a relief after last week's slight increase! I am hoping they will be home in the early evening for some celebrating! Merry Christmas and much love to all.

Session 7 on Dec 11
saw a further reduction on my blood work
cancer markers. from 179 to 131. remember
it was 660 in October...........

Session #8 Dec 18; last of this series, blood markers
for cancer went up from 131 to 142 a increase
of 11............ increase isn't good.. Dr said other
markers are good so don't put too much in any
one indicator. Session 8 went OK, Brian drove
and stayed with me all day at the MIA hospital.


Session #9 (I thought only 8 sessions??) is scheduled for
December 24th. and then cat scan on 2 January
to see were we are with liver tumor............
More info forthcoming when cat scan read
on 5 January. Have a good Holiday....DW

Continued Progress

We completed #6 of 8 treatments in Miami yesterday.We received information today from the Dr that the tumor marker dropped further to 131 after treatment #5! (from start of 666)
When pressing the Dr. to what he thinks..."we'll see what the scans show". We'll be taking scans week of 22 December and probably won't have results until the following week due to the holidays. We believe this combination of chemo is working for Dennis and he looks and seems so much better! Thank you for your continued prayers!

Nov 26, session #5 the blood markers were
down to 218! a futher reduction, which is
a very good thing. This number is from
the blood tested on 20 november.
These blood markers: I have to get it down to
3 or below 5 . SO ..... I've a way to go.
Tomorrow, Dec 4th I'll be in MIA for session
#6, and find out markers taken on 11/26
at session #5.
Hopefully there willl be a futher reduction,
indicatiing this Chemo cocktail is working.
More info tomorrow.. Denny