David had his first chemo treatment in three years this past week. On Tuesday, we spent most of the day at the infusion center of Moores Cancer Center while David received several pre-chemo medications aimed to help prevent nausea, followed by a two hour infusion of Oxaliplatin & another two hour infusion of Irinotecan. As in the past, he had a reaction (although milder this time around) about halfway through the infusion of Irinotecan where his muscles were twitchy & he couldn't speak well because his tongue felt thick & twitchy -- this reaction subsided about an hour after the Irinotecan finished dripping. During these infusions, we were visited by our good friends, Jane & Howard, who helped the time spent hooked up to poison fly by -- thanks you two! We also received numerous texts of support (David's Mom texted him cute jokes!) & brother Carl facetimed with David -- thanks everyone! After David received these drugs, he was hooked up to a pump that he wears in a fanny pack that delivers 5-FU over a 46 hour time period, & we were discharged from the infusion center. While being hooked up to the chemo pump for two days is no picnic, at least David is able to be home during this time period. On Thursday afternoon, we returned to the infusion center for David to be disconnected from the chemo (ahhh, freedom!!) & to receive a liter of fluids to help perk him up. Overall, he did very well with this first chemo treatment -- his main side effects were mild nausea, a sore throat (he actually became rather hoarse for a few days), a general feeling of malaise & fatigue, & really wicked hiccups that would last anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours. Now he will recover over the next week & a half before his next treatment & be careful about his sun exposure (the chemo makes him photosensitive) & use good infection prevention measures as he will be immunosuppressed.
After David was disconnected from the chemo pump & received some fluids on Thursday, we met with Dr. Fanta. We were his last appointment for the day & he spent nearly two hours with us! David had done some research into genetic profiling of pancreas cancer to help deliver targeted chemotherapy for improved outcomes, and he brought some of the best articles he had found into Dr. Fanta to get his input & thoughts. This began a very academic discussion between the two of them about the genetics of pancreas cancer, how the cancer can mutate, & how these factors can help doctors provide the most optimum treatment for their patients. Dr. Fanta provided numerous examples of patients he had treated with some very nasty GI cancers, that once they had completed genetic profiling on the patient, they were able to determine the best treatment options with some very encouraging results. This appointment with Dr. Fanta gave us a heightened feeling of hope!
So, the short term plan that Dr. Fanta outlined for David is to continue the current Folfirinox treatment for another three sessions at two week intervals & then perform a recheck CT. Then, based on how David is tolerating treatment, his biochemical response to the treatment (based on his cancer markers from periodic blood work performed), the imaging results from the CT, & the genetic profiling results from David's original pancreatic tumor & from recent blood work obtained, the next step of treatment will be decided.
That catches you up on David's course of treatment to date. Many thanks to everyone for the comments you have made to this blog, emails & texts sent to David, cards sent to David, & phone calls made to David. They all help to rally our strength & lift our spirits -- we are very much grateful!
Fight the fight!!!!! Much love, Janet
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