Updates

This week ended with our appointment at U of M. It all started early Friday morning when we woke up, packed the car, and bid farewell to gato and perro. We headed out on our mission to meet with Dr. # 7 to finally get some answers to the many questions we have. We met B's Auntie R, who, lucky for us is a Dr. herself, and brings a calming sense that always makes us feel better in wake of any bad news that we have received up to this point. Not to mention she knows what questions to ask and what the answers mean.

U of M is a very nice facility and B checked in and received the fancy 'blue card', which we were told was of utmost importance to keep with us at all times, and we were on our way to meet with Dr. #7. We were put into a room and waited for quite a bit of time before meeting with said Dr. #7. We first met with his PA Lindsay....even spells it the same way, so I thought that maybe today would be our day. We brought her up to speed on everything that was going on since the start of the diagnosis, and then she started to talk about treating B. It was not sounding great and both B and I had blank stares on our faces. I preceded to tell her that we have yet to receive any info on the stage and grade of the cancer or the prognosis. She said she would be sure to pass that info onto Dr. #7, and he would be in soon to answer any questions and give us a better read on what we are dealing with.

We waited again for some time before the mighty Dr. #7 came in. He was very nice, but very direct. Which, considering all the sugar-coating we've gotten the last couple months, was fine with us. He explained to all 3 of us that B's cancer was stage IV. He said that the cancer is stage IV because the tumor has left the place of origin and has traveled to a different place in the body...his hip. He said that at this point taking out the tumor would make no difference on the outcome or prognosis. He said the "damage is done", so to speak, and if they did take the tumor out that it would likely come back. He said that there is a very good chance that other areas of B's body are infected with cancer, but the cells are very microscopic and will most likely show up at some point. So, even if we took out the lung tumor, which was Dr. #4's intention, there was no reason to believe that would cure everything.

Both B and I were expecting much different news. I guess I had the expectation that they would just take the tumor out and chemo him and that we would be on our way. Dr. #7 then told us that the cancer is treatable but not curable. I guess you could say that at this point of the appointment I blacked out. I actually had to leave the room, but thank goodness Auntie R was there to take in all the clinical info. Dr. #7 said that B is not in a great place right now. He hopes that we will be able to treat the cancer with Tarceva, a new drug that is used in patients with this stage and type of cancer. The Dr. is hopeful and said that patients have had some good response to this drug. In one particular patient the drug has worked to shrink the tumor and manage the cancer from spreading to other places in the body for seven years...and it is still working to date. Instead of the usual two month check-ups, that patient is now only visiting the Dr. on a bi-yearly basis.

We hope that B has the same result to this treatment, but we have a few more tests to undergo to make sure that he is a good candidate.....a brain scan and a check of the tissue in the hip tumor to make sure his tumor has two types of genetic mutations. Dr. speak for 'if there's nothing in the brain and there's two types of reactions with the sample tissue, we can proceed with this new drug -- instead of chemo." The advantage of this new drug would be reduced and less extreme side effects than chemo. B could also continue being 'normal', meaning he could travel, work, play, etc...instead of being glued to the toilet, couch and floor. As B said, though, even if he is ineligible for the new drug, chemo isn't a bad 2nd option. We all know the benefits that has had on someone close to us.

If B has to do chemo, it would run in three week cycles for six treatments. After two months, B would follow up to see if he is responding to the treatments. It is our hope that B beats this thing...one way or another. Like Auntie R said...B isn't a statistic, HE'S B, and nothing about this is normal so what we need to do is wait and see. We have options, and we are going to try everything we can...and B is super tough, that's why I married him.

So we need to pray that B can start taking some medicine...and soon. At this point, we don't really care about his hip. B would rather focus on beating this then worrying about the hip. I think his exact words were, 'F the hip. If I have to be on crutches for the rest of my life that's fine with me...as long as I can live."

To be honest, these past few days have been really really hard. We both have broken down many different times. I am so worried about B, but find hope in thinking of my grandma, who was given a similar diagnosis many years ago... and her cancer went away and she lived on with her life. I know there is a plan and this is just a journey that we are on together. Unfortunately, we are both sick....I have a respiratory infection and today B woke up with the flu...we think. We need a break, and I have a feeling that something good is about to happen.

I wish there was a way to make this blog funny, but there was nothing funny about our Friday appointment and there has been nothing funny since. Sorry for the lack of humor this time, we just had to get the info out there because we know a lot of you have been waiting to hear how it went Friday. I wish we had better news, or a better prognosis. However, we're still confident that everything will return to semi-normal. We're still optimistic the radiation will do its job and help return B to normal use of his leg. Our feeling is that if he can begin walking and moving around without the crutches, we can start to, at least, feel normal again. Until next time, keep hope alive, keep praying, and keep sharing stories of hope. There's no way to thank all of our readers for the strength and encouragement and support you all provide. But just know we are very thankful, and we appreciate your love. Thank you!