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Some good news.
The scan results are in. The chemo is shrinking the lower abdomen tumor. This is not a given with my type of cancer so it is encouraging. We are not taking this for granted and thus are very thankful.
The longest dimension reduced from 2.8 to 2.0cm. A little 3-D math tells me that could be a reduction to half the previous size (I don't know the other dimensions). Dr. Hoff said it shrunk pretty remarkably given I've only had three rounds.
Now it is time to talk to a surgeon. Dr. Hoff and Dr. Vauthey have decided that Dr. Rodriguez is the best surgeon to do this. The problem is that it is an unconventional surgery, thus he may not want to do it. Typically, for colon cancer, surgery is only done on the primary tumor and on the liver if it has spread. As I've said before, Dr. Hoff thinks with the new chemo drugs that have come out in the last couple years, there is some hope that beyond those locations, the cancer may still yet be stopped. It is also a difficult surgery. But I am young and (relatively) healthy and am willing (actually eager) to do it. These things Dr. Hoff said are significant. He said to hope for "goodwill" on the part of Dr. Rodriguez. So there's my prayer request. The next thing that has to happen is for Dr. Rodriguez to agree to perform the surgery. If he does, we're probably looking at a mid-January operation.
I'm trying to get a meeting arranged with Dr. Rodriguez tomorrow, when he is in clinic. Dr. Hoff said it would be good to meet with him face to face about this.
I begin round four of the chemo today this afternoon. Dr. Hoff wants to keep pounding on the cancer - no breaks allowed.
Step by step certain things have to happen, and they have up until now. This is yet one more step.