|
The lung nodules are "stable". No reduction, no growth. I have taken, I estimate, around 75 rounds of chemotherapy in my life between this cancer and the bone cancer I had as a teenager. These rounds consisted of around 8 different chemo protocols. With all this experience, this was the first time that a scan revealed that the chemo treatment had not significantly reduced the size of the tumors. Disappointing. Could be a lot worse, I suppose.
Dr. Eng says stability is a good thing in their business. The chemo is holding back the tumors. The largest nodule doubled from 0.5 to 1.1 cm in two months from January to March. In the three months since then, it has not grown at all. So she wants me to continue the protocol I've been on. Six more rounds is the plan, starting this week. She also added, "and let's throw in some Avastin to the mix." This struck me a bit odd - like Emeril throwing in some garlic based on his spur-of-the-moment logic that garlic always is a good idea.
Avastin is a drug that I took last year. It is technically not chemo - it does something to the tumor blood vessels. Adding it now, she said, cannot really hurt anything and it might help some. I sure hope so. If we continue to see stability or some reduction, then she will send me for a lung surgery consult. It is a long shot, because the nodules are in different places. But that would be the best option of getting rid of the tumors. I am used to praying for long shots.
I called my oncologist in Dallas and spoke to his PA about the news. She told me that a stable CT scan report is "excellent" when it comes to colon cancer lung nodules. "Excellent"? I feel like I just won a free room upgrade on the Titanic.