Wind Knocked Out!

I am writing this on Wednesday night, January 6

Though the following consultations took place on Monday and Tuesday.

It has taken me that long to regroup and process and see my hope restored in God.

It has been a rough few days facing the reality of where my cancer journey is currently at

And how we proceed from here...

Thank you again so much for your prayer, encouragement and support.

Dave

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Radiation Consult - January 4

The referral went through and I had a two-hour Zoom consult this morning

With the lead doctor and his senior resident

Regarding the possibility of having Proton Radiation Therapy in Seattle!

It was both hugely informative AND extremely exhausting

I slept the rest of the day!

To give you the essence of the consultation:

Proton Radiation Therapy would entail daily, Monday-Friday, treatments

For 3-5 weeks

With each treatment taking about one hour.

The impact of proton radiation on the heart would be less than that of photon radiation

EXCEPT for the following HUGE punch in the gut

That came out in the consultation…

AVASTIN

Ever hear of it?

Well, unfortunately, now you have

It is one of the chemo drugs that I have been receiving every three weeks

As part of my systemic treatment for the mesothelioma

And, it seems that radiation and Avastin don’t play well together!

 Meaning that, in some cases, individuals who are on Avastin and receiving radiation

End up with serious impact to their heart

I.e. death!

I guess you get what I mean now by a punch to the gut!

Wow…did that news ever throw a huge monkey wrench

Into what was looking like a no-brainer decision!

So, the doctor’s initial recommendation

Is to stop taking the Avastin

Though it is unknown how long it can really remain in my system

Have CT scans every couple of months to assess the state of the tumor

Whether it’s growing or remaining the same size

And then decide

If the risk is greater to radiate or not radiate the tumor.

Things just got REALLY heavy!

The doctor hopes to communicate with my oncologist tonight

Before I meet with him tomorrow morning for our regular consult.

It’s been a rough day…

 Zoom Consultation with my Oncologist - January 5

This morning I felt like I was entering Round Two in a boxing match

As we followed up from the consultation yesterday.

It concluded with me feeling like

I’d received a one-two punch

And was laid out on the floor

As we discussed with my oncologist

Both the radiation scenario and my overall situation.

To summarize:

1.   The mesothelioma has metastasized (i.e. spread) to my right lung as evidenced by the cancerous nodules

D    Discovered there by the UW scope and biopsy in 2019.

      This has been easy to forget as our focus has been on the main tumor.

2.     There is evidence of a new potentially cancerous nodule on a lymph node in the center of my chest.

3.      My body is at its end with the current chemo/immunotherapy regimen. It is extremely weak and needing a break, which may or not help me recover strength.

4.      There is the possibility of continuing one of the immunotherapy drugs as a “maintenance” measure, in the meantime, IF that can be done without detriment to my body…which is a big IF.

5.      Radiation has become a much more serious risk than originally thought, though not eliminated as an option.

6.      To not radiate AND to discontinue chemo/immunotherapy would be a decision to let the cancer run its course, unless God intervenes or another treatment option surfaces.

7.      My next appointment with my oncologist will be January 22, 2021 with a CT scan occurring in February, after which we will discuss how to proceed.

I am exhausted.

And there you have the latest in Dave Frederick's cancer saga!