Friday's news

Yes, the doctor visit was yesterday. Yes, I went and took notes. Yes, I took a friend with me, who also took notes and heard what I heard. (Thank you, E.!)

The new plan is (drum roll, please!) more chemo. A different kind this time, since the last kind didn’t work as well as we’d hoped. It seems that I have choices this time: I can take Taxotere, or Alimta, or I can participate in a research study which will administer Taxotere, or Alimta, or Taxotere + Erbitux, or Alimta + Erbitux. All of those drugs are proven cancer-fighters; the research is to see which drug Erbitux works the best with.

We will start the new chemo regimen after I decide whether to participate in the research study. I’m thinking about it, and this weekend I will read the info the doctor gave me, and then I'll think some more. I’ll try not to hurt myself.

There will be no more radiation on my lung (had my limit!), and the liver doesn’t respond well to radiation, so that translates to no more radiation! Sort of a mixed blessing, really, because as awful as it was, it worked.

So, all in all, it’s good news. Y’all can relax now. I’m OK; just a bit ticked that I have to have MORE chemo, but also grateful that I can. These new chemo drugs have different side effects than the last ones, including, but not limited to: mouth and lip sores, bloating, loss of appetite, and of course, hair loss--so I'm really not looking forward to those. Maybe I'll get lucky & won't get hit too hard.

That's the scoop. Like I said, it's good news. Thanks for the good thoughts, and the prayers. I know that I'd be a raving lunatic by now if not for the good work that y'all do.  ¶ 11:51 AM