Choices

It is Thursday morning... we are home from CTCA and again, the trip out there produced a completely different outcome that I had expected - it always seems to go that way.  Sometimes it is not so good, and other times it is good.  This time it was good.

The blood work showed the CEA has come down significantly.  The reading last time - 3 weeks ago - was 90 and this time it was 60.  There are a variety of reasons for that reading to go up and down but when you are a cancer patient, it always appears to indicate the activity of the cancer.  It has gone up and down before because of other inflammations that were present, like the colitis or any irritation that affects the mucous membranes of the body.  Dr. Neelam was very pleased that the reading had dropped so much.

Also the PET scan showed no spread of the cancer and basically it is still considered as "stable".  Cancer still there, but not really doing anything. 

We have been looking into the possibility of getting involved in a clinical trial and have investigated their availability.  There are a couple either being conducted now or are scheduled to begin within a month or so at IHA Hematology Oncology Cancer Care Center, St. Joseph Mercy, Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Arnie has been in touch with them and has learned that when it comes to the clinical trials, their patients are chosen first, then it is open to the public.  So, we have decided to go there - seeking a second opinion and becoming involved with one of their doctors as a patient. We have an appointment tomorrow.  They have already taken care of getting records from CTCA for us. 

Dr. Neelam and her team, which includes the Naturapath, Dietician, Mind/body person, Care Manager, have requested that we keep them in the loop and let them know what is going on with us.  They are still very interested and desirous of being involved in Arnie's cancer treatments.

Dr. Neelam told us of a brand new drug, Zaltrap, which has just been approved by the FDA about a week or so ago, that they have and it would be the next treatment she would  use for Arnie.  She said that if the possibility of a clinical trial does not happen within the next month that we should come back there and she would start him on that treatment regime. 

So we have choices - which is a good thing.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers, that God will lead us where He wants us to be and that He will be pleased with our decisions.  This journey has been, for the lack of a better word,  INTERESTING!  Again, we seem to always meet new people and have the opportunity to share with them where we are, or to just listen.  God always seems to put people in our paths just at the right time and in the right place!  That has happened to us so very often! 

I will try to keep you all posted as to our progress.  Would love to hear from any of you who would want to comment or send emails or call.  It always helps me to get those encouraging words!