oncological update

Post #443,638 by rcareaga 11/19/23 7:12:23 PM 11/19/23 7:12:23 PM Reply	oncological update We were in LA early in the month for tests and scans in advance of the patient’s potential enrollment in a round of clinical trials, since the “standard of care” regimen appears to have underperformed. The results were ambiguous: the dodgy spots on the liver, detected on the last scan, did not yield the desired genetic data upon needle biopsy: they were merely “necrotic tissue” rather than active tumors. The biopsy procedure itself was quite painful, and the radiologist does not want to perform it again. We’re left in limbo, rather. Not sure where we go from here, but L continues to waste away. She was 128 pounds at the onset of the disease; is at 94 today. Her flesh hangs off her; she looks like a spent balloon. Hard to see where we go from here, except I imagine it’s nowhere good. cordially,
Post #443,639 by CRConrad 11/20/23 8:48:33 AM 11/20/23 8:48:33 AM Reply	Sucks to hear, commiserations. Tiny sliver of a possibility of silver lining: Maybe whatever treatment she's on is somewhat working, in the sense that "necrotic tissue" = tumors, specifically, dying off? Hang in there! (Yeah, I know, horribly clichéd. Sorry I can't come up with anything better.) -- Christian R. Conrad The Man Who Apparently Still Knows Fucking Everything Mail: Same username as at the top left of this post, at iki.fi
Post #443,645 by crazy 11/20/23 3:20:47 PM 11/20/23 3:20:47 PM Reply	Nothing to say other than acknowledgment Keep engaged. Please.
Post #443,659 by boxley 11/22/23 10:31:43 AM 11/22/23 10:31:43 AM Reply	Ack :-( "Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts" – Richard Feynman
Post #443,663 by scoenye 11/22/23 7:48:53 PM 11/22/23 7:48:53 PM Reply	Commiserations as well Sorry for being quiet on the updates, but I sadly have no good experiences to report re. this disease in my orbit.
Post #443,675 by rcareaga 11/24/23 9:13:05 PM 11/24/23 9:13:05 PM Reply	down to 89 However, there’s another possible therapeutic approach lately developed that appears to be efficacious in about 15% of cases, and it looks as though this can be undertaken in the Bay Area without, as in the formerly contemplated clinical trial, fortnightly drives to Los Angeles. In preparation for the pending evaluation, she has discontinued the medical regimen in place since spring, and her appetite and general vigor have each improved as the drugs’ side effects have receded. cordially,
Post #443,684 by rcareaga 11/25/23 9:19:49 PM 11/25/23 9:19:49 PM Reply	Thanksgiving! She has gained five pounds! weightily,
Post #443,685 by drook 11/25/23 10:04:07 PM 11/25/23 10:04:08 PM Reply	Keep up the mashed potatoes! -- Drew
Post #443,686 by Andrew Grygus 11/26/23 2:48:05 AM 11/26/23 2:48:05 AM Reply	Re: Keep up the mashed potatoes! Mashed potatoes alone aren't sufficiently fattening without the sour cream, butter, or greasy gravy they tend to be served with.
Post #443,687 by crazy 11/26/23 8:56:05 AM 11/26/23 8:56:05 AM Reply	Good sign! This is your cue to start preparing more/different foods. Time to learn to cook for real.
Post #443,692 by CRConrad 11/28/23 6:51:09 AM 11/28/23 6:51:09 AM Reply	Giving thanks for that.
Post #443,720 by malraux 12/4/23 10:25:13 AM 12/4/23 10:25:13 AM Reply	Glad to hear there's still hope. Take care of yourself too, it's hard on everyone. Regards, -scott Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.
Post #443,755 by rcareaga 12/6/23 2:00:32 PM 12/6/23 2:00:32 PM Reply	still a long shot She just got off the blower with her Cedars oncologist. Friday’s scans show the disease continuing to advance, opening up branch offices in various other abdominal precincts. The new regimen begins in a week (with, we are cautioned, its own set of side effects). Her attitude continues to be “a long shot is better than no shot.” cordially,
Post #443,756 by CRConrad 12/6/23 2:05:31 PM 12/6/23 2:05:31 PM Reply	Correct attitude; continue helping her keep that up.
Post #443,760 by rcareaga 12/6/23 7:31:12 PM 12/6/23 7:31:12 PM Reply	I’ve got her back It is to be admired that, facing likely death next year (FSM grant that this be not so, but yeah, realistically), she is determined, without being delusional about it, to focus her contemplation on the prospects, however slender, of survival. Who knows? The horse could learn to sing. cordially,
Post #443,761 by pwhysall 12/6/23 11:57:11 PM 12/6/23 11:57:11 PM Reply	You’re doing a fine job Nothing is harder than this, and you’re stepping up to the plate, demonstrating considerable grace under fire.
Post #443,802 by Another Scott 12/25/23 10:30:50 PM 12/25/23 10:30:50 PM Reply	Thanks for the updates. Very best wishes for you and her. Cheers, Scott.
Post #443,757 by malraux 12/6/23 4:24:15 PM 12/6/23 4:24:15 PM Reply	She's absolutely correct. Gotta be in it to win it, as they say. My 90yo father in law was to have shuffled off this mortal coil back in April of '22 according to his oncologists; he's in remission these days and as irascible as always. Regards, -scott Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.

Welcome to IWETHEY!