 |
| Blue Angels, San Francisco |
It has been an up and down health ride these last three months
or so, which means some things have been good, some things have been a little
concerning, but we are now getting things resolved and back on track, but with
some changes.
As you probably know, almost exactly two years ago I was
lucky to get placed in a research study and was randomly selected to try two
immunology drugs, to see if they were more effective as a first treatment than
chemo or chemo in combination with one immunology drug. The first year went really well. The lesions were reduced significantly and I
had almost no side effects. Then the side effects started kicking in, itching,
joint pain, stiffness, lack of appetite, fatigue, but I accepted that as the
price to pay for a continued reduction in the size of the lesions. Then, my liver, and to a lesser extent my
pancreas, started showing signs of stress, based on biweekly blood tests. So my oncologist, Dr. Alan Kramer, whom I like
very much, respect, and have complete confidence in, recommended we give my
system a rest from the immune drugs and take steroids to eliminate any
inflammation.
That part has been great.
Within 24 hours my pain was gone, the itching was gone (we’re talking
about, “Oh my god, will anything stop this itching?”), the stiffness and
inflexibility was gone, and very importantly, my appetite was back and I quit
losing weight. I had a normal life again
and was so relieved.
But it turns out that the problems with the liver, bile duct
specifically, were probably not being caused by inflammation, but rather by
lymph nodes pressing on the duct. What
is causing the pressure can’t be discerned for sure from the CT scans, and a
biopsy doesn’t seem to be warranted, because whatever it is needs to be treated
with either steroids or chemotherapy, and I’m on both. So that is the direction we’re going, starting
at my next appointment, a week from now.
Dr. Kramer has said that this chemo is very well tolerated,
maybe a rash, maybe some nausea, and has been effective with others. So, having been such of fan of the immunology
therapy, it is hard to put it aside, but it’s effectiveness seems to have
ended. As Dr. Kramer was giving instructions
to his nurses, I said, “I feel like I’m changing from a Red Sox fan to a Yankees
fan.” Which is about as likely for me to
do as it would a Manhattan liberal announcing that he has become a neo
conservative. No more power lunch tables for you, you’re going back next to the
restrooms.
It’s a nice restroom though, with cloth towels and nice
smelling soap. I’m okay.
