well, today we had a very long day. Dr. Voloschin, the neuro-oncologist was the first visit. he confirmed that karen's tumor is now the worse type of tumor a person can get. when he said something about the prognosis not being good, karen asked what that meant. he said that most people only have about 14 months with this. tears were shed by both of us. we were reminded though that there are new things being developed as we speak. right away the fighter in karen came through and she inspired me one more time. she vowed to fight this for 20+ years. at this point Dr V explained how the 2 clinical trails out there and the other drug avastin how they kind worked so that we could choose the direction we wanted to start. avastin is an FDA approved drug for tumors (brain tumors just 2 months ago). it works by causing your body to stop making blood vessels, which cuts off the food supply to the tumor, which then starves to death. the problems with avastin is that it can cause bleeding or blood clots, or even death in very few cases. this seems to be the last choice drug of both doctors we talked to. the two clinical trial drugs have been showing really great things at emory U. the best sounding one to me the surgeon Dr. Olsen called it MLN after the company that first owned it millennium. the name is to hard to pronounce. it is much like avastin without the harsh side effects. it cuts off the blood, too. the other trail comes at the tumor from a different direction but is even newer and only a few people have used it. the side effects are limited but as the doctor put it, it is soooo new they are not even sure what all the side effects may be...true Ginni pigs are the people trying this.
what is next: well karens has an MRI next wednesday to make sure the tumor is progressing in a way that makes the trails the best way to go. then we see the oncologist a week from that to make the final decision and start treatments. they cannot start until then anyway, she has to be 100% healed from the surgery for any of the 3 choices. the avastin would e an IV drip, but the other 2 could be pill or IV drip.
karen is so inspirational to me. everywhere we were today she was making people laugh and putting smiles on their faces. talking to them about anything and everything. mind set on beating this with only 1 second of doubt. she makes me feel good to be around her.
oh by the way i explained to kyler and jenna that this is bad, and that we all need to be warriors for mom...i think they understood and will be the great kids they always have been. they too amaze me at how great they are, and how i might not deserve such great kids. they seem to be good.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I will be praying for you guys. It sounds like you have a lot of decisions to make, and battles to face. Just remember, only our Great Healer can number our days!! Karen will be here for as long as the Lord wants her here! Good for her for not letting the doctor's discourage her.
I have mentioned Karen as a prayer request at church before, and will do so again. You our covered in my prayers.
Hey: This is the saddest thing I can think of right now. I daydream of Karen all the time at work, and she is in my prayers every night. I have always loved that woman so much and though we have not seen each other in such a long time, I miss her and remember her face and laughter so clearly. Kisses and love from the bottom of my heart. Please give them to her from me.
Anne Marie Lease
Post a Comment