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Friday, April 24, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
More Information..
OK, this is the post I've been trying to make since Friday. We've been very busy & I haven't been on the Internet all weekend. I wanted to give you some more information about what Bobby and I think will happen over the next few weeks...
On April 28th, we will go to Baltimore to see his oncologist at Hopkins. He will most likely recommend one or two things. We aren't sure if they will want to do a biopsy. Then, we figure within a week or two, they will want to start the Interleukin-2 treatments. The IL-2 is a form of Immunotherapy. We haven't been given official information from Bobby's doctors-this is just general information about this medication. From what we understand, Bobby will be admitted to the hospital and will be given the medication thru a central line IV. It is given every 8 hours. The medication makes you very sick. I have posted links to the left which refer to information that may be helpful. Then, 8 hours later, they hang another bag. The side effects are nasty and Bobby is not looking forward to any of this. If you get too sick from the side effects, they will move you to the ICU. The Interleukin-2 is given until your body can't take it any more. Then, you recover and they send you home for a week. When you are ready, they bring you back into the hospital and repeat it again. We were told that the first time, it takes around 9-12 doses and the second time the body is already warmed up so it only takes 5-6 doses before you can't take anymore. Some hospitals repeat this a third time.
After the 2 weeks (maybe a 3rd), they wait about a month and repeat the CT scan. The goal is that the tumors have shown improvement (or will have cleared). They said either this works well-or not at all. If it has worked, I THINK THEY SAID that they repeat the above process again. (I'm not sure about that one) If it doesn't work...then we are back to NIH for Clinical Trials. NIH has a big bag of (nasty) tricks. Melanoma sucks and is very hard to treat.
On April 28th, we will go to Baltimore to see his oncologist at Hopkins. He will most likely recommend one or two things. We aren't sure if they will want to do a biopsy. Then, we figure within a week or two, they will want to start the Interleukin-2 treatments. The IL-2 is a form of Immunotherapy. We haven't been given official information from Bobby's doctors-this is just general information about this medication. From what we understand, Bobby will be admitted to the hospital and will be given the medication thru a central line IV. It is given every 8 hours. The medication makes you very sick. I have posted links to the left which refer to information that may be helpful. Then, 8 hours later, they hang another bag. The side effects are nasty and Bobby is not looking forward to any of this. If you get too sick from the side effects, they will move you to the ICU. The Interleukin-2 is given until your body can't take it any more. Then, you recover and they send you home for a week. When you are ready, they bring you back into the hospital and repeat it again. We were told that the first time, it takes around 9-12 doses and the second time the body is already warmed up so it only takes 5-6 doses before you can't take anymore. Some hospitals repeat this a third time.
After the 2 weeks (maybe a 3rd), they wait about a month and repeat the CT scan. The goal is that the tumors have shown improvement (or will have cleared). They said either this works well-or not at all. If it has worked, I THINK THEY SAID that they repeat the above process again. (I'm not sure about that one) If it doesn't work...then we are back to NIH for Clinical Trials. NIH has a big bag of (nasty) tricks. Melanoma sucks and is very hard to treat.
Camping Weekend in Gettysburg
It is Sunday evening. We just got back from a weekend in Gettysburg. The weekend was spent at the campground (in the camper) with many of our closest friends (and family). The campground hosts this weekend every year to honor police, fire, & EMS (the Heroes). Everyone brings their camper, or someone elses camper, or rents one and gathers for the weekend. The timing was good and it was a great source of support for Bobby. Also, the distraction allowed us to relax and forget about our worries--if only for an hour...or two. Thank you to everyone who was there and for all of the hugs & support (and drinks)! I think the highlight of Bobby's weekend was getting his head rubbed by Steph. He will be talking about that forever! The service provided to Table 4 was excellent! I'll stop there.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
News from Bobby & Donna
It is with much anguish that I begin to write again. As in the past, we feel that this is a way to keep our friends and family updated and informed. Bobby said that it is hard for him to have to keep telling his progress over and over. He said that it hurts him to tell anyone because of how it makes the other person feel. We hope this helps and keeps everyone feeling like they know what we know, and how he is doing. Please understand that while we would like to be able to personally tell everyone individually, it is very hard news for us to deliver.
In January, Bobby had a routine CAT scan at NIH. It was to be the last scan for a while as he had finished the vaccine trial. He has been going to NIH for a clinical trial with a melanoma vaccine. In that scan, they found a few suspicious spots in both of his lungs. The spots were small and their recommendation was to wait 4 months and repeat the CAT scan. On Tuesday, they repeated the scan and found that the spots had increased in size and were consistent with metastatic melanoma in the lungs. We went to NIH on Tuesday, Wednesday, and again today.
The melanoma has spread and is now in Bobby's lungs. There are 6-7 spots on each side. The largest spot is about 6mm round. The doctors at NIH said that this is a typical course for melanoma that spreads to the lungs.
The treatment for the cancer at this stage is called Interleukin-2. I will post more information shortly on what the plan is and what we expect will happen. I want to go ahead and post this at this point so it is available. Please feel free to email us about anything. I don't know much more than what I've posted so far, but will add more (hopefully tonight).
Well, it is morning. Sorry. To the best of our knowledge so far, the Interleukin-2 treatment will probably start in May. I think I will just post a link for you to read about it. We were told that the IL-2 has the potential to minimize/shrink the tumors and in some cases (5%) may even cure the disease. The treatments are given in the hospital and make you very sick. You are in the hospital for a few days, come home to recover & go back in when your body can take it again. We will find out more information in about 10 days when Bobby has his appointment with the oncologist in Baltimore.
Here are two links. The areas of interest are for Stage IV Melanoma and are toward the bottoms of the articles. ARTICLE 1 ARTICLE 2 I will add more information as we learn it ourselves.
In January, Bobby had a routine CAT scan at NIH. It was to be the last scan for a while as he had finished the vaccine trial. He has been going to NIH for a clinical trial with a melanoma vaccine. In that scan, they found a few suspicious spots in both of his lungs. The spots were small and their recommendation was to wait 4 months and repeat the CAT scan. On Tuesday, they repeated the scan and found that the spots had increased in size and were consistent with metastatic melanoma in the lungs. We went to NIH on Tuesday, Wednesday, and again today.
The melanoma has spread and is now in Bobby's lungs. There are 6-7 spots on each side. The largest spot is about 6mm round. The doctors at NIH said that this is a typical course for melanoma that spreads to the lungs.
The treatment for the cancer at this stage is called Interleukin-2. I will post more information shortly on what the plan is and what we expect will happen. I want to go ahead and post this at this point so it is available. Please feel free to email us about anything. I don't know much more than what I've posted so far, but will add more (hopefully tonight).
Well, it is morning. Sorry. To the best of our knowledge so far, the Interleukin-2 treatment will probably start in May. I think I will just post a link for you to read about it. We were told that the IL-2 has the potential to minimize/shrink the tumors and in some cases (5%) may even cure the disease. The treatments are given in the hospital and make you very sick. You are in the hospital for a few days, come home to recover & go back in when your body can take it again. We will find out more information in about 10 days when Bobby has his appointment with the oncologist in Baltimore.
Here are two links. The areas of interest are for Stage IV Melanoma and are toward the bottoms of the articles. ARTICLE 1 ARTICLE 2 I will add more information as we learn it ourselves.
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