Doctor, doctor, gimme the news!

Doc_Hawk
Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
edited July 2012 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Well, it's been a kind of stressful and scary six weeks, but I got my cancer count this morning and it has finally dropped. Only by ten points (down to 266), but a drop is a drop and that's the right direction. The blood test that they did during treatment last time had my level of 5 Fluffy Unicorns at 25 with the range being 20 - 30, so being mid-range they were able to bump it up by 20%, which we started yesterday (20% above 5, I reckon that would be 6 Fluffy Unicorns.) My magnesium level is still very low, although it came up 1/5 of a point to an even 1.0. The problem with magnesium is that it causes nerve and muscle dysfunction and could cause a heart attack. If they give me too much magnesium at one time, it could cause a heart attack. I'd asked the doc about going into the hospital over a couple of days to get infusions, but we can do that by going to the center and there won't be a co-pay. So they gave me a unit yesterday (which put me in the infusion room for six hours and was I one tired @$$ old doggy after that!) I'll get another infusion tomorrow when I go in to get my pump out and probably at least two more next week. Happy times. The chemo brain hasn't gotten any worse the past couple of treatments. I'm actually able to read Dr. Seuss and wax philosophical on it. This week it was Green Eggs and Ham. I'm thinking about One Fish Two Fish for next time, but not sure I'll be able to count that high.

I did speak with the onc yesterday about a liver transplant and it's just not an option. The drugs they would give me to prep for it could cause my immune level to drop dangerously low and the drugs afterward could cause the cancer to bloom out of control in other places. I also asked about HIPAC, and he's getting me set up with a specialist for consultation. We're also going to start doing the PET scans every three months instead of once a year. I'm scheduled for my next one on Aug 18.

Comments

  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #2
    Dear Doc
    Your posts are always an adventure to read. I mean how many folks can work in 5 Fluffy Unicorns, Green Eggs and Ham and Fish into what turns out to be understandable! LOL

    Glad to hear that you finally got that CEA number going the right direction and that they were able to bump up the meds.

    Get some rest and hears hoping the consult about HIPAC has good outcome.

    Hugs,

    Marie who loves kitties

    P.S. I inadvertantly made green eggs one time...lol. Just make scrambled eggs and then later re-heat them! Funny looking but still edible.
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    #3
    Lovekitties said:

    Dear Doc
    Your posts are always an adventure to read. I mean how many folks can work in 5 Fluffy Unicorns, Green Eggs and Ham and Fish into what turns out to be understandable! LOL

    Glad to hear that you finally got that CEA number going the right direction and that they were able to bump up the meds.

    Get some rest and hears hoping the consult about HIPAC has good outcome.

    Hugs,

    Marie who loves kitties

    P.S. I inadvertantly made green eggs one time...lol. Just make scrambled eggs and then later re-heat them! Funny looking but still edible.

    Hugs Marie
    Thanks for the encouragement. I actually do wish I could have the surgery, tho. My lady friend who shares your name and lives back east said she'd come here to be with me until I recover if I did have it. Just seeing her again would make the surgery well worth it. When I say that I'm in Hell it's because every day without her here is like an eternity in Hell. C'est l'amour.

    Hugs again,

    Doc

    PS had a cook when I was in the Air Force actually made green eggs over easy. He injected food dye into the yolk without making it all leak out. He never did reveal how he did it.
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #4
    Doc_Hawk said:

    Hugs Marie
    Thanks for the encouragement. I actually do wish I could have the surgery, tho. My lady friend who shares your name and lives back east said she'd come here to be with me until I recover if I did have it. Just seeing her again would make the surgery well worth it. When I say that I'm in Hell it's because every day without her here is like an eternity in Hell. C'est l'amour.

    Hugs again,

    Doc

    PS had a cook when I was in the Air Force actually made green eggs over easy. He injected food dye into the yolk without making it all leak out. He never did reveal how he did it.

    Would HIPEC work on liver
    Would HIPEC work on liver mets?? I thought it was for gunk in your abdomen....
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #5
    Any drop in CEA
    is to be celebrated...at least it's going in the right direction! Took me awhile to figure out the unicorns reference. You certainly have an imaginative way with words! Have you looked into any other options for liver treatment? I'm thinking RFA, those pumps that get chemo directly to the liver, etc. I'm sure you've probably investigated all this stuff already, but thought i'd ask. Stay strong! Ann
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    #6
    annalexandria said:

    Any drop in CEA
    is to be celebrated...at least it's going in the right direction! Took me awhile to figure out the unicorns reference. You certainly have an imaginative way with words! Have you looked into any other options for liver treatment? I'm thinking RFA, those pumps that get chemo directly to the liver, etc. I'm sure you've probably investigated all this stuff already, but thought i'd ask. Stay strong! Ann

    HIPAC and RFA
    Ok, I reckon I'm a bit mixed up, I was thinking that HIPAC was the pump that works right on the liver mets. Maybe that's why the onc wasn't clear on what I was talking about. Regardless, the pump that puts the chemo right to the liver is what we're looking at.
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #7
    Doc_Hawk said:

    HIPAC and RFA
    Ok, I reckon I'm a bit mixed up, I was thinking that HIPAC was the pump that works right on the liver mets. Maybe that's why the onc wasn't clear on what I was talking about. Regardless, the pump that puts the chemo right to the liver is what we're looking at.

    HIPEC
    is that thing they do where they strip out a lot of the peritoneum and then flush out the abdominal cavity with heated chemo. It's used for people with peritoneal mets. I don't know what the direct to the liver pump thing is called either, but I've read about people getting very good results with it, so i hope it's an option for you!
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #8
    Doc_Hawk said:

    HIPAC and RFA
    Ok, I reckon I'm a bit mixed up, I was thinking that HIPAC was the pump that works right on the liver mets. Maybe that's why the onc wasn't clear on what I was talking about. Regardless, the pump that puts the chemo right to the liver is what we're looking at.

    Per the internet:
    HIPEC stands for Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, where an abdominal tumor is removed and then the surgeon continuously circulates a heated, sterile chemotherapy solution throughout the peritoneal cavity for up to 90 minutes. The HIPEC procedure is designed to attempt to kill any remaining cancer cells once all visible disease is removed. The solution is then removed and the incision closed.

    Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
    One of the most effective of these new non-invasive procedures – particularly for people who cannot be treated surgically – is RFA, a technique in which a thin tube, called a catheter, is inserted through the skin to the site of the tumor. Heat is then delivered through the catheter, killing the diseased cells, but leaving the surrounding healthy tissue unharmed.

    _________________________

    So, basic differences are that with HIPAC there is a surgery and heated chemo

    while with RFA it is only the introduction of heat to the tumor site.

    Glad this came up as I was not sure what these procedures were either.
  • k44454445
    k44454445 Member Posts: 494
    #9
    glad to get an update & glad
    glad to get an update & glad things are better. hang in there! prayers for you every night
    judy

    a good site to explain hipec is www.hipectreatment.com choose the hipec webinar section then dr. chalikonda who does a great job explaining it. he is at cleveland clinic. i went to ohio state who has a great dr who does it but i will have it done at university in cincinnati, ohio bc it is closer to home. dr sussman in cinti will be the one. he trained at md anderson under the dr who developed the procedure. dr sussman has been doing it for over 15 years.
  • karen40
    karen40 Member Posts: 211 Member
    #10
    Hepatic Arterial Infusion or HAI
    Hey Doc,

    I think what your thinking of is Hepatic Arterial Infusion or HAI. It ‘s a procedure that entails the implantation of a pump that delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumor in the liver. It’s shown to have success in crc patients. Below is a link to a video I found that has many stats. and can explain it better than me. Phillieg has had this procedure. I’m sure he’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.
    Karen

    http://www.mskcc.org/videos/treating-liver-metastases-hepatic-arterial-infusion-therapy

    P.S. Let Phil know I give back when I can.
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    #11
    'No pills going to cure my ills'
    To continue the Robert Palmer theme lets hope that's not true. IS all a bag of withcraft at times it seems with fluffy unicron levels being balanced agains the eye of newt and toe of frog (though I am sure Pete has probably genuinely had a few of those :)

    Is good news though that treatment is doing something and the onc is actively working with you to explore aggressive options which seems in line with how you want to attack this. And to quote the greatest doctor of all, Dr Zeuss:

    “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

    Thanks for being you,
    steve
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #12
    steved said:

    'No pills going to cure my ills'
    To continue the Robert Palmer theme lets hope that's not true. IS all a bag of withcraft at times it seems with fluffy unicron levels being balanced agains the eye of newt and toe of frog (though I am sure Pete has probably genuinely had a few of those :)

    Is good news though that treatment is doing something and the onc is actively working with you to explore aggressive options which seems in line with how you want to attack this. And to quote the greatest doctor of all, Dr Zeuss:

    “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

    Thanks for being you,
    steve

    Seriously confused right
    Seriously confused right now!!!
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    #13
    smokeyjoe said:

    Seriously confused right
    Seriously confused right now!!!

    Confusion
    That's ok, Joe, I'm confused just about all the time! To paraphrase: "The tree of confusion is watered by the drugs of oncologists."
  • dmj101
    dmj101 Member Posts: 527 Member
    #14
    Doc_Hawk said:

    Confusion
    That's ok, Joe, I'm confused just about all the time! To paraphrase: "The tree of confusion is watered by the drugs of oncologists."

    confusion is sometimes good
    It gives you time to find out the reality...
    well I am happy you have finally some good news..
    I never liked those green eggs..
    but if you can find that cat in the hat.. maybe I will read along with you..
    and that blue fish.. hmmm.. not so appetizing..

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