What A Difference A Day Makes! **UPDATE**

So, to recap, my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer in March 2009. He has been on Folfiri with Avastin, Folfox & now Erbitux with irritincan(sp). His CEA # started at 647 & went down to 7.9. At the end of last year, it went back up to 25. In the meantime, we have looked at going to NY for the HAI pump, and just yesterday, we met with Dr. James York to discuss his eligibility for Sir Spheres (thanks Patti - ittapp). Anyway, that was a very positive meeting and things were looking fantastic. The cat scans from Feb 09 to Nov 09 showed significant shrinkage, and that was before he started Erbitux. So, we left the dr's appointment extremely excited & hopeful. So, my husband goes to chemo this morning, and his dr keeps walking by the room he is in without coming in. Which totally frustrates my husband! Finally he comes in and tells him that he needs to talk to my husband. Erbitux is not working! The CEA level has risen from 25 to the 300's. His liver enzyme numbers have gone from 148 to the 200's. They are doing another ct scan next week. He trying to get my husband in a clinical trial at Emory for the sister drug to Erbitux. CB (my hubby) asked if this would be a blind trial/would he definitely be getting the drug, and the dr. said yes. So, since Erbitux is not working, he didn't do chemo today and will rest up and start the new drug (have to get authorization from the insurance company) next week. How do we feel? Kind of disappointed, but still not afraid. Yet! I hate that he has gone through that whole horrible rash with no good results. But hey, as the dr. said yesterday, there will be good results & bad results, ups & downs. Ok, so this week is a downer! We'll be ok.

**UPDATE**
My husband got the ole "There's nothing more that I can do for you" speech today. After last week, the oncologist said that my husband needed to look for clinical trials, and that he thought he might do well on Perisofine(sp). After that talk, we set up an appointment at Georgia Cancer Specialists for tomorrow to explore other options. Today, the oncologists recommended that we look for clinical trials at Emory. Of course, his practice is part of Emory, so I understand, but we had a very bad experience there and are hesitant to go that route again, but will if that's what it takes. The onc said either Emory or Vandy or MSK. I have started researching requirements for clinicals and most require that you be off any treatment regimens for at least 28 days. CB is going into the 3rd week without treatment, so that is good, except the disease continues to progress with nothing to slow it down. His onc set up an appointment for next Wednesday just in case we can't find anything so that he can start on Xeloda & Vectibix, because of course the liver is getting worse. The word on Georgia Cancer Specialists is that they also do a lot of clinical trials, but his oncologist felt it was better to go to Emory instead of another practice. What a dilemma!

Carolyn