No treatment today at The Spa. Yeah, surprised us, too! Maggie’s CEA has dropped! Down to 3.7. What the heck? It’s up, it’s down… no logic, it seems to follow but Dr. Loukas wants to re-test on Wednesday and if it’s up, change to the new chemo, but if it’s down or the same, stick with the old chemo. So, treatment Wednesday one way or another. Happily, we’ve got yet another unexpected and good situation. Let me explain….
If it can be avoided, we definitely don’t want to switch treatments, but for a more unpleasant reason than you’d expect. As I’ve mentioned before, there are only so many useful types (or recipes) of chemo and the list is not very long – I only know of two (hopefully Dr. Loukas has a bigger recipe book than I do!) And here’s the really bad part. Once one recipe is used it can’t typically be used again with much success. Essentially, it’s usefulness is lost. And once we’ve made it through the short list of chemo types, we have a much different situation than the one we have now.
The Xeloda / CPT-11 mix has been working dandily since we started back in late January. We’d love for it to continue to work for a long time into the future. Hopefully, just hopefully, it’s still working and we just had a little hick-up. That’d be real cool by me.
So, not too long ago we were running low on options and our last bit of good news was a distance memory. Recently, it seems like the sun has come out from behind the clouds and shined a little light on us. Maybe this really is the turning point. You know, that place in the movie where the plot switches over to resolving all the dramatic tension that’s been built up. I hope so. While this roller coaster has made me stronger it’s certainly been jostling my insides around. But if it the turning point, I sure look forward to the denouement, sitting in a rocking chair on a porch holding Maggie’s hand and shouting a little too loudly in a raspy voice, “Honey, you ‘member that crappy summer of ’07?”
(If anyone sees signs of anything different, don’t tell me. I’m caught in the moment.)
Wow – I’ve just gotten caught up on all of the WONDERFUL news!! I know there is still a long way to go, but THANK GOD for all of this great news!!!
You have both been such an inspiration for so long, I know that I speak for everyone whose life you have touched when I write that it is a true blessing to have you in our lives.
I hope to see you both soon and I will keep praying for more great news! 🙂
Hurrah for our side! I know you’re going to keep on getting healthier and stronger. I pray for Maggie every day. Live Strong!
Yes, I’ll be there Wednesday night to give Lori a break so she can go to her evening college class. We’re helping each other to meet our goals and chase our dreams. Much Love.
This is GREAT news! More things to smile about and be grateful for…. more proof that no one can really be sure what’s going to happen next week, next month, or even tomorrow. Keep fighting, Maggie!
Meme’s computer is out, but she wanted you both to know that our prayers are working! Miracles do happen! I love you both! ……. Meme
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!