Chemo Meeting

We had a meeting with the chemo doctor today and FINALLY understand it all and how it is going to go. Those of you who know about chemotherapy might have thought I was loony talking about a pill that had minimal side effects, but that is what we were told. It is so hard to meet with several doctors all telling you slightly different things without talking to them all at once. That would be easier!

So, there is a pill type chemo treatment, but the side effects are just as rough as IV treatments and really take a toll on your body. The medicine of choice by Dr. Holmes for Dad is Erbitux. This is actually not chemo, but antibodies injected intravenously that work WITH the radiation. They attach themselves to cancer cells and destroy them. All the doctors agree that since Dad's primary tumor is the only tumor found and some cells did attempt to travel, this is the best route. Erbitux AND radiation. The good news is the radiation he is in now will continue uninterrupted and he will move straight to treatments on the other side. Not exactly a pleasant thought for Dad, but good news from the medical standpoint. Whatever happened, we did not want to interrupt the treatments going on. Our best possible chance of getting all these cells is 1) surgically removing the cancers, 2) radiation therapy to both sites and 3) chemo treatments. So, he is down to start them Monday morning at 8 am. He will go each Monday for 5 weeks and it will take about 2-3 hours. The most excellent news of all is that the side effects are minimal and tolerable. No vomiting , no hair loss, no pain.....just a little rash which we can handle. (He always laughs at me for saying "we"...he likes to remind me that I am not the one doing it..hee hee!) I know he can do it! We just keep on getting the best news we could ask for! Praise God! He is so good to us and I am thankful. I will let everybody know how Monday goes.

Thanks to you all!