August 28, 2017
MIRACLES HAPPEN
When Dick got put on this new chemo/antibody they decided to do 2 cycles and then scan him to see what the tumors were doing. They were hoping the tumors would quit growing and spreading.
Then they could keep him only on the antibody.
-SCANS TODAY-
I'll just copy what Richie posted on Facebook.
Update on Dad:
Six weeks ago, my Dad's doctors told him that he should seriously consider stopping treatment to improve his quality of life. His tumors had grown quite a bit. They felt that chemo was no longer doing any good, and it was certainly doing plenty bad. They thought the time had come for him to stop and to enjoy the time he had left. We didn't talk about this much outside of the family, but his primary doctor told him candidly that he would be very surprised to see him alive a year from then.
My dad wasn't ready to stop, so the doctors decided to switch to a new kind of chemo. I'm probably getting the technical terms here wrong, but essentially, they wanted to administer chemo and antibodies in hopes that the antibodies would learn to do what the chemo was doing. Then they would administer only antibodies, and go back and forth for a few cycles. The idea being, eventually the antibodies would maintain the work that the chemo was doing without the side effects of the chemo. Of course this would all depend on whether or not this new chemo would work.
This new chemo took its toll on him. He had some of his darkest days. However, in the weeks when only the antibodies were in his system, he had some of the best days he's had in the last several years. It was obvious that getting to the point in which he only had to deal with the antibodies would be an incredible improvement in his life.
Today was the big day. In the last six weeks he's had two treatments of chemo/antibodies and two treatments of just the antibodies. Today was the first day that they took scans to see how the new chemo was working...
His two largest tumors have shrunk by over 50%! The chemo/antibody combination have done exactly what we were all hoping for! It's so successful that they want him to do two more rounds of the chemo (like he did last time alternating between treatments of chemo/antibodies and just antibodies). Then the plan is to take him off of chemo and just keep going with the antibodies.
We look at this as no less than a miracle, and we are so grateful for friends and family who have kept Dad in your prayers, thoughts, well wishes, and good vibes. He's amazing! He's the strongest man I know, and we wouldn't be celebrating the incredible news today if it wasn't for his courage and determination to continue and the strength of his companion by his side.
We are blessed!
We've never seen much emotion from this doctor at all.
Today he was in shock!
This is the same doctor that only six weeks ago was encouraging Dick to get off chemo and enjoy the time he had left.
I asked the doctor if he was going to let Dick continue only on the antibody. The doctor thought it would be best to do 2 more cycles since he tolerated it pretty well and since there was so much shrinkage of the tumors. The plan is to continue with 2 more cycles. Do an echo to check on his heart. Then repeat the scans.
I worry about Dick continuing with this chemo because it is so toxic. I kind of wanted him to stop the chemo and just to continue on the antibody but Dick wants to do more chemo.
Cycle 3 was scheduled for today.
August 29, 2017
On our way home we stopped in Willard at our favorite fruit stand.
We bought some Rosa peaches.
Oh my goodness!
They are so delicious!
I think the best peaches ever!!!
I
I love this man!
