June 18, 2012 James has found Peace.

Let's Try This Again

Well, the clinical trial did not work too well.  I'm now going to start another infusion regiment, this time with Panitumumab.  Kind of rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?  I'll get an infusion every two weeks starting in May.  The good news is that it's all here in Austin!  I'm very happy about that!

Clinical Trial

My new home away from home, the Cancer Therapy Research Center, part of the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio. I'm currently in a clinical trial to test the bio-equivalence of two different doses of the trial drug TKI258, known on the streets as Dovinitib. I was happy to get into the trial and I'm getting to know San Antonio better, but I don't have to go there too often. My only complaint is that I feel like a pin cushion. They take a lot of blood samples!

Bummer!

I got the results from the last CT scan that I have been waiting on. The news is not good. The existing tumors are growing - all of them - and there are new ones in the abdomen and lymph nodes. My hopes for radio-frequency surgery are dashed, and my second hope that things would not be worse didn't work out. They still have a few treatment possibilities but it's all experimental now and I may not even be a candidate for some of them. What a bummer!

The good news is I can stop chemo for now, maybe forever. We'll see. If the tissue sample says I can try one of the treatments I will begin that in a few weeks. We'll keep an eye on things with more scans scheduled in January.

I still feel pretty good for now, and that is something I'm very grateful for. Whatever happens, it's all good! It's been good, it's good now, and it will continue to be good!!

Guest Post! Fitness and Cancer.

I recently met a cancer advocate who stumbled across this blog and wondered if I'd share something he wrote about fitness and cancer. The timing is good - as usual I'm not getting enough exercise and could use a good reminder. Thanks David for the post!

Improving The Odds: Physical Fitness and Cancer

The physical abuses and psychological impact of cancer treatments are difficult enough without worrying about recovery after it is over. Fortunately, recent research, such as has been conducted by the National Cancer Institute, has found that not only can physical fitness programs keep cancer from coming back, but can also accelerate recovery. This is important since, in 2008, it was estimated that almost 12 million people had survived this debilitating disease.

There are many benefits to physical exercise prior to diagnosis, during treatment, and especially during recovery. In women with breast cancer, for example, studies found that exercising 3 to 5 hours per week improved survival rates, reduced fatigue, and decreased the likelihood that cancer would reappear. Additionally, those with cancers that were more resistant to treatment, such as mesothelioma, found that exercise improved their quality of life.

At one time the only thing doctors could tell people was to go home, take it easy, and get some rest. Even when cancer treatments were developed this was still the case. It took additional research to discover that something as basic as physical activity could make all the difference in the world both physically and psychologically.

The benefits of exercise are particularly pronounced in women with tumors that are hormone responsive. Exercises can be done either at home or in a gym with equal success. In fact, it has been determined that there is few things as crippling as inactivity. Despite this fact, guidelines have been developed for those undertaking a physical education program.

Different types of cancer require alternative treatments as well as exercise regimes. For example, women that have undergone breast cancer treatment often have limited mobility in their shoulders. Therefore, exercises need to focus on stabilizing and strengthening surrounding muscles. For many people treatment can make them so sick that they just cannot exercise. However, even a modest amount is beneficial and there is no harm in taking a few days off.

For cancer patients and doctors the ultimate goal is survival. There is a growing body of research that links physical activity with an improved quality of life, increased energy, and more positive attitudes for those that are undergoing treatment. However, the most promising evidence comes from those that have successfully completed treatment programs and are following rigorous daily exercise programs.

Numbers

I had some rare good news today - my CEA number (tumor marker) went way down to it's lowest level ever recorded! I'll know more when I have my next CT scan in a few weeks but I'm told the lower the CEA number, the less likely that the tumors are very active. I hope those tumors are shrinking or dying off. Not likely, but the numbers give me hope!

CT Scanner Dude

I had another CT scan yesterday and the results were OK. Some good news in that several tumors shrunk and even crystallized (which I hear is good), but others grew (which I know is bad). I don't know why they all don't just die out, but we'll keep trying. For now we are going to keep an eye out on my tumor markers and stick with the current program. That's fine with me as I am feeling well and getting ready for some cool weather in Colorado! McNally Open here we go!