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!

That was Quick

I had the quickest infusion ever today! My schedule is every Tuesday, and two out of three weeks are "light" weeks where I just get one drug administered (Erbitux). Every third week I have a "heavy" infusion day where I get two chemo drugs and of course a lot of anti-nausea drugs as well and that takes a long time.

Today I was in and out in two hours, which is a new record! In addition, my tumor numbers have stayed low so far with the new treatment so it appears to be working well. To top it off I'm feeling good! I try to appreciate every day and it sure is easy when things are going well!!

Two Years!

It's been two years since I found out I had cancer. It's been quite an adventure, to say the least. I could not have made it without the support, love and prayers from my wife, family and friends. Thank you all for helping me through this difficult journey!

I'm feeling good these days and I'm very grateful for that. I'm on a regular schedule and the numbers are staying low for now so that is also good news! Here's to 2 - er - 5 more years!!!

Hair!

As you can see from the photo, my hair is growing back! I lost it using the old chemo, because that stuff killed everything. The new chemo I'm using is "targeted" so my hair should grow back. I have a new routine now with the new drug - I have to go in every week instead of every other week. The good news is that I don't have to wear the chemo pump for three days. I think it's a fair trade off.

Nagative is Positive!

I finally got the results from the test and the result was negative, which is what we wanted. I don't have to go to San Antonio - that's where they were going to send me if the test was positive. I'm so grateful that I don't have to go out of town for treatments. I'm feeling good, probably since I've had a chemo break for the last several weeks. It's back to the infusion center on April 26th, but in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy this time. Celebrate every day, that's what I say...

Is the cure worse than the the disease?

Is the cure worse than the the disease? I doubt it, but it seems that way sometimes. I've lost 50 pounds! Last week they did a biopsy on the liver and an MRI on my brain. The MRI on my brain showed no activity (who knew?). That was good news.

They are going to use the tissue from the biopsy to do a test and based on the results they will recommend a cocktail of drugs to use.

The surgeon

I had an appointment with my surgeon yesterday. The good news is that I won’t need surgery yet. I’m not even a candidate for surgery for the cancer, this is something else – in case I get “clogged up” they may have to put a stent in. I was very anxious about the visit – I have said before that if you go a surgeon eventually he’s going to recommend surgery. Kind of like if you hang out at a barbershop you’re going get a haircut. Not me, of course – no hair anywhere. One thing about being bald – you don’t have to pay for haircuts anymore! Life is good!

Bad-bad-good

The last six or eight weeks have been good and bad. I got very sick after treatment two and four weeks ago, but I'm glad to say that this week was much better. I'm feeling pretty good, just very tired. The new treatment is working well, so that makes up for the side effects. I have another CT scan scheduled for the end of January to see if there is any new "activity". Right now I''m feeling good and I have 12 days of freedom!! Celebrate every day!!

Baldy

The new drugs I've been taking really had the hair coming out, so I decided to shave it all off. It looked really bad and I'm not sure I can pull off the bald look, but I really don't have a choice.

The good news is that I am responding well to the new drugs, so I got that going for me, which is nice...

Up and Down

My CEA tumor marker has been going up, so my doctorordered a CT scan this past week. The scan was OK, but
some tumors had increased in size enough so that my doctor is going to change the medication I'm getting. She's going to start me on Avastin, and said that a lot of patients have had success with that drug. They told me at the beginning that this would happen - you use one drug until it stops working, then change to another. I'm actually looking forward to the change - I was starting to get tired of the side effects of the old drug. Now I'll just get new side effects! As long as it works, that's all I'm interested in!!

Steady as She Goes

I've been on a routine and things are going fairly well. I had my 4th straight "good number" with the CEA reading, so I think we are going to stay on this schedule for a while. I go in every other Tuesday and have the pump on until Thursday when I get "disconnected". I still get neuropathy from the chemo, but it isn't too bad. As a matter of fact, I was able to swim today at Barton Springs (for a little while).

Something is Working!

I've had five sessions in a row now, and things seem to be working well. I had a CT scan on Monday and the results were good - a decrease in size of the "multiple liver lesions suggesting response to therapy" and "no additional evidence to suggest progression of metastatic disease". My CEA numbers have also dropped four sessions in a row, to its lowest level in a year. I think the new doctor's aggressive treatment is working! I'm trying not to get overly excited about this because they still can't "cure" me, but any good news like this is very welcome indeed!

They tried to make me go to rehab, I said "No, no, no"!

Actually I said "Yes". I started a program at Seton for cancer patients who are experiencing fatigue after chemo treatments. It's a study that started out from the Lance Armstrong Foundation and now is a State program and Seton received a grant. They take patients like me and run them through an exercise program over the course of 3 to 6 months to tell if it will reduce fatigue. I think the results are obvious; if you exercise, your fatigue will decrease. The cool thing about this is that I basically have a personal trainer now twice a week - for FREE!

Back in the Saddle Again

I had my first treatment in a long time today, and I'm glad to be back. The doctor is going to give me a shot for the white blood cells on Thursday when I get my pump disconnected, so we're hoping that won't be a problem anymore. You never know.

It's been a while - I'm feeling very tired, and that metallic taste in my mouth, and the sensitivity to cold... but I'm still happy we got it done. Time to kill some cancer cells!