Plan B

No shrinkage. I traveled to appointments at MD Anderson last week to measure tami again. There has been no additional shrinkage. Now we're moving to plan B. Plan B is the original plan A we were going to try back in April, but I had to be on the Sandostatin shot for at least two months before I was eligible. Plan B is the Exploratory Study of Avastin and RAD001 in Advanced or Low or Intermediate grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma. Protocal 2006-0954. For inquiring minds who want to read further: http://utm-ext01a.mdacc.tmc.edu/dept/prot/clinicaltrialswp.nsf/Index/2006-0954. Since we had a couple of months before I could join the trial back in April, we decided to give the combination of Xeloda and Temodar a try. It was a noble effort with good results at first, but we are no longer getting the results I need. Time to move on. I won't be sorry to see the Xeloda go, but I do wish it would have worked.

If I'm a qualified candidate, I'll start as soon as next week on the pre-testing for this trial. I am looking forward to being in an actual study. I'll need to spend a little more time in H-town and more frequently, but it'll be worth it.

On another note, I've added a new Doc to my arsenal. Dr. L. is a Nutritional Oncologist here in Austin. He's great and he's helped me understand some dietary benefits of eating a certain way, discontinuing some of my current diet practices and trying new supplements. Sure, I'm a little crabby about not having tomatoes or pineapple, but big picture, I can do without. Oddly enough, I could give a rats arse about not having chocolate. Who would've thought?

I'll keep you posted so keep checking the blog or my facebook page for updates. I feel great, especially since I haven't been on chemo since August. Thanks for the support and prayers.

smack, smack
jan

PS. I posted the photo of my lovely yellow drink (in the previous blog) while I was in Houston. It was my prep for a CT scan. Contrary to some of the comments received after posting, it's not actually urine. Dr. F. does not make me drink urine as a treatment for this cancer. He's not like that. I believe it is barium or Gastroview. Apple juice is mixed with it to make it taste less like ear wax. Yes, ear wax. Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. Everyone knows what ear wax tastes like.