Judith had her 6th chemo (3b) this last Friday (11th) and everything went as planned. The oncologist had had time to review the last tests fully and make a comparison with the original tests; the results were very pleasing: the Gallium scan was completely negative and the CT scan showed that the mass between the lungs had reduced in size from 7cm to 2cm. Given that this mass did not show up at all on the Gallium scan suggests that some, at least, of what shows on the CT scan is just scar tissue.
The original treatment plan was to give 8 chemo sessions - more correctly, 4 cycles, each with an "a" and a "b" - and then decide whether to finish off the mass in the chest with radiation or a further 2 cycles of chemo. Radiation is effective because it is very targeted and the treatment duration is relatively short - a couple of weeks. The downside, clinically, is that it hugely increases the risk of breast cancer before age 40 because of the location of treatment. Radiation would be indicated if the mass did not respond sufficiently to the chemo. However, the chemo results are very pleasing so it is most likely that a further 2 cycles of chemo will be given.
Clinically this is all very good news. There is, however, a non-clinical disappointment for Judith that I will let her tell you about herself when she gets on to update the blog later in the week. Today she is on the third or "sleepiest" day of the chemo cycle with things only slighty better tomorrow. Both days are days of intravenous hydration. Life should start picking up again on Tuesday.
Other News
Some brief other family news:
Last Sunday Sean made some amazing home-made ground-beef hamburger patties for Ingrid's birthday. Today is Sean's birthday.
Ingrid has a new work cell phone so we no longer have to put up with somebody else's voicemail greeting that nobody could change and Ingrid can actually listen to her messages.
Miriam has just come back from touring Prince Edward Island - with a kayak. (When are you going to contribute to the blog, Miriam?)
Mark has just come back from a combined business/swimming/vacation trip to San Francisco where he once again spent some time with an old boyhood friend, Saul Wainwright. (When are you going to contribute to the blog, Mark?)
Stephen only has another 2 weeks before he comes back from his summer job in England. Latest adventure was a weekend in the Scilly Isles.
Terry survived a processes audit at work.
Thank you to all of you, friends and family, for your continued interest and support.
