Move it

It is important to eat healthy and to be active. So says NBC News and this recent study: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/colon-cancer-survivors-live-longer-healthy-habits-n761231. I'm not at 30-60 minutes of activity a day but I listen to my body and do what I can. Can't let the treadmill start collecting dust.

Less is more

• Bloodwork, appointment with Dr. T NP A and treatment (Irinotecan #2) at Siteman South County

We had a good conversation today with NP A, who (whom? not sure) I hadn't seen in awhile. We're going to alter a couple of my support prescriptions to see if I can get through these next 2 weeks with less side effects. I'd really like that. After my first round, I experienced all 11 of the most common side effects (that affect more than 30% of users.) I didn't get any of the less common side effects... so I guess that's something.

The Neupogen injections paid off, as my ANC was in the normal range... so we'll repeat that pattern again next week before round three.

Overdressed for this place today

• Neupogen injection at the Cancer Care Clinic at Big Barnes

Come Tuesday, we'll find out if all these injections have helped...

Another one down

• Neupogen injection at the Cancer Care Clinic at Big Barnes

3 Down 2 To Go

• Neupogen injection at Siteman West County

2/5

• Neupogen injection at Siteman West County

Boosting

• Neupogen injection at Siteman West County

http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/Neupogen.aspx

Checking in

• Bloodwork at Siteman West County

Today's bloodwork gave Dr. T an idea of how the Irinotecan has affected my blood counts. And it looks my body needs some assistance in recovering, so he's scheduled 5 days of Neupogen injections.

Carry on

Irinotecan

• Bloodwork, appointment with Dr. T and treatment at Siteman South County

We reviewed my latest scans with Dr. T - tumor growth and new tumors in the liver, tumor growth and new tumors in the peritoneum, tumor growth in the pelvis and tumor growth and new tumors in both lobes of both lungs. Basically (and as noted in the MRI and CT reports) - it is the progression of my metastatic disease.

So today I started a chemotherapy drug that has a 50% chance of helping. It is the best option available to me. There is a 20% chance that it will help to shrink my tumors, a 30% chance that it will help my tumors to remain stable and a 50% chance that it will not help at all. That's where we're at... 50%. And with that 50% comes the information that the average survival for patients who are in the place to need to start Irinotecan is one year. Of course that is just the average, some patients survive for years and some patients survive for less. All together, it is a lot of difficult information to process.

http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/irinotecan.aspx

Irinotecan is often given with a couple of other drugs and the combination is referred to as Folfori. However, based on my low blood counts and the importance of being to get Irinotecan right away and every other week without interruption, Dr. T thought it was best to start just with the Irinotecan today and to add the support drugs as possible.