Next Steps

Appointment at Tom Baker Cancer Clinic

 

You know you've been there way too many times when you recognize and comment on how a lot of the usual nurses are away.

However, familiarity isn't always bad - when Jacqui's doctor came in to the examination room, we were all happy to see each other - not in this situation necessarily but he's such a nice, caring man and we feel so good in his hands. 

He was just gathering information before we got there - as I mentioned last time the documents were just sent to him on Friday, but he had called Dr. McFadden to discuss everything and he was starting to form a plan. 

The real issue here is the position of the newest tumor.  As mentioned before it is between the ribs, at the back, near the spine - to operate would be very difficult because of where it is located and they don't want to run the risk of not getting it all.  That's where treating it with radiation or chemo comes in.  If they can kill the tumor with radiation or shrink it with chemo, this should also take care of the spots that are in her lung as well. 

After taking some time to talk to the radiation specialist they determined that radiation wasn't the best bet because the tumor is just too close to the spine.  So it looks like it will be chemo.  In her last bout, she had pretty much her limit of the type she was given - the primary chemo cocktail that they use for Synovial Sarcoma. - doxorubicin and ifosfomide - but Dr. Puloski said that there are secondary ones that they use that can be very effective as well - there is also the possibility of clinical trials. 

He also determined that this tumor was the cause of some pain that Jacqui has been having in her back as well as a couple of bouts of more severe pain she's had over the last little while.   

So next steps - next Monday, there will be a panel discussion on her case where they will decide the best course of action for treatment.  After that, we should hear about an appointment with Dr. Morrison, her chemo doctor (he wasn't there today for consultation) and she'll probably have to get another PET scan before they start on anything. 

So in the meantime, she's going back to work tomorrow - once again they are being very accommodating for her and we'll just be waiting to hear when her next appointment is - Dr. Puloski didn't seem to think it will take to long to get things started - I hope not!!!

And of course she still wants to go to Disneyland (grow up Jacqui- haha - I've created a monster).

I want to say thank you again from all of us for the outpouring of love that so many of you have shown us in so many wonderful ways.

Today we arrived home to this:

So much love!  Life and love go on in spite of everything!

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: 

the last of human freedoms -

to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances,

to choose one's own way.

-Viktor Frankl