I certainly have been slacking with this blog. Third treatment and week off for round 2 are behind us. Anxiety was running high on Sunday night as Jim and I prepared to drive down on Monday (8th) to have all the labs and restaging scans done. Testing was finished by 3:30 or so and we headed to Leila’s. Enjoyed our weekly Thai food and visit with Leila, Maura and Jett. Jim and Maura got to see each other again. Pretty sure they last met at our wedding 25 yrs ago! It was such a beautiful day. Maura and I took Jett for a walk after dinner and it felt great to move around after all that sitting and stress.

Tuesday morning we met with the protocol nurse and an MD we had not seen before due to Dr. Blobe being out of town. There are 3 areas they look at for status/progress. Clinical status (labs, how I’m feeling and doing), scans, and tumor marker. Clinically I’m told that I’m doing fine. A bit more fatigued, at times more appetite than others, but overall doing as well as expected. The initial reading on the CT scans is that the main tumor and mets seem stable with no new growths. The scans will be more closely scrutinized to directly compare selected lesions from this study to the first study there on Jan 5 with results at our appointment next week. The tumor marker is another story. It is high. Well, not just high, it has tripled. We were devastated. Doc says hey, we have 2 out of 3, we’re moving forward with treatment.

We pick up some lunch and head to the treatment room for the first session of round three. Jim gets to meet Kim and see how all the treatment stuff works. The Benadryl I get before the stealth bomber drug always makes me sleepy so I’m not the best company once that hits. Treatment and the ride home are smooth sailing.

It’s spring break so Luke is home and Brent isn’t working so it’s great that all three kids are there when we arrive. Jenna reminds us that Dr. Blobe has said more than once the criteria he places the least emphasis on is the tumor marker. I had forgotten that and it softens the blow a bit. I still wonder what he’ll say when we see him next week. We have a few things to do in the meantime including celebrating Luke’s birthday today.

So, let’s remind the stealth bomber and gemcitabine to get to melting these tumors, direct some prayer and energy at that damn marker, bake a birthday cake and get to the Y!