Chemo #8, a setback :-(

Sad but true. We have had a small set back and I have to admit we are both feeling a little despondent - Husband especially. What has happened is that the cancer marker, which had been going steadily down, suddenly reversed itself and went back up again - to 161, from 135.4. A small piece of good news (which does not wipe out the bad news really, at least from our perspective) is that all the liver function tests, which have had a lot of bad results over the last few months, have come back all good and clean, with all factors well within the normal range. Since one of these factors was what tipped off the oncologist that the cancer had spread to the bone, it is a relief to know that all those factors are now A-OK. On our next visit (14th Aug) Husband will have to do a CT Scan as well as the normal blood tests. The oncologist and the radiologist will then do a comparison to the previous CT Scan that was done at the beginning of June, and we can then see where we really are with the control of the cancer.

Anyway, the dosage of the Camptosar/Irinotecan drug has been "upped" again - not as high as it was when Husband had all kinds of awful side effects, but higher than the last dosage 2 weeks ago which was obviously not strong enough to fight the cancer. In addition, the UFT chemo pills (which Husband has been having at half dosage, ie. 1 pill every 8 hours, for the last 2 weeks) have been upped to full dosage of 6 pills a day (2 pills every 8 hours either one hour after or before food). If the side effects are mild, then he can continue on this dosage. If the side effects are horrendous again, then I have to halve the dosage again. We shall see how it goes.

So, I guess we are both feeling a little bit depressed right now. BUT, I don't want to let Husband "stay" depressed, so I am going to give him one or two days to feel angry, and then I have to do whatever I can to get him out of himself and cheer him up.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, as it is not easy, but I do know that with your prayers and your moral support we can definitely make it.

So, till next time, stay safe, stay HEALTHY.