Many thanks for all your support and encouraging words. Here's the
progress for this week.
We spoke with my oncologist today and things continue to move
ahead.
He's still not positive about the source of my cancer, but it
seems to be somewhere in the head/neck region. He wants to start
me on a combination of chemo and immune therapy next week. He is
confident that, with that, remission is achievable. Immune therapy, in particular, has a very
high success rate.
The treatments will be 1 week on then 2 weeks off. Each
treatment will mean I'll have to go into the clinic (about 30
minutes from home) each day on Mon-Thurs as an in-patient. The
chemo will continue for four cycles (12 weeks altogether) then
stop. The immune therapy will continue for longer.
After 2-3 cycles I'll have another scan to see if the treatment is
working.
He says I should be able to carry on my usual activities,
including Marine Rescue, during all this. Of course we'll need to
see what side effects happen, but they have ways to limit the side
effects that occur.
We're going into the clinic later on this week to meet with the
treatment team and learn the details of the treatment, so we
should have all our questions answered then.
My next report to you will probably be after the first cycle of
treatment, around September 1st.
I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about the side effects of the
chemo, but I'm encouraged that I'll be getting into it soon and
hoping for a good result.
Meanwhile, fingers crossed and thanks again for all your good
wishes and vibes.
...Doug
