2013/Jan/11
No More Chemo

This techno- peasant has just realized that I can't reply directly to people who respond to my blog by sending a response privately back to their email because it is blocked. A heartfelt thanks to each response sent!

This week found us back at the oncologist on Tuesday; no more chemo is planned. It was an easy decision to stop the current regime which is clearly not working; without any further evidence required from other imaging. The evidence being numerous sub-cutaneous lesions and other tumors which have grown over time on this regime and pain which continues to grow. The next possibility was another harsher chemo, but both the doctor and I felt I would not manage it well seeing I am barely managing things currently.

My tummy has not been doing well this week, but it is still "managing".  I have almost no appetite. The tumor from my back is pressing on innervation to my gut which makes it hard pressed to move food through normally. There is strong suspicion that there is tumor in my gut which also doesn't help. Use of high doses of pain killers also adds to the picture...

At the moment I think we are in a bit of a holding pattern until the "next thing" arises. The pain has actually improved in the last 2 days, but unsure why. Without chemo to help with symptom control we do have other drugs to use or radiation should the need arise.

Thanks again for ongoing support.