Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Mike had his meeting today with his oncologist. The CEA which we were hoping would still be low has raised to 39.9 so that indicates that the cancer is coming back. Mike was very disappointment with this result as he has been really regimented in his diet and the supplements he is taking as well as the weekly Vitamin C treatments.
I felt that this was our best visit with the oncologist. He seemed much more open to other options of treatment and even suggested that Mike get another opinion from a colorectal oncologist. He said that since he treats all different types of cancer, that seeing a more specialized oncologist that there may be other options and newer treatments for Mike to try. He mentioned Hersey Medical Center right here in Pennsylvania, Sloan Kettering in New York City, and one more that we cannot remember. I know a couple of people who have gone to Sloan Kettering for lunch cancer and have had wonderful results.
Mike opted to take the oral chemotherapy pill, (Capecitabine is a prodrug, that is enzymatically converted to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the body.) The 5FU is one of the drugs that was in the "cocktail" of drugs that Mike received his chemo intraveneously. The 2 possible side effects the doctor told Mike he could get would be diarrhea and Hand foot syndrome which is (reddening, swelling, numbness and skin sloughing or peeling) on palms of the hands and soles of the feet (and, occasionally, on the knees, elbows, and elsewhere) that can occur in patients with cancer. However, he thought that these would be unlikely. We are hoping that is the case, He will take 2 tablets in the morning and 2 tablets in the afternoon every day for 2 weeks. He will then go off the tablets for 1 week. He will repeat this cycle 3 times. At that time, another CEA level will be done.
We have decided that we also want to pursue seeing a colorectal oncologist at Sloan Kettering as well to find out what they think of Mike's condition and what other options they may have for him.
Mike is still continuing with a variety of his supplements and his strict no carb/sugar diet and his infra red sauna treatments. We will see how things go with this next step in his treatment.
I will repost when I have more information about scheduling an appointment at Sloan Kettering and with the results of Mike taking the oral chemo tablets.
Mike had his meeting today with his oncologist. The CEA which we were hoping would still be low has raised to 39.9 so that indicates that the cancer is coming back. Mike was very disappointment with this result as he has been really regimented in his diet and the supplements he is taking as well as the weekly Vitamin C treatments.
I felt that this was our best visit with the oncologist. He seemed much more open to other options of treatment and even suggested that Mike get another opinion from a colorectal oncologist. He said that since he treats all different types of cancer, that seeing a more specialized oncologist that there may be other options and newer treatments for Mike to try. He mentioned Hersey Medical Center right here in Pennsylvania, Sloan Kettering in New York City, and one more that we cannot remember. I know a couple of people who have gone to Sloan Kettering for lunch cancer and have had wonderful results.
Mike opted to take the oral chemotherapy pill, (Capecitabine is a prodrug, that is enzymatically converted to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the body.) The 5FU is one of the drugs that was in the "cocktail" of drugs that Mike received his chemo intraveneously. The 2 possible side effects the doctor told Mike he could get would be diarrhea and Hand foot syndrome which is (reddening, swelling, numbness and skin sloughing or peeling) on palms of the hands and soles of the feet (and, occasionally, on the knees, elbows, and elsewhere) that can occur in patients with cancer. However, he thought that these would be unlikely. We are hoping that is the case, He will take 2 tablets in the morning and 2 tablets in the afternoon every day for 2 weeks. He will then go off the tablets for 1 week. He will repeat this cycle 3 times. At that time, another CEA level will be done.
We have decided that we also want to pursue seeing a colorectal oncologist at Sloan Kettering as well to find out what they think of Mike's condition and what other options they may have for him.
Mike is still continuing with a variety of his supplements and his strict no carb/sugar diet and his infra red sauna treatments. We will see how things go with this next step in his treatment.
I will repost when I have more information about scheduling an appointment at Sloan Kettering and with the results of Mike taking the oral chemo tablets.
