Mon, Apr 25, 2016

Two text messages from Mom:

Ok this is the update. Chemo was not given today. Only fluid. Dr Shinn met with us. The scan was not designed to show clots only focusing on the cancer itself so we know nothing about them only he had to continue the shots due to the clotting caused by cancer. The treatment he has received controlled everything below the waist. He was pleased with that but the lesions on the bone have increased and more in the lung and the one is larger. Therefore this past treatment helped the one area but the other area is worse. He offered three options. A much stronger drug, a different drug, or nothing. In his opinion dad could not tolerate the stronger drug as he appears weak enough now. We chose to go with the new drug. The new drug attacks the bone more as well as the lower pancreatic lesions. He is giving him two weeks off. First chemo is may 9. This will be given once a week for seven weeks. Then off a week. He will be taking a shot once a month and must take calcium two times daily. News was not good but it also was not all bad and came with options. He also prescribed a cough med for him. And he had the shot.

The drug he will get is Gemzar one time a week x 7 wks. No pump. The shot is Xgeva. Once a month. Must take 600mg calcium 2xdaily. Must contain vitamin d. That is Xgeva That is the letter g after the x