28th August, 2018
Follow-up today.
We first met with Nick's radiation oncologist, Dr. Ahmad, who was quite pleased with Nick's response to treatment. The tumours in Nick's brain seemed to have been destroyed or at least deactivated, and Nick's neurological symptoms have abated. Nick's dyslexia, most likely due to the anti-seizure medications, is gradually improving.
We then met up with the inimitable Dr. Potvin, who laid out a treatment plan for the school year. A recent CT scan shows that, while many of the larger lung tumours have shrunk considerably since he started treatment in February, there are about five new tumours active now. Fortunately, they're small (< 2 cm) and peripheral, and so are not directly menacing Nick's airways or major blood vessels. Nonetheless, Nick's coughing more frequently now, and so treatment has been ordered to start on Thursday. He'll receive treatment every 3 weeks in London (with one additional shot 8 days later). This should keep the cancer at bay while he attends his Funeral Director program at Humber's Etobicoke campus.
Dr. Potvin also told us that the genetic sequencing done on Nick's tumour DNA did not turn up any actionable mutation, but then, there was only a slim chance of a positive result for this. Oh well. The study is ongoing and they'll keep expanding the number of suspect genes tested, so maybe an actionable driver mutation will eventually surface.
Today (the 28th) we had a consultation with Dr. Rouzada, Nick's hemotologist. He'd been referred to her because of a blood clot in the lungs. He'd been on blood thinner injections (Dalteparin) for this, but had to discontinue because of the July brain bleed that induced seizures and landed him in the ICU. They're scheduling him for an ultrasound of the legs on Thursday, as the legs are often the site of blood clot origin.
So, Nick's off to Humber on Sunday, and we'll hope for the best. I must say that we're pretty tense about having Nick all the way in Etobicoke in his condition. We'll have an emergency care plan in place for Nick should any horrendous situation arise - seizures, severe bleeding, stroke, etc. - all the delightful possibilities that this disease provides. However, Nick's life has been on hold for 5+ years, and as long as he's not actually hospitalized, then he wants to get moving. We just want to return to work as well.
Nick's brother, Vincent, moved out at the end of July, and it's been great. He's with terrific room-mates and will be attending Western this fall for neuroscience. We're not quite empty nesters, as we have a great puppy who's growing by leaps and bounds. Douglas is up to 27 lbs as of today.
We first met with Nick's radiation oncologist, Dr. Ahmad, who was quite pleased with Nick's response to treatment. The tumours in Nick's brain seemed to have been destroyed or at least deactivated, and Nick's neurological symptoms have abated. Nick's dyslexia, most likely due to the anti-seizure medications, is gradually improving.
We then met up with the inimitable Dr. Potvin, who laid out a treatment plan for the school year. A recent CT scan shows that, while many of the larger lung tumours have shrunk considerably since he started treatment in February, there are about five new tumours active now. Fortunately, they're small (< 2 cm) and peripheral, and so are not directly menacing Nick's airways or major blood vessels. Nonetheless, Nick's coughing more frequently now, and so treatment has been ordered to start on Thursday. He'll receive treatment every 3 weeks in London (with one additional shot 8 days later). This should keep the cancer at bay while he attends his Funeral Director program at Humber's Etobicoke campus.
Dr. Potvin also told us that the genetic sequencing done on Nick's tumour DNA did not turn up any actionable mutation, but then, there was only a slim chance of a positive result for this. Oh well. The study is ongoing and they'll keep expanding the number of suspect genes tested, so maybe an actionable driver mutation will eventually surface.
So, Nick's off to Humber on Sunday, and we'll hope for the best. I must say that we're pretty tense about having Nick all the way in Etobicoke in his condition. We'll have an emergency care plan in place for Nick should any horrendous situation arise - seizures, severe bleeding, stroke, etc. - all the delightful possibilities that this disease provides. However, Nick's life has been on hold for 5+ years, and as long as he's not actually hospitalized, then he wants to get moving. We just want to return to work as well.
Nick's brother, Vincent, moved out at the end of July, and it's been great. He's with terrific room-mates and will be attending Western this fall for neuroscience. We're not quite empty nesters, as we have a great puppy who's growing by leaps and bounds. Douglas is up to 27 lbs as of today.
Besides the pup, the other good news is that Nick and Alex got engaged earlier this month. We threw them a great (if at times crazy) party on August 18th. Great food, good times. Check out the food platter that Alex's mom arrived with!
My mom Susan, who is between contracts and has been living near Fort St. James, BC, has been staying with us this summer. She'll be looking after her friend Donja, who's recovering well from her heart transplant surgery in late June, and who will be coming to stay with us for three weeks starting next Wednesday.
Tanja's father, Richard, continues to battle compications of leukemia. He's kept alive by constant transfusions, and is currently at Vic trying to kick a bout of pneumonia. We're praying he can get better. He's very sick, and seems to have lost most of his muscle mass.
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