Round One

Greetings! OH MY GOODNESS . . . just finished my first round of chemo, and it was a doozy. But first, let me tell you about the clinical trial I'm on.

Each cycle is 28 days. At the beginning of each cycle I go in for a myriad of tests. Initially I had the brain MRI (may not have to do that again). Then they try to drain all of my blood out in the process of doing countless blood tests. I also do an EKG and a CAT scan. If all tests come back OK, which they did, I start the drugs. On days 1 through 5 I take a chemo PILL call tamadar. It is a 'standard of care' chemo treatment. Along with this I take a drug that is a trial drug made by Abbott that is a PARP inhibitor. Apparently a PARP inhibitor is a drug that blocks PARP proteins from performing their roles in repairing damaged cancer cells. The point is to try to make the chemo more effective. Anyway, I take the PARP inhibitors twice a day for days 1 through 7. Then 21 days off - yay!

They told me that most patients have very mild side effects. No hair loss, minimal nausea, some constipation (I know, TMI) and tiredness. I can live with that. Well, I guess I'm not most patients. Even though they gave me anti-nausea medication, it didn't seem to help. It was horrible. We had to get creative to keep the pills down, but I got through it. And I figure, if I'm getting this sick, just imagine how those little cancer cells must be feeling!

So back we went to The Angeles Clinic Tuesday so they could take some more of my blood. Lab results came back great and they have something different for me to try for the next round to combat the nausea. They say 'most patients' have fewer side effects on subsequent rounds. God, please let me be like other people!!!!!

Anyway, that's it for now. I'm feeling much, much better. I just want all of you to know how much all of your thoughts and prayers mean to us. Even though we don't speak to each and every one of you, we know you are out there saying prayers and sending us your love. Your love and support mean the world to us and it is such an important part of my healing. Thanks for all you do!