IL-2 and Me

I consider myself and have been called a fairly strong person. Well, IL-2 just beat me down and had me screaming uncle! And that was just the first week, I do it again next Tuesday the 2nd.
I got 8 doses done before I lost all mental capabilities and the Dr.'s stopped the treatment, so I probably won't do as many on the second trip.

Of course if I get positive results than it's the best thing that ever happened to me but for now it's truly Demon Juice.

It's time for the IL-2

After further review of the past 12 months worth of CT scans the Doctors said I have three tumors. One on the Left Kidney, Right lung and Right 12th rib, which is getting painful. I am scheduled to start IL-2 treatment on the 19th of August and then again on September 2nd. I am not looking forward to it but it's the best chance at a remission or at least stop any new cancer from developing.

Give me a break!

I had the post rib removal scans on July 21st. Much to my surprise there is a visible lesion about 2cm in the renal bed area in towards the spine but not at the spine. The doctor said it was visible back in April but very subtle and easily missed.
So now I wait for the surgeon to return to work so he can offer his opinion as to whether or not surgery is possible. I am interested in something minimally invasive like RFA or Cryoablation. Otherwise I will be looking at doing IL2 in the hospital. It's the only real shot at a lasting remission.
I can't seem to catch a break...but it could be worse.

The Rib is gone

Sorry it took so long for me to post. I had the surgery and a portion of the right 10th rib was removed. While the surgeon was in there..the blob on the scan was actually a hernia allowing the liver to squeeze into my chest cavity...and while he was looking at my liver he noticed a small spot on the liver. He removed the spot, which was cancer, fixed the hernia, put some prosthetic mesh material where the rib was and closed me up.
This was a very painful sugery, I was out of work for about 4 weeks. Doing better now but still get very stiff and sore at times.
Now I wait. The next CT scan is July 21st. Maybe I can get an extended period without having to deal with this cancer.

Vegas Baby!

Did I mention I’m off to Las Vegas this evening? I was invited to participate in a company bowling tournament. It should be fun even though I am a very average bowler.
Anyway, a little fun before the surgery.

Another Surgery Scheduled...

Well, the Doctor at Vanderbilt called me this past Sunday, April 6th, to say that he “over read” the scans and that it wasn’t as bad as he thought and that the tumor was still isolated to just the rib. What a relief.
I made the trip to Vanderbilt yesterday, April 9th, to meet the Thoracic surgeon…nice guy…dry sense of humor…made me laugh. Anyway, he showed me the scans that caused the hubub, the PET scan shows activity on the rib and not in the lung…the recent CT scan shows either a scan anomoly or a huge tumor coming from the rib into the lung. If it’s tumor on the lung it’s big and you’d think I’d feel it or have symptoms but the doctor said himself, he didn’t know but since he was going to be cutting me open he’d go ahead and take a look and if it’s there, he’ll take it out. Thanks doc. It’s interesting to note that the radiologist report for that CT simply states lungs are clear, so I have to think it’s a scan anomoly.
So anyway, surgery is on April 29th, I will go up on the 28th for pre-op stuff. He will cut out as much rib as necessary and whatever else he sees. Don’t know how long I’ll be there, a couple of days I would imagine. He said it would be a good 4 to 6 week recovery but I think I can beat that.
I’ll be honest, I really don’t feel like doing another surgery but know I have to. It’s getting old but I must continue to fight this cancer. After this though, unless it’s an easy to get tumor, I think it’s time for a trip to hell and try High Dose IL2. I haven’t been avoiding it…just going on the advice of doctors…now this doctor says if or when the cancer comes back, it’s time to give it a shot. It’s really the only chance I have at a lasting remission. I just don’t like all the hospital time and missed work.
I’ll do what I have to do.

What to do about the rib

After further review and needlessly watching…the rib tumor has grown and grown into the chest cavity. Not sure if it’s at the lung. I will meet with a Thoracic surgeon next week to see if it can be got. Otherwise I will be looking at Cyberknife or drug treatment.
I’m a litte pissed because we knew it was there back in January but because the gallbladder reared it’s head, the rib took a backseat and now when we finally get to it, it’s grown and into a bad spot.
The Dr. suggested that this be my last surgery. He wants to move on to HD IL2 or other systemic treatment in the future. We’ll see.

Gallbladder Gone

Had scans on January 16th…gallbladder had a tumor on it and something still showing around that 10th right rib. Had surgery on February 7th at Vanderbilt to remove the gallbladder. It was done laparoscopically so it wasn’t too bad, still a little sore. Going back on the 25th for follow up and discuss what to do about the rib.
Fortunately the gallbladder isn’t required but eventually I’m going to run out of parts to remove. Hopefully if we take care of the rib that will be it for a while.