Brain cancer is...
...a game for the players.
Today was the pre-chemo appointment with Dr. Park, seen here. In case I didn't tell you Dr. Park's helpful words when Darrell was still in the hospital, here they are. Dr. Park told us that if GBM were a football game, and you were a bettor, you wouldn't take the odds. However, if you are a player in this GBM game, then you play to win. 
In short, here's the game plan.
- Staples come out Wednesday 2/24. (Sorry fans!)
- Radiation simulation (dry run) is Monday evening 2/29. (That's gotta be Leap Year Lucky!)
- Chemo begins Monday night 2/29. (The chemo is an oral pill that basically makes the brain cells more responsive to the radiation.)
- Radiation begins Tuesday 3/1. (It runs M-F for about 6 weeks.)
Thanks, family and friends, not only for your caring support but also for your diligence in checking out clinical trials. The biggest news in oncology these days is immunotherapy based on targeted genetic results. Darrell's tumor cells are being analyzed at the Mayo Clinic right now, to determine whether he has the positive or negative version of a certain genetic marker. In either case, he'll be a potential participant for clinical trials, one associated with UCLA. Also, Dr. Park is sending us to UCLA for a second opinion with a renowned GBM specialist, Timothy Cloughesy.
Sometimes brain cancer is...a little much.
If my brother's on the field, I'll take those odds. Go Team Darrell!
ReplyDeleteAnd here you are on the field with him! Thanks!
DeleteGo team Darrell! And go team living in California! All the awesome professionals and opportunities FTW!!!
ReplyDeleteThat goes in the gratitude journal, C.
DeleteI like how Dr. Park thinks..." if you are a player in this GBM game, then you play to win" And every player needs a great team too - it certainly sounds like you have one!!!
ReplyDeleteWe really feel we do, Susan, including how many players are standing with us in this fight.
DeleteTeam Darrell for the win :) fans through thick and thin. We love you guys so much
ReplyDeleteAndi,
ReplyDeleteYou continue to amaze me! Your positivity and you and your husbands' attitudes are simply amazing. I have enjoyed reading the blog thus far and just today got an email from Sue Robertson about it. I will continue to read the blog and learn from the life lessons. BTW I started from the beginning so you may receive more comments later. :) Great to hear about UCLA. It is a great hospital!
Deanna Jung