Stable Scan? Check.

Brain caner is...

August 24 MRI.  Two views.

June scan (left) and July scan (right; see tumor cavity near finger)

  ...holding stable.

Although the radiologist's report is not yet published for our review, Dr. Park read the preliminary report during Darrell's appointment this morning.  Dr. Park and the preliminary report both conclude that the tumor is holding stable.  Phew.

We are awaiting the final report, and (as always) we will await Dr. Cloughesy's reading of it during our next UCLA appointment.

Treatment Updates (Technical Stuff)

• Darrell's blood pressure was incredible this morning:  116/58. (Darrell says his one-week retirement agrees with him.)
• His blood counts continue to be great.
• Dr. Park concludes that speech difficulties are likely due to the edema. If Darrell is indeed experiencing pseudo progression, that edema will eventually fade.  So only time will tell whether the difficulties are due to edema (temporary) or necrosis (tissue death; more permanent).  
• Darrell would like to see continued improvement in his speech. Given the likelihood that edema is the culprit, Dr. Park suggests that we talk with Dr. Cloughesy about increasing the steroid dosage slightly.  (The steroid--dexamethasone--keeps the edema in check.)
• We hadn't increased the dosage in the past because Darrell's current dosage (4 mg daily) is the maximal dose a patient can be on to qualify for a clinical trial.  Because Darrell appears to have no tumor growth (hurrah!), he in currently ineligible for a trial anyway. (Not a bad problem to have!)
• We will speak with Dr. Cloughesy to determine whether raising the dose even for a short time would render Darrell ineligible for future trials.
• Fun fact:  The most likely sort of trial in which Darrell might participate--if he faced tumor growth--is one of the immunotherapy trials.  We call that a "fun fact" because many of you Team D members have expressed, since the beginning, interest and enthusiasm for this emerging approach. 

Thanks for sharing in Big D's tentative good news.  More good news:  It's your weekend, Team D!

(P.S.  Today Darrell called me a "poopy chomp."  I think. He denies it.)