Plan B

Remember me from like 2 days ago? Well I should know by now that if I write an update post that within 24 hours something new and “fun” will happen. So let’s go over it:

Thursday shortly after morning I started feeling a dull pain in my lower right back, similar to that of a kidney stone. Well, hard to get stones in a kidney if it’s not there pal- trust me I googled just to make sure. So I tried to see if it would subside however as the day went on it got gradually worse and spread around the side and to the front, up towards my chest. Around 6pm it got to the point I knew I had to go to the ER.

So an EKG, blood and urine samples (not mixed together), and a CT scan were performed over the course of the next 4 hours. If you’re thinking ahead you probably have thought of gallbladder, pancreas, appendix or colon issues as a potential culprit but like I was, you are wrong. It turns out we have no clue why I was having this intense pain to be honest.

Enough of the good news though- what we did learn from the CT scan though is that yes, the cancer is growing and spreading. Luckily not growing or spreading at an alarming rate but please let me know what point of growth and spread isn’t alarming. So I got that news- from the hospital app and then the doctor who reminded me of Win Butler. Then was discharged and home at midnight.

Friday midday my oncologist called to discuss everything. Again, growth and spread but no organs and not a rapid spread so a relative win they call it. Next Thursday I was scheduled to do an infusion of my regularly scheduled Opdivo. Well my current treatment plan, Plan A, is officially over. We’re on to Plan B.

As a reminder:

Plan B: Bevacizumab aka Avastin plus Erlotinib aka Tarceva.

• Avastin aims to starve the cancer and prevent growth. It’s administered via IV.

  • Frequency: Every two weeks.

  • Duration: TBD.

• Tarceva is a daily pill that is “a first generation, selective, reversible inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase binding with high affinity to the common mutations occurring.”

  • Pretty sure we all got that, no explanation needed.

I still am grasping the full scope, effect and science of the new meds. From what I do know now both from doctors and patients on these meds- side effects should be less severe. You still get the standard cancer med goodie bag of fatigue, GI issues and nausea but I might be able to walk like a normal person or not wear two pairs of hospital socks and slides everyday!

So this coming Thursday I will start Avastin right away. Tarceva will come soon after however insurance paperwork has to be filed first. I also have a chest scan coming up in the next couple of weeks. The thought is that the brain MRI from 2 weeks ago, with the CT scan from the ER and this chest scan will fit together for a new baseline full body scan.

Again, my brain tells me that Plan A is the best option and any subsequent plans are not as strong. On the other hand every human and every cancer fight is unique so the doubt on my left shoulder is met with the optimism of a genetic win on my right shoulder. Telling you that optimism is outweighing the doubt would be a lie though. It’s not far off from balanced but doubt definitely has more weight at the moment. How could it not be?

And please know I am okay. My pain has gone down but still lingers but I am okay- that is the best and most accurate description I have right now. There will be ups and there will surely be downs but I will be okay, and if not then we go to Plan C. I’ve got a lot to live for and look forward to jc the future. So look for more updates on this new path in the coming weeks.

So as the great philosopher once said, “We don’t do the same drugs no more”

-Joe