Wednesday Update
My Dad wrote this up after I received a phone call from Dr D my oncologist. I placed the call on speaker so we could both listen. My Dad wrote up this report and I edited it a bit.
Lincoln January 6, 2016
At about 4:00 Lincoln received a call from Dr. D, his main oncologist at MSK. I listened in on speaker phone.
Lincoln had been scheduled to go into MSK on Monday, January 11 to start an infusion for a trial drug. Dr. D and his team met and reviewed every detail of Lincoln’s case.
The results of the trial drug have been mixed. Some sarcoma patients had no favorable results at all. After the initial and only infusion, it takes 4 to 6 weeks to determine if this drug is working.
(The words Dr. D used was disappointing results).
The Dr. D team is proposing another approach that they believe offers a better result. They want to move as rapidly as possible. It is a drug called Trabectedin (brand name Yondelis) made by Janssen in NJ specifically for targeting sarcoma. This drug was approved for use in USA on October 23, and at MSK in December. He said results so far are promising. The drug is delivered by infusion through a Metaport. The Metaport is to be installed as early next week as can be arranged. It will be put into the chest below the collarbone and go directly to a major vein. There will two doses 3 weeks apart. The first dose can be on the day that the Metaport is installed. (Like with other chemo drugs I have been on, after two does I will be re-imaged with CT scan to see if my tumors are indeed getting smaller).
We asked about the status of my older brother's proposal for the serotonin. After a few questions from the FDA it was given their approval. The IRB (internal review board at MSK) has also given their approval. Presently, contract negotiations are being perused between the company and MSK. Dr D believes that the pills may be in hand as a plan B if the new drug does not give good results. With good results the new drug will continue to be used.
- end of my Dad’s write up.
A couple more points I asked:
The pathology of the biopsy on the 23rd confirmed the same Sarcoma.
The pathology of the fluid in my lungs showed abnormal cells within the fluid. This is scary because it means the cancer is spreading around more in the left lung.
So I stopped my Plavix yet again to have the port installed.
Lincoln January 6, 2016
At about 4:00 Lincoln received a call from Dr. D, his main oncologist at MSK. I listened in on speaker phone.
Lincoln had been scheduled to go into MSK on Monday, January 11 to start an infusion for a trial drug. Dr. D and his team met and reviewed every detail of Lincoln’s case.
The results of the trial drug have been mixed. Some sarcoma patients had no favorable results at all. After the initial and only infusion, it takes 4 to 6 weeks to determine if this drug is working.
(The words Dr. D used was disappointing results).
The Dr. D team is proposing another approach that they believe offers a better result. They want to move as rapidly as possible. It is a drug called Trabectedin (brand name Yondelis) made by Janssen in NJ specifically for targeting sarcoma. This drug was approved for use in USA on October 23, and at MSK in December. He said results so far are promising. The drug is delivered by infusion through a Metaport. The Metaport is to be installed as early next week as can be arranged. It will be put into the chest below the collarbone and go directly to a major vein. There will two doses 3 weeks apart. The first dose can be on the day that the Metaport is installed. (Like with other chemo drugs I have been on, after two does I will be re-imaged with CT scan to see if my tumors are indeed getting smaller).
We asked about the status of my older brother's proposal for the serotonin. After a few questions from the FDA it was given their approval. The IRB (internal review board at MSK) has also given their approval. Presently, contract negotiations are being perused between the company and MSK. Dr D believes that the pills may be in hand as a plan B if the new drug does not give good results. With good results the new drug will continue to be used.
- end of my Dad’s write up.
A couple more points I asked:
The pathology of the biopsy on the 23rd confirmed the same Sarcoma.
The pathology of the fluid in my lungs showed abnormal cells within the fluid. This is scary because it means the cancer is spreading around more in the left lung.
So I stopped my Plavix yet again to have the port installed.