New Information

08/25/2009 - New Information on Progress

• Gina saw Dr Sipahi again last Thursday for the second round of Ixempra chemotherapy.
• To be honest with you, this chemo is very, VERY strong and makes Gina very weak, tired and nauseous. We are supposed to do three cycles but not thinking we can.
  
• We tried it since it was supposed to help with the kidney tumors but we do not see or think it is working like it should. Scans are coming up again to see where we are with everything.
  
• Gina wants to go ahead and try the Avastin chemotherapy since it is said to break through the blood-brain barrier and may help with the tremors she has been having. We are not sure what we will do next to try and get rid of that kidney tumor that has been causing so much problems. Maybe embolism - cauterizing the main blood flow to the kidney to essentially 'starve' it and without the blood flowing, kill the tumor cells.
• More later when it comes so thanks for everything you keep doing for us.
• A little late, but whoever sent the anonymous gift card for gas and groceries - we humbly thank you and your families.
  

Jesse (oldest boy) and his wife Kayla, just brought their first little bundle of joy into this world this morning at 1203am, Tuesday, August 25th, 2009. Her name is Elizabeth Rae Denault and she weighs in at 6lbs, 3oz and was 20 inches long! WE ARE OFFICIALLY GRANDPARENTS!

GOD Bless to all and thanks for the support!

Dr Sipahi Visit for Chemo Round #2

Updates as of 08/15/2009

• Gina saw Dr Sipahi for second round of chemotherapy (Ixempra) this last Thursday.
• Dr Sipahi also gave her Zometa for the bones and said will schedule scans in September to see how the new chemo is doing
• The new chemo is VERY STRONG and seems to wipe all energy from Gina's body 8(
• After her visit to Dr Sipahi, Dr Nicholas from UCMC called and said he had been out of office but just talked to Dr Sipahi and came up with a game plan
• They had talked and decided that Avastin would be an excellent chemo to give to Gina as it also helps with swelling in the brain and I believe breaks the blood-brain barrier.
• However, since Gina is still having some bleeding problems suspected to be from the tumor in the kidney, they are going to keep going with the Ixempra to see if it works on kidney.
• Dr Nicholas also said him and Dr Sipahi discussed radiation to kidney. Gina is against any more radiation since she has already had it done numerous times to: both lungs, brain, upper back, and leg.
• More later after this coming Thursday, when Gina goes to Dr Sipahi again for Herceptin treatment (been three weeks already?)
• The steroid (decadron) was reduced to 1/2 mg (YAY!) but we are hoping to get completely off so we can try that trial in Indy (or wherever else they have it)

Trip To Indy on 08/05/2009

We went to University of Indiana today and spoke to fabulous doctor Kathleen Miller

• Gina unfortunately does not qualify for the new Herceptin Clinical Trial because she is still on Decadron (steroid that helps with brain swelling from radiation and tumors in brain)
• It was disappointing for us both but Dr Miller explained the clinical trial is very specific in who qualifies for it
• One criteria is no chemo for 20 days and another was no radiation or brain issues (steroids or changes to brain tumors) within last 60 days
• Dr Miller and her staff were AWESOME - bedside manner, personality and obviously very knowledgeable in Oncology (kinda reminded us of Dr Kelly Nicholas in Chicago)
• Dr Miller agreed with keeping Gina on new chemotherapy (Ixempra) for another cycle and then do scans to see if it is working (next Thursday is cycle #2)
  
• A suggestion was to try new chemotherapy called Doxil which is basically a form of chemotherapy that actually is one of the few that attacks cancer all over the body INCLUDING breaking the blood-brain barrier and getting into the brain to treat those tumors. It sounded very promising as it is structured in a way that it the coating allows DOXIL to evade detection and destruction by the immune system, which increases the time the drug is in the body. The majority of the drug stays inside the liposome while in the blood (at least 90%). Therefore, DOXIL has more time to reach the tumor tissue, where the medication slowly leaks out.
  
• Keeping our fingers crossed that the brain is getting better and we may be able to start the clinical trial at a later date (or that the new chemo now, Ixemra, does it's job and kills those cancer cells!
• University of Indiana was a very impressive facility from the staff working inside, to the building itself (calming, structured and efficient)

More later on where we are at after consulting Dr. Sipahi, Dr. Olopade, and Dr. Nicholas.