Trending Upwards . . .

I completed my second round of chemotherapy yesterday (Trabectedin aka Yondelis aka Sea Squirt Syrup). Although I’m experiencing fatigue, soreness, and mild nausea as a result of the 24-hr infusion, if the first round is any indication these side effects should subside in about a week, and then I’ll be feeling on top of the world! Honestly, the two weeks prior to the second infusion I felt better than I’ve felt in a long time . . . high energy level, mentally engaged, absolutely no pain, and only infrequent, mild discomfort. I still have not had to take any pain killers or sleeping aids of any kind for four weeks. I am cautiously optimistic that this drug may be choking the tumors. Other positive signs:

1. I went in for another pericentisis procedure (drainage of abdominal fluid) on Monday, 2/9. It had been six weeks since the original procedure and that should have been enough time for the tumors to have produced enough fluid to require drainage. But the pre-procedure ultrasound indicated that there wasn’t enough fluid to justify the procedure. I take this to mean the abdominal tumors are not as active as they had been . . . a most welcome development.

2. An echocardiogram performed on Thursday, 2/12, revealed that although I still have a small pocket of fluid behind my heart that does not have access the to the “window” (hole) that was cut into my pericardium (membrane around the heart) last month, this pocket of fluid does not compromise the functioning of my heart. There was no other evidence of pericardial (heart) or pleural (lung) effusions (fluid pockets).

3. Although the palpable tumors (those close to the skin surface) do not seem to have changed in size yet, they appear to be getting softer.

4. Virtually no swelling of my ankles or feet.

So all in all, very encouraging news.

Other treatments that I am currently undergoing:

1. Weekly IV infusions of vitamins and other nutrients.

2. Hyperthermia (infrared sauna) to raise the temperature of the tumors. Apparently, tumors develop so quickly that they develop a rather contorted vascular structure. When exposed to elevated temperatures, the blood vessels dilate but unlike in normal tissues this does not result in increased cooling due to increased blood flow but rather causes a choking off of blood flow because of the knotted vascular structure. It is believed by some that hyperthermia is slowly becoming the fourth accepted treatment protocol of western medicine behind cut, burn and poison (surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy).

3. Hyperbaric (high pressure) treatment. Elevated atmospheric pressure in an oxygen-rich environment enables the blood to absorb more oxygen for utilization by healthy tissues.

4. A combination of immune-supporting mushroom extracts, fermented wheat germ, omega-3 oil, and powdered supplements to combat weight loss.

5. Massage therapy ala Cecily.

I am also in the conceptualization stages of some forward-looking, long-term projects that should serve to force my body to fall in line behind my headstrong mind. Based on the evidence, I’ve got every reason to be optimistic about my prospects at this time . . .