My Big Fat Greek Cancer: Part Twelve

Hello, fans. Sorry to follow up with a new blog so close on the heels of the last one, but I received the results of my latest MRI scans last week, so I thought I would share them with you. This, after all, is supposed to be the point of the blog, right? So this one is just a quickie to give you the latest news of my little dark passenger.

The news is less than stellar, but there is a chance that it may be less dire than it might immediately appear. The new scans provide evidence that there may be new growth in the tumor. My oncologist is not certain, and feels the images might be showing what he calls “pseudo-progression.” The attached images are before and after shots from my most recent scans on 11/4/13 and 1/7/14. The first set of scans is of the top of my head and the second set is of the back of my head. You can pretty easily see the growth to the right in both “after” images. Quoting the radiology report:

“New finger-like area of enhancement dorsal to the dominant residual tumor as well as increasing T2 abnormality in the left parietal lobe superiorly. Overall findings worrisome for progression of disease.”

Here’s the plan of attack: I resumed the increased dosage of the drug Temodar this week as originally scheduled, for five days. I will have new scans in four weeks instead of the planned eight weeks. These scans should confirm whether this is tumor growth or “pseudo-progression.” If the former, I will switch to an infusion treatment immediately – meaning that same day. I will continue these treatments every two weeks for I don’t know how long. The drug I will get is called Avastin. Here’s how the drug manufacturer’s web site describes it:

Avastin is a tumor-starving (or anti-angiogenic) therapy. The purpose of Avastin is to block a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF. Normal cells produce VEGF, but some cancer cells overproduce VEGF. Blocking VEGF may prevent the growth of new blood vessels that feed tumors.

AVASTIN (click for more info)

My new scans will be on Wed 2/7 and I meet with the doctor to discuss the results on Fri 2/9. So I have no other choice but to chill until then and hope for the most favorable news. In the meantime, I'm continuing my efforts to battle the little bastard with diet, exercise, a positive attitude, and the continued support of all my homies and homettes.

Hey, I have always been a pseudo-intellectual, so it's not at all unreasonable that I should have pseudo-cancer.

GOODBYE AMIGOS! SEE YOU SOON! HAHA!!