Interesting appointment.

Since it was only yesterday my oncologist was not aware yet that the brain tumor had started regrowth.

So we're dealing with

1) new growth from old brain tumor
2) probably good chemo including avastin for extensive liver mets (would you believe he forgot to do comparisons?)
3) coumadin, probably precluding using avastin at least for now, due to two PE's found in Chicago two weeks ago
4) really sore left hip that hurts when he presses on it

Like he said we were so busy trying to figure out other stuff and laying off the chemo (a total of 5 weeks) sounds like the hip had a chance to take off on its own. I have that xray which I'll do -- sometime soon I can't deal right this second. We had already decided that the liver was most likely better since it didn't hurt and is smaller - and the largest is the same size as the largest before. I can't even get mad that he didn't do his work he just looked at it too late. I could have pressed him to look at them now but I guess i could have gotten mad I'm just so tired and have bigger concerns, no energy for anger.

So we're going for 1-2 weeks on carbo/taxol alone, I have the xray papers in my hand, an antibiotic for my teeth which I can't have pulled, and an appointment next week with the radiation oncologist to talk more about my options. Some research to do on the difference between radio surgery and just radiation. My oncologist is saying that potentially WBR could be the answer, again, that the long-term delayed side effects don't happen for 3-5 years and by then I'd not likely be alive. I told him ha -- he said statistically. I told him I don't believe in stats and he just said "but that's all we HAVE." I pointed out that the most recent stats are 5 years old and I'm tomorrow's stat, at which point we kinda dropped the conversation. I haven't said no but I'm not ready to say yes especially with my daughter and everyone home for the holidays for the first time -- we might even have that hot tub and deck by then.

So for those who have been wondering, that's where I stand. Still a bit muddy but I've given myself that self-deadline of 2 weeks at the most to decide about the tumor. My doctor seems to agree with my guess that avastin my be my wonder drug and has said straight out the time may come where we'll gamble on the chance we could save my life. I asked him for the first time about LDN, told him it was probably a last resort, and he admitted he hadn't heard of it before. I reminded him I said "last ditch" and he may or may not look it up, if I know him he just may.

Next stop would probably be a trial of tarceva but we're still playing with the carbo/taxol for now, and see what's going on with that hip.

Later guys.