Talk with the Doctor

Today we went to talk to Dr. Tucker, Wayne's oncologist.  We wanted to discuss the meaning of the results of the MRI as well as tell him that we have decided to move to Missoula for to be near family.  He told us he thought that is a very good idea.  He said the upcoming months could be rough.

However, he is the maverick that we need.  Once again, he was able to give us hope in a situation where other doctors would not.  He told us that he had a patient in Texas who did not respond to the radiation in the brain either.  For that patient, again with the same type of cancer Wayne has, chemo was the answer.  He wasn't able to "cure" her, but he was able to keep her alive for seven years.  He didn't say, but it sounded like she is still alive now.  Can you imagine what seven years could bring?  It could bring a cure.

Dr. Tucker was not as enthusiastic about putting chemo directly into the brain via a port.  He explained that there are some cancers that does work well for: breast cancer, for one, but it doesn't work for lung cancers, and so it wouldn't be an option.  But even though we are told that chemo doesn't go past the brain/blood barrier easily, he said that it absolutely can.  Time, however, is of the essence.  

So he is going to start Wayne's chemo on Friday morning.  Tomorrow we go and talk to the surgeon about getting the port put in, Thursday morning he gets the port in, and Friday morning he gets his first round of chemo.  The idea is that no matter where we are, Wayne should get two rounds of chemo and then have an MRI of his brain and a CT of his lungs.  If the tumors are reducing in size, then they can continue with the same drugs.  However, if not, then they can change the drugs and try something else.  The idea is to find the chemo drugs that his tumors respond best to and then go a full course.

If it works, then likely eventually he may need to repeat it. I think the idea is to keep the tumors under control without beating Wayne up too much.  And Dr. Tucker did say that even at this point some doctors would just offer to keep Wayne comfortable.  But Wayne is a fighter.  We all know that.  I have watched him fight for years.  He had to learn to read and write three times; he had to relearn vocabulary; he had to relearn to converse: he's been through hell with his epilepsy and he always comes out on top, smiling and laughing.  He is not ready to give up or give in, and it's important that we all support that.  Whatever Wayne decides he wants to do, I am right there with him.  If he wanted to go to Timbuktu I'd be ready to go.


But, because of the swelling in his brain, Wayne still has to take the full dosage of his steroid, decadron.  The advantage of this is that he has much better balance than he had for the last couple of months before his cancer was diagnosed.  The additional advantage is that he is eating a lot and gaining weight.  He weighs more now than he ever has, and he looks great. The only downside is that I think he is going to need new pants!  There is no way he will get long johns under his jeans; he is barely getting the jeans on now!  I told him I'd love him just as much fat and bald!!


Again, thanks to everyone who is reading and commenting on the blog--even if the comments are in emails or phone calls.  I am reading every response and email to him.  Your love and concern go a long way toward keeping Wayne's morale up.  He is still laughing and finding the humor in every situation.  And as long as he can do that, he is ahead of the game.