Hi Debbie,
I wanted to tell you about my husband, who was diagnosed with EC on December 21st, 2006. The prognosis was NOT GOOD. He was already at stage IV, as it had metastasized to the liver and lung. Both my husband and I read up on EC and realized how serious it is, but we also knew there WERE treatments out there, albeit supposedly no cure.
I just sent an update to all of my friends and family - hopefully this update will give you AND your dad some real hope and encouragement. Oh, my husband is 64 years old, just in case your dad wanted to know his age.
The following is my update to friends and family
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Harley had his third infusion this past Friday (March 9th) and he also had a CT scan that afternoon. The reason the doctors decided to do the CT scan is that they can barely feel the tumor anymore!
It was a loooooooong weekend because I knew we wouldn't get the results of the CT scan until Monday. Harley's doctor, bless her heart, had given us her cell phone number, so Monday I called her.
She was apparently at her computer so she said she would look up the results. When she found the results she said (in a very upbeat voice) "Oh My! This is VERY impressive".
She then told me that the mass on Harley's liver had been reduced by 50%!!!!!!!! Even she couldn't believe it until she double checked it, then told me when we come in again on March 30th, she would show us the two CT scans side by side.
The mass in Harley's esophagus/stomach area had gone down by 25% and the two small tumors on his lung were almost gone!
I can't even begin to tell you how I feel right now, other than extremely blessed and awed by God's power and the power of prayer. Had it not been for ALL OF YOU praying so hard for Harley, I don't know if he would have had the same wonderful results.
I'm overwhelmed to say the least. When Harley was first diagnosed, he was given little chance at all. In fact one doctor told us to go out and enjoy the "little time he had left" and then accidentally said "about 30 days"! That was before we were referred to the Palo Alto VA (in California) and before his treatment started. Another doctor told us we should probably contact Hospice! And yet a third doctor (I HATED HER THEN AND I HATE HER NOW) told Harley as he lay in the hospital bed getting an IV due to dehydration, that she could put in a feeding tube to help him regain strength, but that Harley would be back in a few months with tubes coming out of every orifice in his body, so maybe he would rather just go home and enjoy what time he had left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Two of the doctors were from the Sacramento VA - I will NEVER go back to that hospital again!
When Harley was finally referred to the Palo Alto VA, it was like a different world. The doctors and nurses are so caring, loving and upbeat. And thus on January 26th, Harley had his first infusion of chemo.
Today is March 13th, not even 2 months since he started chemo. There is no way that ANYONE can convince me otherwise that this has not been a miracle.
He still has a long way to go, but the mass in the liver is 50% GONE! :-) And the esophagus/stomach mass is 25% GONE!
Harley has been feeling GREAT! He has had absolutely no side effects from the chemo - none- nada - zilch! He is eating well, gained a few pounds, doing all kinds of chores around the house again and tomorrow he is going golfing!
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The chemo infusion that is being used on Harley is Carboplatin. He has an infusion every three weeks. He comes home with chemo pills that he takes for 2 weeks - 8 pills a day! The chemo pills are Xeloda.
Yesterday Harley played 18 holes of golf with no problems of being tired other than the normal tired of playing 18 holes of golf.
I don't know what the future may be, but I do know I am looking at the future now instead of just day by day.
Hugs,
Azzie