Trial Treatment Update

Hello all!! I figured I would chime in on my progress. As you know I was accepted into a trial study for some new chemo. I must say this has been the hardest part of the whole ordeal so far. The first round of radiation and chemo was a cake walk. I lost half of my hair on my head and was a little more fatigued than normal. I fixed the no hair problem by shaving it all off, no big deal. It gave me a good excuse to go bald anyway. The side effects from the new chemo are a little different. Every 2 weeks I go to MD Anderson and get an IV form of chemo called Avastin, and the second part of the trial is a pill form chemo called Tarceva. This Tarceva is not my new friend. The doctors and nurses told me I would get a rash but it shouldn't be to the point of being uncomfortable. This rash which looks like acne showed up on my nose first and over took it. I look like Rudolph the Red Nose Scotty with white pockets on it. It looks like I have taken a good beating. After about a week of being on it the rash spread to my neck, chest, underarms, and back. To add to it I came down with a little stomach issue that was not too pleasant either (also possible side effects of Tarceva). So on last Wednesday September 14, 2011 I made a trip to the ER at MD Anderson after consulting my nurse and doctor. By this time I was running a low grade fever, stomach issues, and the invasion of the rash. I only stayed a few hours and donated more money to the cause, but the stomach issues we think was a little bug, the fever went away after a night but that rash just kept on coming in full stride. After talking with the nurse all week about this rash she just kept saying, yes you will have a rash but should not be uncomfortable. So on Friday it became uncomfortable. After I took a shower I dried off my nose, it took the pockets with it and just began bleeding on the outside and the front of my chest and back was now covered with it too. I just had a t-shirt on and it touching the rash made it ache. I felt I wasn't getting anywhere with the nurse on the issue of this rash, like was the normal rash and at what point is it too uncomfortable? So when I got home from work my beautiful wife took pictures of the rash and we emailed to the nurse and she began to call anybody and everybody at MD Anderson that would pick up a phone to show them the pictures. After about an hour or so of talking to people and emailing the pictures, come to find out the rash is pretty severe and not the typical. They decided to take me off of the Tarceva for a week and see if the rash goes down. I have been off Tarceva for 3 days now the rash is slowly going away but not a quick as it appeared. The nurse said they will try a combination of things reducing the amount of Tarceva and and giving me and antibiotic. The doctor is trying to come up with a solution and hopefully will know something by the end of the week. I am still scheduled to take the Avastin tomorrow. I guess this why they call it a TRIAL!! I have to thank Candace for her calling and getting a answer. When she wants something she will get it. I love her for it!! I think I may be too laid back sometimes. Keep the prayers coming!!! We will fight it too the end!!

Love Ya'll

Scotty

Praise the Lord!

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."- Matthew 21:22

Last night Scott had his first MRI scan since the start and finish of the first round of treatment. Today we went for the results. The doctor walked in and said his MRI looked beautiful! And after asking one million questions and reviewing the MRI, we concluded that there has been NO PROGRESSION on the tumor. This is what we are going to continually pray for from now on... NO PROGRESSION!

Scott was approved for a study with a drug called Avastin. It is a very popular chemotherapy that is used to treat many different types of cancers. The Avastin is administered through an IV. Scott will have to get these IV treatments every two weeks. Each treatment is approximately 30 minutes at a time. Today he started his first treatment. His appointment was at 2pm, and they just took him back at 4pm! His nurse told him to get use to that, because they run behind a lot! ~Darn! - we got pretty spoiled with the radiation treatments! Those nurses had him in and out! But oh well, if this Avastin works, we have no problem waiting!! :)

Scott will go back for another MRI scan in 8 weeks! He will have scans every two months for the next two years! He better get accustomed to that machine, because it looks like he will be in it quite a bit!

We have been praying for a miracle, and we can't stop! PLEASE keep the prayers coming- they are working!!! Our God is an AWESOME God and he wants us to believe in his powers, and that we do!!! We believe that he can heal our Scotty!

Thanks for all of the support and prayers! We love you all!

We will update again soon!

Here is a picture from this past weekend. We made a trip to Austin to visit family - this picture was taken in front of Lake Austin...it was a FABULOUS weekend!