IL-2 in store...*sigh*

[exiledNms]

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Hey, Gang,
Got back from Houston/M.D. Anderson last night.

The good news: no evidence from tests & scans of any further spread. *crowd roars*

The...less-good news: therefore, my near future holds 2 rounds of IL-2 treatment out there @ MDA.
IL-2 offers a small chance of great results--some metastatic melanoma patients take IL-2 and their cancer disappears & stays gone for years. (related aside: there's very little in the way of good news when melanoma comes back...use sunscreen, boys & girls!!)

Assuming I pass the cardio function test this week (prayer request #1), I'll head back to Houston again Sunday, 7/6. IL-2 treatments always begin on Monday there. So, Mon. 7/7, I'll have bloodwork, a Dr. appt., get my IV port installed, & then be admitted to intensive care.
(yeah...to recap, one has to pass a cardio function test and a lung function test--already done that one--in order to be admitted to intensive care so that one can then take the treatment that will offer a small hope of great news...zero fun, sir! I say again, sunscreen = very important!!)

The treatment is 14 massive doses, each 8 hours apart (roughly 5 days, followed by 2 days in hospital to recover). The ICU part is to monitor the side effects; not so much due to imminent danger. The side effects are very intense: accelerated pulse rate, decreased BP, decreased liver & kidney function, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, extreme fatigue, inability to sleep, and increased love of the color orange. (OK, that last one's not an official symptom...but it's another don't want it type deal......and sadly, all of the others are official symptom possibilities...) The not-so-terrible news there is that the effects begin to reverse almost immediately after the last treatment, and do so quickly. Dr. says by the time I head home, I'll feel almost normal. My brother says it sounds like hitting yourself on the head with a hammer, in that it will feel great when it stops.

Then, 3 weeks of nothing, and then back out there for round 2 of treatment (again, 5 days of hell-in-an-IV-bag followed by 2 days to recover).

Then--very important piece of the puzzle--repeat scans to see if there are any results. The obvious prayer is that my melanoma will be one of the ones that responds and that by mid-August I'm cancer-free.

If not, they'll stop IL-2 & chemo will still be a viable option. I'm not delighted with that possibility...*sigh*

So, pray-ers, we @ casa exiled could stand some more prayers these next 6 weeks or so. (Remind me on about IL-2 dose #7 that 6 weeks is not such a long time...*sigh*)

Thanks so much for standing in the gap for me during this bend in the road! Consider yourself hugged.

In His Grip,
exiled - 2 Cor. 4:7-8, 16-18

p.s. to mods - feel free to merge w/ previous 2 threads about my situation; I just thought starting a new one might be easier for interested parties to track.

[SavannahDare]

Ah, immunotherapy. Well, you are certainly going to be in the right place for treatment. MDA's gonna take excellent care of you. I have one word for you: Ativan. I don't know if you've taken it before for chemically-induced nausea, but all the Zofran in the world can't hold a candle to a 2mg IV push of Ativan to knock that nausea on it arse.

I'm thinking of you and praying for you and yours...and for your doctors & nurses so they will be proficient, compassionate, and vigilant in their care of you.

((hugs))

[The Duke]

Continued prayers for the Exiled family and surrounding parties involved with the process.

Man...I'm going to start to apply sunscreen, even before I go to bed now!!

[derek4tide]

Hang in there, Mike. Still praying for you and your family.

[bamanut_aj]

okay, so it's gonna hurt, but we're still gonna kick this cancer in the balls and send it home crying.

[exiledNms]

Wonder if anyone's ever posted on TF from inside a room @ M.D. Anderson's ICU as a patient? I'm so proud...ok, no I'm not...

Thanks much for the prayers, my e-amigos! Treatment #2 will arrive in an hour. #1 was fine w/ no side effects for 6 hours. Then came hour 7...*sigh* Still not terrible--yet--but I'm running 1/2 degree of fever, and am flushed in the face. These are "expected" side effects, but it still creates fairly large amounts of suction. There are other "expected" side effects on the list that I do not wish to experience...*another sigh*

On the plus side, mrs. exiled or my bro (both are here) can spend the night w/ me in the room, and can hang out all day w/ me. So that's nice (for me).

Also, I learned this morning, that I/we are not to be "too bummed out" (Dr.'s exact words) if I can't make the full run of 14 doses this week. He said a point will surely come when my body will have had enough, and they have no idea when that point will come for me. The good news is, he said their studies show no correlation between # of doses and effectiveness of the treatment. Great hope there!

Doubt I'll post again until next week on the other side of IL-2-land, as the side effects apparently worsen with each successive dose. (hey, there's some good news...wait...never mind...)

My brother & wife are updating my blog which is here.

Thanks much for your prayers, my friends!

With hope,
exiled/Mike

[The Duke]

Hope you keep up the good spirits, Mr. Mike. Sounds like you have a great support staff there with you as well. I will continue to do my part.

[exiledNms]

Quick update:

--made 6 treatments - Dr. sez this is avg, & that "you did great!" To my logical mind, 6/14 < 50%...but then what do I know? *smile*

--side effects rather intense and very...spectacular, let's say. (1 example: gained and lost 25 pounds within 6 days! IL-2 leads to massive fluid retention, as it breaks down capillaries...reverses fairly quickly, with doses of lasix)

--I'm home! (Actually, been home since Mon. night; web access issues + gen'ly feeling like doggie do is why the 1st update is on Friday...)

--feeling normal, except for having zero energy. Yesterday, went to lunch w/ a friend & then sat in his office talking about church stuff; then, had to come home & take a nap. Pathetic...but expected.

--still home next week recup'ing, & then back to MDA the following week for round 2. (Shark Week fans, I'll be @ MDA that week...)

--then a couple of weeks after round 2, back out there for scans to re-stage. The STRONG hope & prayer is that those scans show that mine is gone! Odds of that are not great, but my God is not bound by statistics.

Thanks much for your prayers, my e-amigos! Roll Tide!
exiled

[SavannahDare]

exiled!!!!!
(((((hugs)))))

I continue to think of you and pray for you and send up positive vibes at every given opportunity for you. Recover quickly and I hope that you get the best of news upon your return for re-staging.

Roll Tide, Brother!!