I haven’t posted in while, but want to give you an update of my status.
I learned in October that my cancer had returned (for a second time) and started another IV chemo regimine in addition to Tarceva. It was brutal and after one treatment of Cisplatin, I had to stop. I continued with Gemcitibine through the holidays, but due to complications I knew it wasn’t something I could continue into the New Year. Then, another miracle, I had a clear CT!
I continue to have blockages, and have had a total of eleven stent exchanges (seven internal, four external). The external biliary catheter seems to be doing its job, and has eliminated the attacks of pancreatitis I was having after my ERCPs.
The other news is that after six months of deliberation, Methodist Hospital in Houston agreed to list me as a liver transplant patient. I was called-up twice in January, but in each situation the liver had been deprived of too much blood and oxygen. Because the drain keeps my liver numbers in safe range, my MELD score is low. Accepting an