Update on Ben – Tumor Shrinkage – YEA!
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Terrific news—-nothing better then to see good news on this site. Hoping for more good news for Ben and you and all else on this site who are fighting the fight!
Nancy
Tom….Fantastic. These are the kind of postings which warm the hearts and bring big smiles to faces. Keep it coming.
All my best wishes,
MarionCongratulation Tom and Ben. What GREAT news. My husband is also on the same gem/cis and due for his scan in Feb. I’m hoping for a similar outcome.
It’s amazing to me that Ben is able to still go to the gym etc. My husband (47) was also very active and went to the gym 3-5 times a week but doesn’t not seem able to do much now. I read him your posts all the time to help motivate and encourage him.
Keep us informed and best to you both.Hi Tom,
Thanks for letting us know how Ben is doing and thanks also for sharing the great news, this is excellent!! We all love hearing good news and I look forward to hearing more good news about Ben from you.
My best wishes to you and Ben,
Gavin
Great news! I smiled when I read that Ben gained 20 pounds as I’ve gained weight, too. My tumor did not shrink on chemo, but no new tumors and all is STABLE.
Kathy
It’s always good to hear such great news. With your great attitudes I am sure there will be more good news to come.
DarlaOh, Tom, Oh, Ben, I am ecstatic, you made my day! Good doctors, good attitude = good results. I am doing cartwheels and if you think that is easy, take another guess. Can you tell I am elated? Keep up the fantastic work!!
Hi Tom,
It’s so good to hear that Ben is responding to chemo. As you said, chemo isn’t always effective. Ben is certainly one of the fortunate ones. His choice to ‘live with cancer’ is the best way to fight back. Weeks can turn into months and months to years…God Bless!
bobIt’s nice to be able to finally post something in this section! Just a little background:
My partner Ben (52 years old) was diagnosed with inoperable Stage IV Intrahepatic CC on August 30th, 2010 at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He had metastes to a few surrounding lymph nodes and to the omentum (lining of the stomach). Similar to others – the “standard” prognosis was given – 6 to 18 months survival rate, which of course was devastating news. They recommended the Gemzar Cisplatin chemo protocol. A metal stent was installed in his liver to open up the bile duct
After a second opinion with MD Anderson (with no change in diganosis or recommendation on protocol), we headed out to see some family in Oklahoma, Texas and Europe. (If you look for my other posts you will see more details on the history).
About two months after diagnosis – Ben started the Gem/Cis chemo (details documented in posts in the Chemotherapy section).
Overall, Ben has had almost no side effects to his chemotherapy regimen, just some hair loss and a little bit more fatigued then usual, but he still has the same appetite (and has gained 20 pounds), still goes to the gym and still active around the house.
Ben just finished his fourth round of chemo two weeks ago and Monday went in for an MRI so they could measure progress. Yesterday (Thursday) we met with the doctor to review the results and were thrilled with the news. Based on the MRI – no new cancer growth was discovered and the tumor in his liver had decreased in size from about 4.5 cm to about 3 cm.
While we both realize chemo isn’t a “cure”, the fact that it’s not growing and doing a bit of shrinkage was good news to us – since all of us here know that chemo doesn’t always have an effect.Right after the doctor appointment Ben started his next cycle of chemo – so with everything going so well right now – we are just going to “keep doing what we are doing”.
So, while he still has Stage IV CC cancer and we had expected the worst…we have another example where you have to learn to “live with the cancer” and do your best to move forward. As so many of you say out here “nobody has an expiration date stamped on you”…so just take one day at a time.
That’s the update for now – and I’m hoping we continue to move forward with minimal side effects as long as possible. As always, thanks everyone for all your support, it’s truly incredible. I’ll post more back in the chemotherapy section to monitor Ben’s progress.
Take care,
tom
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