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Hi Susanne:
I am terribly sorry to hear about your father’s passing. I very much appreciate you passing along the information about the Spyglass and the University of Virginia. I am not sure if the Spyglass is the same as the Photodynamic Therapy; however, just by coincidence, my father’s doctor spoke to a doctor at the University of Virginia this week. I am not sure if he spoke to Dr. Kahaleh or someone other doctor, but my father’s doctor did like what the doctor had to say about an ongoing clinical trial at the University of Virginia involving Photodynamic Therapy. I am waiting to hear back from my father’s doctor regarding the details of the clinical trial.
Paul
Kris, Margaret and Gavin:
Thank you for your prompt responses and very kind words of encouragement. I will definitely look at your earlier posts.
My father’s billirubin is about 15 currently. The doctors believe that the plastic internal stents inserted last week are working since his billirubin levels are stable and not fluctuating. He is, however, hospitalized and on IV antibiotics to fight the blood infection. He also has received some blood transfusins as he is anemic. The doctors believe tha the anemia may be related to the rounds of gemzar/cisplating he received.
In addition to starting him on Xeloda once the blood infection is resolved, the tentative plan is to swap out the plastic stents for metal ones in about a month. (The doctors tried to put in metal stents last week, but could not get them in because of the size/location of the tumor.) I have read that the metal stents work better, but I think I also read that they cannot be removed.
I have not yet spoken with his new oncologist, but I plan to ask why my father is not a candidate for radiation or some other type of therapy in the event Xeloda fails.
Paul
