Labs are back
I think there's a plan!
Before that, here's a picture of my heart because it's doing a great job and deserves top billing.
It's definitely a little unnerving for me to have to start a big life changing treatment like this before completely having a plan, but PDT is just one of those things. No one can predict how a patient's body will respond, so you start somewhere and adjust from there. I can imagine the same can be said of starting chemo. The thing that made me concerned about chemo is there's no stopping it. I mean, there is, but if you stop it because of unbearable side effects, those side effects don't necessarily stop at that moment. With PDT, you can stop safely, should you choose to, and you're likely not left with side effects. I understand so much more about the different types of laser, photosensitizers, modalities, and the IV support, so the approach and adjustments are starting to make a whole lot more sense.
There are 3 ways of knowing how things are progressing--imaging, labs, and clinical signs. Right now, the only way I know anything is happening are the clinical signs. I have localized heat (understatement) and swelling. My labs are still looking really good, which in combination with the clinical signs is assumed to mean, "responding appropriately, but not overwhelmed." Goldilocks achieved.
It's quite possible that my labs (inflammatory markers and white blood cells being most interesting, but not the whole picture) will stay the same or maybe change minimally. It's apparently uncommon to have multiple treatments direct into the liver and not have the liver values change at all. Oh, a medical anomaly? Sign me up...that's my jam. In this case, it seems to be working in my favor. My liver is a champ.
Imaging is still TBD, but will be 4-6 weeks after my last interstitial treatment on Tuesday. The safe bet is to do an ultrasound 6 weeks post-treatment to give the inflammation time to chill. The first thing that they expect to see is a decrease of blood flow into the tumors. Following that, the tumors will start to shrink, as at that point, they're not getting nutrients and my immune system will have had the opportunity to recognize the cancer and start hitting it with a stick.
My naturopath will be here tomorrow to check in on progress, as he'll be taking over my treatment in a week. Apparently, I'll be sent home with a whole lot of party favors (likely none of them fun), but will also get to continue laser treatment with my ND for another 10-ish days after being home.
The time has gone VERY fast. I'm loving how much we're learning everyday, getting to share experiences with other cancer patients and their people, and having complete support from everyone at the clinic. There's no quit in anyone there and because there are only 4 patients, not even a weird twinge gets missed. The only thing starting to get tired of the are my veins, who aren't super thrilled about getting poked anymore. My right arm handled the photosensitizer really well today, but it's just a matter of time until it, too, will opine otherwise.
Depending on the day, we get home, watch whatever it was that my nurse, Fernando, told us to watch on Netflix, write a post, do all of the "-ordles" and that's perfect. Other days, like today, we got to leave relatively early (2:00), but because of the photosensitizer, I can't be toodling around in the midday sun. So, we wait and fidget until the sun gets lower and less cooky and then we can go for a walk. Apparently nothing too terrible happens, but maybe itchiness and more quickly to burn.
Also, this has been the best lunch by far:
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| Salmon on mashed sweet potato, sprouted rice and salsa, roasted tomato, and avocado |
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| Gas station art |
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| Another work of art |
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