chemo update

Super quick note just to let you know how Brian did yesterday.

Ed, Brian's dad, took him and stayed with him for the majority of the time. One of the first things they were told was that the drugs are not covered by insurance... WHAT THE?!?!?! Both drugs are FDA approved (Avastin and CPT-11), but not for the treatment of a brain tumor. We have had 2 doctors and I researched online one other clinic, that recommends this treatment of drugs if and when Temodar fails. Since the drug companies are trying to get this FDA approved for treatment of advanced stage gliomas (Brian's type) they are giving a goodwill use of the drugs at no cost. I pray that continues or that at least there is some way the drugs are covered. They told us not to worry. There are other ways as well.

So, the drips each took over an hour. They monitored Brian's blood pressure since the Avastin can cause a rise in that. He was fine. He was at the clinic for around 4+ hours total. After, Ed and Jan (Brian's folks), Brian and I went to lunch at Olive Garden where Brian's appetite was fine. Due to the blood pressure side effect above, he is supposed to stay away from caffeine and due to the nasty side effect of the unmentionable diarrhea of the other drug, he is supposed to stay away from stomach irritants and spicy foods. Nice.

All afternoon, Brian was bit tired, but not too bad. His stomach felt a bit queasy, but nothing major. He did not have a great evening appetite. He watched TV most evening with the boys. He and I watched Michael Clayton last night. I didn't love it. This morning he did not have much of a breakfast appetite. He is at work today and has worked pretty much a full day.

We pray the rest of the days until the next cycle are easy on him and allow him rest and healing. We do not know if these effects will be cumulative - meaning getting worse each day or with the next cycle, etc. I am just so thankful we are out of the cold and flu season as he enters this chemo since this attacks the immune system as so many chemos do. I would hate to have to keep the boys away from Brian.

That's about it for now. In true Angie form, my super quick note is 500 words and 5 paragraphs, but come on, I know you wanted to know all this.

KEEP BELIEVING