Hello Everyone! I hope this post finds you happy, whole, and full of gratitude for the many blessings we have in this world.
My dear friends and family, we have some big news for you. There is a clinical trial for my specific kind of cancer - DSRCT. It is at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, New York. This is the same hospital I went to in 2014 for my surgeries and abdominal flush. We really feel that those procedures allowed me to beat the odds and still be living life to its fullest 7 years later. So, MSKCC has a special place in our hearts.
Why are we interested in it now? Well, the treatment that has been effective at keeping the tumors at bay, is causing me some bowel issues. The side effects are worrisome, so we have been looking at other treatments. The clinical trial has been going on for a while, but we hadn't felt impressed to pursue it. We now feel impressed to pursue it. I will have a PET scan on May 5th. We will send the results to MSKCC and have them review the scan and make sure I qualify for the study. (Apparently you can be too sick, or they don't want you as part of the study...) The interesting thing is that the study uses a chemotherapy that I am using now along with the new chemo that is the purpose of the trial. So, it won't be a complete shock to the system. We are hoping this combination shrinks the tumors and buys us even more time for our family to be together.
We will need to be in New York all summer to have enough of the treatment to decide if it is effective and helpful. At the end of the summer we will have to decide whether I stay and get more treatment, or come home. That is the big unknown. We are moving forward in faith, praying earnestly for guidance and direction. Please keep praying for us!
We love you all, and know that you will be blessed and you keep doing as the Savior would do - serving those around you. Your kindness and love have made a huge impact in our lives and we know you have impacted many others - that's just the type of people you are. Thank you!
A good friend created a GoFundMe account for us. Please share this link below as you are able. Your friendship is the gift we treasure the most.
Forever grateful,
Doug and Angela and kids
