Day Seventeen

Today will be the last "normal" (and I say that as in "everything is relative") day there is for mom for at least the next three weeks. Today was just the protein drip and then the CK shot. Tomorrow is back to the Korea Cancer Center for the CT scan. Monday begins the first of three weeks mom will be traveling (an hour away) to the Korea Cancer Center for IGRT treatments. Monday, in the morning, at Dr. Moon's clinic will also be the start of the chemo drug Cisplatin (half dose), along with a p53 gene shot. Yes, now all the fun stuff really begins (as if it didn't already seem that way).



I got to Skype with my beloved family back home... not once but twice today. Love you hubby and girls!! Thank you MIL for all of your help with these two very difficult children.. ;-)      xoxo

Day Sixteen

The day began with the usual "Wednesday Regimen" of stem cells, then protein via IV. At noon, we were on our way back to the Korea Cancer Center with new PET-CT scan in hand to re-address radiation therapy with Dr. Cho. We met with him at 2pm. With better imaging from the new PET-CT and with the curvature of mom's tumors in the pleura space, he is going to go with IGRT instead of Cyberknife. IGRT is Image-Guided Radiation Therapy. No fiducials or any other invasive implantation necessary. He said he is going to do a total of 37.5 grays in 15 fractions for three weeks.


Mom needs to go back again on Friday for another CT scan, then will begin the therapy on Monday... five minutes per day, five days per week for three weeks. He said that the most common side effect is dry-cough but to be sure to call should she experience more serious effects. So, will now need to see if the Cisplatin chemo will still be administered since it was supposed to go in conjunction with Cyberknife. I'm sure it will be.



I can't believe I only have another 11 days left. Then mom's pal will be taking over the helm for me here. She's been mom's life-saver the entire time she has been battling lung cancer. To me, she is an angel (in short form)... :-)