Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Epic failure #2

Oncology visit today. Checking in to the hospital at 4pm local time. GVHD of the skin and gut. Hydration issues. Inability to eat.

I'm SO tired of this.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Andre, this is an uninformed question but where are you checked in? SCCA? I'd like to come by if you're up for it. Laurie

Anonymous said...

Andre - if anyone has a right to be tired of "this," you sure do. Just before New Year's I went and took a look at the photos you'd taken on your road trips and realized that we had traveled the same roads - not on the same days - but you captured some of the same views I thought were lovely, too.
The road you are on now is not lovely and I just wanted you to know that I'm riding along with you and praying for something good for you.... Annie

Anonymous said...

From a posting on the web..."There are certain antidotes to these proteins. Knowing that, we have developed new trials both to treat GVHD, as well as to prevent it," Ferarra explains.

Graft versus host disease is normally treated using high dose steroids, but only about a third of the patients respond to this treatment. However, using anti-inflammatory proteins in combination with steroids has yielded a response rate of over two-thirds, twice the traditional rate of complete response.

The researchers are particularly excited about the use of etanercept, a drug that is commonly used to reduce the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, to treat GVHD. "The treatment is very simple. It's a shot, similar to an insulin injection, that is given twice a week," says Ferarra.

(Post dates back to 2007, so perhaps this is not as good as something new.... but didn't want to bypass the info if it might help...)

Anonymous said...

Hi Andre;

Thinking of you. Wishing you well.

John

Anonymous said...

sending love and strength your way...