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.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This blog is written by and about a guy with an incurable form of cancer. My purpose here isn't to say "woe is me", but to give insight about my thoughts, perspectives, and experiences throughout this adventure. My name is Andre. My partner's name is Ed. I intend to publish on a pretty regular basis here, but Ed might occasionally pop in with his thoughts too.
5 comments:
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
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
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...)
Hi Andre;
Thinking of you. Wishing you well.
John
sending love and strength your way...
Post a Comment