Linda’s Liver, Chapter 3

From: Linda Logan <v-liloga@microsoft.com>


Date: Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Subject: Linda's Liver, part 3

Hello! An update on my gut, from the heart:

Reading below, I realize I never let you all know that I did, in fact, go through with “Plan B,” the Y-90 radiation treatment.  While I couldn’t successfully pass through airport security scans for a few days or hold small dogs or babies, the treatment was rather easy.  Following a PET scan in January, however, it was unclear whether the radiation had had much effect:  Cancer activity in the right lobe of my liver hadn’t changed much and had actually increased on the left.  My cancer marker number (CEA) was at 1,400, not horrifying (when you consider that at my original diagnosis in March 2015, my CEA was at 25,000!) but not great.  Perhaps it was too early to judge the effects…?

Anyway, the decision then was to go with another round of chemo, this time including Erbitux, which is a targeted drug for shrinking metastatic colon cancer.  It’s also a great drug to take for acne-like breakouts.  Yay!  I guess I was due, having skated through puberty with hate-inducing clear skin.

I finished this second round of ten chemo infusions about two weeks ago and had another PET scan last week.

So here’s the GREAT news:

No cancer activity in the left lobe of my liver and activity on the right is down by half!  My CEA is down to 24.  All liver function numbers are normal and my blood, a little short on RBCs and platelets, is good, too.

Next step is to revisit the renowned liver surgeon, Dr. Goldstein, and see if he’ll take a crack at removing the remaining enemy troops. 

In the meantime, I’ll be starting a “maintenance” chemo schedule of my new best friend, Erbitux (infused bi-weekly), plus Xeloda.  I’m hopeful that I’ll again be blessed with few and tolerable side effects.

A very big THANK YOU for all the thoughts, prayers and support.  I am more than grateful.

--Linda