Well it’s a week for results - while I’m still awaiting genetic and molecular testing results, the initial result of my liver biopsy came back and confirmed (to no surprise of mine), that the cancer spreading is the same basal cell carcinoma that started in my prostate. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad news at this point, but makes me feel a little better that I didn’t have two separate cancers which would really make me question my environment (plus any treatments will hopefully work holistically vs on one cancer vs another)…
So the roadmap of next steps is getting clearer:
Brain Surgery to remove tumor which is immediate threat
After recovery from surgery, “I get to” start chemotherapy to reduce the tumors
Do this for a while, see how tumors respond - the tests seem to show that my tumors are good candidates for chemo
Look for immunotherapy options/clinical trials once my genetic analysis is done - this is the only potential for cure for cancer these days ultimately
I’ll write up a separate post on the details of chemo, but one thing I am immediately doing before starting on this plan is getting a second opinion at Johns Hopkins next week (pending surgery schedule). I had some regrets of not getting a second opinion on my original cancer and I won’t make the same mistake this time.
MD Anderson in Houston supposedly has the most experience with rare cancers and they claim there is nothing they haven’t seen but unfortunately I couldn’t get in there until December, but Hopkins is top ten too and has the upside of being close to friends.
Luckily AI kind of also works as an informal second opinion, and so far it’s providing the exact same roadmap my oncologist is (hopefully he’s not just using AI too…)
We are praying for you!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
This is from Tim:
Debbie can you get this to Phil somehow? I hate to send him a text with all he’s going through. The Phil Anderson.net I can see his posts but can’t leave a comment like others - I have to sign up which is a hassle. Here is a message I wanted to post under his latest news story
I know you are doing all you can. Adding the holistic treatments: diet, juicing, and I notice many people using infrared light sauna (detox), rebounding - to move lymph, hyperbaric oxygen therapy. There is science behind all of this but maybe not accepted by conventional. Get a juicer that juices greens and hard vegetables alike. We are praying for you and your family.