John's Cancer Trip

March 14, 2018 2:00pm                      Back to  In the Beginning I met with Karyn the research nurse and Dr. Vogelzang yesterday and signed up the clinical trial that includes either Keytruda or Tecentriq, but with NKTR-214.  I will be getting Tecentriq.  I don't know if Dr V. favors that or is putting all his patients on it, but it was developed by his company.  One of his students from when he taught at the University of Chicago is leading the trial for NKTR-214 and is very excited about its efficacy in combination with either of the other two drugs.  Have to go through two more biopsies in the next month, one before treatment and one after the first treatment.  I opted out of the others they would have liked. It was their option, and it's the last thing I want to do.  This trial could go on for 17 21-day cycles. It just depends on how I respond, maybe less, maybe more....

March 6, 2018 3:00pm                      Back to  In the Beginning Had an appointment with Dr. Vogelzang today.  We went over the Guardant360 Free Cell Genetic Test results, the PET-CT Scan test results, the notes from Dr. Kassahun, the Provenance Genetic Testing and discussed options for moving forward.  He concluded that the cancer is in remission and we should move on to immunotherapy.  No surgery yet, no more chemo or radiation unless needed later.  He is submitting me for a clinical trial involving Keytruda and epacadostat to improve my chances of killing off the rest of the cancer with my own immune system.  He pressed the research nurse to get a decision on getting me included in the trial by next week, so we set up another appointment for next Tuesday.  They gave me another shot of Xgeva to help with the bone hardening and flushed out my Powerport.  The nurse said I could actually...