Houston Update

We are back from yet another short trip to Houston. We leave from Crossett on Sunday and then start our day Monday morning leaving the hotel at 7Am and our morning is full of blood work, scans and Dr. appt...usually leaving Houston a little after lunch.

Now for the news...Alan's scans showed that the two areas on the left lung are unfortunately still there and have not changed in size. Dr. Amato did not seem concerned that there was not a significant change this time. He said that many patients see a drastic change after their first round of meds and then they might not see anything else until around the 6th month of meds. Alan will be starting his 3rd round of Sutent this coming Sunday.

Remember that spot around where Alan's renal vein is. Yea, that spot that just about every Dr. has been going back and forth on. Well, after these set of scans, Dr. Amato seems to think that it might actually be tumor or as he likes to refer to it as "real." His words for "really is cancer." He said that the mass has shrunk some in size and that it still has the shadow behind it which makes it appear to be a tumor. He didn't talk about this too much b/c he could tell we were shocked with the news, but just like the spots on the lung, we will monitor this area and hope that the Sutent does what we need it to do.

Alan will be on the Sutent for a complete 12 months. After the 12 months, if the lung spots and tumor are still there, then he will have a solitary wedge resection to remove the nodules on the lung and take out that other spot by the renal vein during the surgery. They will not have to remove any part of the lung, just the cancerous areas.

I pray that none of you ever have to go through this, but if you or someone you know if ever diagnosed with RCC there is a great Dr. and staff in Houston. We love this man so much and his nurses. They are great and even though we only see them once a month, they remember us every time. I guess that is basically everything. I probably left something out, but I'm tired.

O yeah, our next appt. in Houston is March 2nd.
Love and Prayers!!