The Culprit

I couldn't resist letting you all see Brian's eyes bugging out on his MRI this morning!

Recognize him? Technology is so cool!

You can see the residual remains of the brain lesion (located in the center at the very top).

Top view, although I have no idea why it looks like it is on the right side of his brain. It has something to do with the angle of the MRI picture, one of over 500 images.



Another view from the top.




This view shows the edema that is left from the swelling. In June the white area completely covered one whole side of his brain.

Another view with contrast.

So what does this all mean? Well, Dr. Anderson was very happy with the results of the brain MRI this morning. He was also very pleased with Brian's physical progress. The brain shows now signs of any additional mets. The swelling has decreased significantly. You may recall that the neurosurgeon had to leave some residual disease during the craniotomy to avoid additional brain damage. The MRI this morning showed what appears to be necrosis (cell death) with very minimal activity.

The CT scan was also as expected, although I don't have images to share. There is a tumor on the right adrenal gland that looks the same as it did in June. This is an important issue, as remember, Brian doesn't have a left adrenal gland. There are 2 subq's on his left hip, near where 2 other large subq's were taken out in Feb. Dr. Anderson said they were too deep and probably too small for Brian to feel. They look about the same as June also. There is a clump of tumors growing behind the left kidney. Brian had the fat behind his kidney removed in February, due to disease invasion, and the June CT showed it had shown up in that area again. This area did show growth since June, not rapid, and not necessarily even moderate, just some growth. This wasn't unexpected. The May CT was clear, and less than 4 weeks later a CT showed noticeable tumors. So it would have been ignorant to have thought that the disease would have suddenly stabilized itself from June to August. Dr. Anderson was pleased with the adrenal gland being stable, and that there were no new tumors. I was frankly ecstatic that the disease hadn't run rampant and taken on a mind of its own in the past 2 months. Overall, we were all very glad that we gave Brian's body time to heal from the craniotomy and to be able to do his therapies.

Again, God paved the way to get Brian to this chemo today. I can't help but feel that all the pieces have fallen into place, and that God indeed has answered our prayers for direction and guidance in finding a way to help Brian.

So we headed upstairs to the AIU (ambulatory infusion unit). Brian has been up there many times to have his port accessed and do lab draws, but never for treatment. There are rooms full of patients facing what we are living with. We are treated like real people, and the whole place gives me the feeling that they are each coming to work everyday to touch the life of someone afflicted by cancer. I have always felt this way about Ellis Fischel, and today was just a reminder.

They premedicated Brian with Zofran, Benadryl, and a few other drugs, and they got the taxol going. That took 3 hours, followed by carbo for another 40 minutes. We were on the road by about 5:45 with nexavar in hand to start tomorrow. He ate a lot during the infusion, and I forgot to mention that he had gained 1o pounds since his July 2nd appt., so this is also a good start to chemo. He was hungry for ice cream on the way home, and picked the blackberry cobbler sundae from Sheridan's in Independence!

Dr. Anderson feels he can mostly control Brian's nausea, but these drugs will cause extreme fatigue. The nexavar is also known for causing a severe rash and hand and foot syndrome, so we'll have to stay on top of those symptoms. He expects Brian to lose his hair right before returning for the next treatment on Aug. 27. So the adventure continues!

On another note, Brian wanted me to be sure to let you all know that gas in Columbia was $2.58 and $2.77 around Kansas City.

Hope you all have a blessed week full of special memories.
Jenni