Next Steps

I know that you all have been waiting to hear what we found out. Sorry I should have told you that our appt wasn't until 3:30pm today. The Doc's office has just implemented a new registration/billing software program this week so we had to start from square one in filling out paperwork & getting re-registered. The new software didn't allow them the ability to automatically transfer information from the old software - hmmmm ..... Ric has to get blood drawn each time he gets an infusion or sees the Doc. So after re-registration we had to go to the lab. Sorry having fun just letting you sit on the edge of your chair waiting to hear what we found out :) Ok so Doc said and showed us that there has been significant improvement in both the brain and the liver. Right now because of the recent chemo side effects (mainly diarrhea & mouth sores) Ric is dehydrated & malnourished - he lost more weight in the last couple weeks. So the plan of attack is for him to get some additional hydration therapy tomorrow, medication to help increase his appetite, then back to Doc next week to check hydration. If hydration level is where Doc wants to see it next week, Ric will resume Avastin treatments every two weeks - no chemo. Ric will see the Doc every two weeks for now. We are very happy with this news. We knew that there was improvement because the swelling in Ric's liver had totally gone away. And we knew that brain-wise he is good. It's just that you really need to hear what you think you know. And this was just after 6 treatments so we hope & pray for even more improvement with additional treatments. This does not mean Ric is out of the woods though. We need to get his hydration back on track and he really needs to put on weight. We expect that the two meds they are putting him on will help with the appetite. Also even though he won't be doing chemo this round - as Doc thought it would do him more harm than good - the Avastin has it's own potential side effects. So lots of prayers for the last few mouth sores to be gone, hydration levels to return to normal, for appetite increase & good weight gain over the next few weeks, for protection from side effects and continued tumor reduction. God has truly blessed us - not only with this positive news today but with all of you - your love, support & prayers.