Cyber-a-go-go

The morning started early today when the family, minus Matt, picked me up at the station at 7 am. The traffic was light all the way up to Stanford which is about a 1 1/2 hour drive. The air was a little tense I sensed as we were heading into something so optimistic but yet still so unknown. We had no idea what Dr. Koong was going to have to say or even if this "Cyberknife" would be the right modality for her treatment.

Technically speaking (I've been around doctors a lot lately so I can do that) the Cyberknife is stereotactic radiosurgery (spell check hates this post btw). The other similar machine is called "Trilogy" and they are the same for our purposes. These devices deploy radiation in a very narrow, precise field, guided by high resolution CT imaging and real time 3D imagery. The machine even compensates for the patients breathing rate and delivers the radiation with millimeter accuracy leaving the surrounding organs very minimally effected. There may be some nausea and an increased occurrence of ulcers.

So without further delay...

After a brief talk with a medical student who did a short physical exam, Dr. Koong came in. When he introduced himself my mom exclaimed, "wow, you're so young!" Dr. Koong gave us a very good impression and had excellent bedside manner. I could see that this put mom very much at ease. He explained the Cyberknife to us and answered a barrage of questions with the utmost patience. He feels as though mom will be a good candidate for this technology and that it will work well for her. So, she will in fact be getting radiation at Stanford with what apparently is the best technology for this type of situation in the world. Now, this isn't a cure all. There will be about a five week wait before she can begin treatment and in the meantime she will begin chemotherapy next week in Salinas. Really the only bad news we heard today is that he is very confident that the tumor will in time return. The objective is to keep it "in check." Apparently these tumors do not go away forever. So, this is not a cure, but it could very well buy a bit of time. For the time being she will receive treatment of Gemcitabine (chemo) (link at right) once a week for the next three to five weeks. She needs to be off the chemo for two weeks before and two weeks after the radiation. The radiation will take place every day for about 1 1/2 hours for around five days. In a nutshell she will start with chemo, which should be the worst part of this of course, then move to the radiation, then back to chemo again.

So this is where we stand. The worst of it starts next week. Mom is understandably terrified of chemo. I have tried to reassure her that many before her have gone through it and that she can as well. She will need to get sick to get better. I think the next few months is the time when we are really going to need to pull together. We'll be there for her and we will all get her through it and she will come out the other side healthier. Please understand that she may not be in the best of spirits now while looking toward chemo.

The support from all over continues and it is really great. She is well aware of how many people care about her and are thinking about her and praying for her. Keep it up, it is so appreciated.

More to follow next week when chemo starts.