Next steps: On Monday May 8 the catheter will be removed and on the 21st, another trip to UCSF for a more detailed exam which will include a CT scan.
Thanks for following along.... we'll post updates as things unfold!!
Hello all - As mentioned in the thread below following a few days of R&R at the beach, another trip to San Francisco arriving last Monday, home Wednesday (night before last). The principle investigator/MD remains pleased with Madi's progress including the lack of any major side effects. Looking back to late December there was an alarming amount of fluid building up from the metastasis in her chest, so much so that a catheter was placed so she could drain it every four days. The clinical trial Madi's on is a "first-in-class small molecule EZH2 inhibitor", and appears highly effective in her rare case both shrinking watch-item tumors and all but eliminating the fluid build-up. Our lay interpretation... smaller tumors and they are infinitely less pissed-off! The doctor authorized the chest catheter to be removed which is already scheduled for May 8th, a very happy thing! On Tuesday afternoon we lunched in a pool of food trucks permanently parked among all the high-rises in SF. The food options were surprisingly good and there are a couple of fire pits with swings... a rather nice way to spend a bit of time following all of the medical hoo-ha prior. Pictured is Madison trying desperately but failing to avoid the Paparazzi, but shows the two of the four double swings around the pit. On Wednesday morning dad was working on his laptop in the community living room and the buildings fire alarm started blaring with an extremely loud PA announcement to evacuate the building immediately. Going back to the room to check in on Madison, she was on her hands and knees and looked up with a big smirk! In the excitement she littered the carpet with with a full bottle of meds (pills). The fire department came code 3 but it turned out to be a non-event.
Next steps: On Monday May 8 the catheter will be removed and on the 21st, another trip to UCSF for a more detailed exam which will include a CT scan. Thanks for following along.... we'll post updates as things unfold!! Monday is another routine trip to San Francisco which will be giving blood, EKGs, a doctors appointment, and picking up another 28 days of meds... and she'll return on Wednesday. The fluid that needed to be drained from the 'rogue lung' is almost nonexistent! It very therapeutic hearing the ocean pounding on the sand for three days straight. Perhaps beach camping should be a monthly ritual ahead of the hustle and bustle of getting to and appointments at UCSF! Thanks for following along, updates weekly or if/as there's a development!
The update today, no update. Madi is poised to travel on the 24th again to San Francisco. This will be a 2017 record for her, the number of days straight that she's not getting poked for blood, having EKGs, and/or CT scans with doctor consults! Wooo Hoooo! With that, our rogue lunged lassie to a hike up the cross here in Simi Valley today. While dad was huffing and puffing, Madison didn't break a sweat claiming it was a 'walk' dad, not a 'hike'. Hmmm. We passed another couple who asked us how our 'hike' was. Seeeeeeee, I knew it! Happy Easter! Bailey tends to sleep a lot, occasionally on the cat tree. Given she probably snoozes 14 hours a day, Bailey is extremely playful and packed full of energy when shes awake. As young dogs do, she like to find things, throw them in the air and chase them... rinse and repeat, fun times! Madison noticed her tossing and romping after something, took it away from her then looked down at her belly. Somethings missing... Feeding tubes stay in place because there's a small water balloon that's filled after the internal hose is inserted in to the stomach. If that balloon ruptures, the g-tube is easily removed but can be a bear to get back in. The last time it happened required a trip to the ER... even they struggled a bit. During the last doctors visit Madi asked the PA for a spare and they actually gave her one. She was able to maneuver the new one in and fill the small balloon, which is about the size of a marble. Let's hope this one stays put... Bailey already has enough toys : ) |
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