Endoscopy Results, New Doctor, New Treatment

Hello there, lots to get through since the past update.  I'll try to be concise, but not skip over anything important.

Upper Endoscopy - A couple of weeks ago, I had another procedure at the UW Digestive Disease Center where they stuck a tube down my throat and into my stomach because I was feeling something that I was worried was a tumor in my throat because I felt something there when I swallowed that progressively got worse.  Luckily, there was nothing found, so it was perhaps just a scratch developed from the Avastin with a cumulative effect.  Bullet dodged.

New Doctor - My previous oncologist, Dr. Back, transitioned from SCCA to Harborview to start a pallative care function.  On Friday of last week, 7/10, I met my new oncologist, Dr. Harris.  Prior to meeting him, I was worried he wouldn't be as good as Dr. Back, but within 5 minutes of speaking with him, I liked him better.  This new doctor is very precise with his words, he tells the full and complete truth, and he's more into the science.  In reading his profile, he even designs and leads clinical trials and other research.  After speaking with him, it seems that either Dr. Back was filtering himself and only telling me the bare minimum based on the questions I asked, or he wasn't as into the science.

Dr. Harris said that he wanted to send my tumor for additional genetic testing to better determine which drugs would be most effective and which drugs may do harm.  I was shocked to find that this wasn't already done to help strategize and identify the best drugs based on the molecular makeup of the tumors, but we'll get this started now, which will take up to 6 weeks to complete.  Pro tip: if you or someone you know ever finds yourself in the same situation, push for the most complete genetic testing on the tumor available.  The test may cost several thousand out of pocket if not approved by insurance, but the information may be priceless.

New Treatment - Dr. Harris also discussed his thoughts on how to best go about the next few months.  While we are waiting for the genetic test results to come back, he suggested we add back one of the drugs I was on during my first line, more intense chemo, Oxaliplatin, which will be in addition to my Xeloda and Avastin.  With this new drug, I'll also have to take up to four additional antimetics, which are drugs that combat the side effects of the oxaliplatin, notably nausea.  I'll also have tingly fingers and cold sensitivity again.  The introduction of these additional drugs will also make me more tired, but hopefully it won't be as intense as last year.  To allow time to recover from the chemo, I'll be taking the next few days off from work, but if I feel better, I'll return earlier.

Once we get back the results of the genetic tests, we'll determine the best course going forward, but it will likely be switching to another drug that I was on last year, Irinotecan, plus additional drugs found to be most effective.  Again, it was a big surprise that this test was available before, and it wasn't done.

Overall I'm glad that things are moving forward, and I'm much happier with my doctor than I thought I would be, and I ended up liking him more than my previous one.  Thanks again for reading, and I'll see you around!