This post is entitled, "Another Study Bites the Dust," or "Hell's Bell's Palsy""

So, last Saturday was to be a big day.  Our daughter, Katie, is moving back home and that was the day of the move.  Well, Ken woke up Saturday morning feeling queasy and dizzy.  We had to find someone to take his place for Katie's move.  As we were discussing possible options, I realized that my right eye was not blinking along with my left eye.  I got up to look at myself in the bathroom mirror and, sure enough, my right eye looked like a one-eyed deer in the headlights.  It would not close.  It was then I noticed that the right side of my mouth was drooping just a bit.  Of course, all kinds of things went through my mind.  Was I having a stroke?  Had the cancer gone to my brain, and the CT scan didn't catch it?  Then, I remembered.  The paperwork we received when we first started this study mentioned the possibility of Bell's Palsy when the drug was administered along with chemo.  When the drug is administered by itself, as it was in my case, there had been no cases of Bell's Palsy - until now.  Anyway, I called Roswell and spoke to the doctor on call.  He said to come in, so we did.  He did a few little tests just to make sure it wasn't a stroke.  Once he ruled that out, I couldn't help but notice his amusement at my predicament.  When he asked me to smile big, raise my eye brows, fill my cheeks up with air, it was all quite comical.  Thank goodness it's temporary!  One to two weeks with treatment of steroids and an antiviral med and I should be as good as new.

As for today, I went down for my third treatment feeling good and ready to go only to find out that because I'm taking steroids, they're going to have to take me off of the study.  Apparently, the steroids would water down the effect of the drug, so there would be no point in continuing.  Dr. Dy said there was a small chance we could begin again after I'm done with the steroids, but they would have to get special permission from the pharmaceutical company and that isn't likely.  So, on to plan B.  They are currently offering a clinical trial that is a vaccine.  If my tumor has a particular antigen, I would qualify for this study.  There is a 15% chance that the antigen may be present.  So, they are going to take a sample of the original tumor and test it.  We should find out in the next week or two.  If that doesn't pan out, Dr. Dy said there are more studies on the horizon.  So, it's back to the waiting game.  The good news is:  the MRI they did of my brain yesterday came back negative.  So, that along with the CT scan makes it official - no cancer up there. Secondly, they took the catheter out today.  My left lung is pretty much back to normal, so no need to have it in anymore.  It's so much more comfortable not having a tube protruding from my side!  Thirdly, I've lost 10 pounds!!  Lastly, aside from looking like Phantom of the Opera sans the mask, I feel great. I'm looking forward to cooking with my girls for Thanksgiving and having a great holiday.

May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!