The Good Fight

Mark has felt terrible, been bedridden and had severe headaches ever since he returned from the hospital in Boston. Today was his doctor's appointment with Dr. Aviles, the oncologist, and it was the first time that he hadn't had a headache in days. He needs to begin a new treatment regimen but Dr. Aviles wants to give him some time to recuperate from the past two weeks before he proceeds. Therefore, he is now scheduled for a CT scan on July 9 and will return to Dr. Aviles for the results and decide a treatment plan on July 16. One possibility that Dr. Aviles is considering is chemo in a pill form called XELODA which Mark could take at home instead of administering anything intravenously but that course of treatment is tentative and may depend on the outcome of the CT scan.
Dr. Aviles is eager to find a treatment that will kill off the cancer cells with lessor adverse side effects than some of the former treatments Mark has received. He forsees the battle to kill the cancer cells in the lung and airways to continue and he is attempting to find a treatment that will be effective but not destroy Mark's quality of life. Dr. Aviles is very attentive and wonderful at explaining the situation. He says that Mark's body is a battlefield and the cancer and the treatments are fighting for control over his body. It is very much trial and error and several types of treatments may be in the offing, possibly with some breaks in between to enjoy life and possibly return to Puerto Rico for a short visit.
I will report back on Monday, July 16 after we meet with Dr. Aviles, receive the Ct scan results and the next treatment regimen is determined.