SIDESTEP: Second Opinion, Simon Cancer Center, IU Hospitals, Indianapolis

Guarded good news: [and slightly incorrect] My PDL-1 protein level is high enough to to begin KERATRUDA therapy right away. It is one of the new immuno-therapies showing excellent results.[It is in pill form;]Keytrnda (sp?) very expensive-covered by insurance (checking that out). I may also be a candidate for the new therapies that work with DNA/gene indicators. The results are not in on already-tested EGFR and there will be further testing on two other gene indicators if EGFR is not positive. No chemotherapy and, since the pills work through the blood stream, it will treat the adreno-carcinoma wherever it exists in my body. That drug would be, for the medicos in the family, Tagrifsu. 

I probably won't regain my voice; BUT before you think that might not be all bad, I have installed "megaphone" on my Iphone and am waiting for the speaker attachment to arrive from Amazon. 

Not so good news: The cancer has spread from the left lung to the right, involving the bunch of lymph nodes and blood vessels that come together in the center chest, under the sternum. It also has migrated to some bone locations and, as mentioned before, the liver. Dr. Durm, of the Simon Cancer Center was optimistic that I could get some shrinkage of the tumors through this process. I intend to take each good day and make it better, every bad day (and there will be some--these therapies are not without side effects) I will jump in bed, cover up my head, and feel sorry for myself. No help needed there!! I have plenty of self-empathy to last a while!

As with every such crisis, there are also blessings that come with them, and I am certainly going to count them every day as well. I am keeping a diary and may share some of that with you along the way. Ralph and I can laugh about it occasionally, and he is my strong right arm.The staff and residents who know my situation are very helpful and understanding. There is an extraordinary woman here, Jenny Kander, who made me a "dammit doll!" She is a published and recognized poet and maker of storytelling rustic dolls. Each doll has a background story--a bio, so to speak--and they are very popular. 

Here is the poem that accompanies the doll:

DAMMIT DOLL

Whenever things don't go so well

and you want to hit the wall and yell,

   here's a little dammit doll

   that you can't do without.

 Just grasp it firmly by the legs

And find a place to slam it,

and as you whack the stuffing out

yell: dammit!dammit! dammit!

And here is how you (mis)use this dammit doll:

Poor defenseless doll has no arms! I may get upset enough to give it a lick or two, but it nice to know that it's there if I really need to do so!!

Beth