I have a newly developed and profound sense of respect for my liver. The AST/SGOT is down to 53 (normal range is 7-30) and my ALT(SGOT) is 43 (normal range is 9-32). This constitutes a mild but entirely acceptable level of inflammation/irritation; the insult and injury has been forgiven. I savored my final grapefruit on Thursday of last week, and last night I started back on LDK 378 at 400 mg.
I experienced a small amount of cramping post dose and felt enough fatigue that I took a nap after breakfast this morning, but all in all, it is an uneventful rechallenge thus far. On Thursday I will have my liver enzymes checked at the local lab; to do so is not mandated by trial protocol, but both Dr. Shaw and I will feel better not waiting until next Monday for my weekly blood draw.
Better yet, Alice (Dr. Shaw) called with some additional news this morning. My tumor response from the last chest CT scan had again been reevaluated, and it has jumped from 45% to 62.4%, which is approaching the phenomenal c 70% I experienced on crizotinib. Now that’s what I call a sweet vote of confidence, or as Mary Poppins might say, ‘just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”
Cancer, your little vacation is over. We’re back on track.
life and breath: outliving lung cancer 