Tag Archives: rechallenge

The numbers look good

Posted on March 6, 2012 | 38 comments

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.

 

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Just desserts

Posted on February 28, 2012 | 17 comments

One more week off drug. My enzymes continue their descent, with the AST/SGOT now in the realm of normal with a value of 41 and the ALT/SGPT at 100. It’s the ALT that needs to come down more, but the team is confident that I’ll be there by next Monday. The plan is to rechallenge with LDK 378 at a lower dose of 400 mg (the original dose at which I entered the trial).

Just as Dr. Shaw predicted, the radiology report from my scan reads:  “No significant change in patchy groundglass opacities and mixed attenuation lesion in the left lung, likely corresponding to lung cancer. Stable two 5mm nodules in the right lung. Interlobular septal thickening in the posterior left upper lobe unchanged, likely represent(ing) lymphangitic carcinomatosis. Stable small pleural effusion.”

Lots of stables and a sprinkling of likely as well–likely connoting a pleasing if unlikely lack of certainty. I’ll just run with it…

I am just about done with the course of antibiotics and I feel the infection has cleared up. However, I am experiencing some new shortness of breath and  Alice (Dr. Shaw) confirmed a wheeze in my left lung. Trouble maker, that one (the lung, not Alice). I’d like to believe I’ve just fallen out of shape as I’ve not been walking the past two weeks. I did ask about the possibility of a flare in my cancer while I’m off drug; a phenomenon that has been document in the wash out period for patients coming off tyrosine kinase inhibitors (targeted therapy for EGFR positive cancers). The answer was yes, it is possible but, she felt, unlikely. I can’t help myself. Some people are more comfortable with less information, some of us want to hear it all; the good, the bad and the ugly.

But, there is one very bright if momentary spot of sunshine. Grapefruit. I adore this particular citrus, and I hadn’t had one for four years. Grapefruit can interact in a potentially dangerous fashion with several cancer therapies and therefore is verboten. A week ago we received a bushel of oranges and grapefruit from David’s employer. This time, I didn’t have to look on with envy but could partake. Woohoo!

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