“Scouring the Landscape”

From Aunt Charlene

Today, Thanksgiving Day, let us all pause for a moment and truly be thankful for our loving families and friends, and the caring, support, and love that has been expressed over the last many weeks for our beloved Valerie. We do know the power of this ‘outpouring of support’, along with the ‘faith and trust’ that has been expressed in our Creator to guide Valerie through this arduous process will ‘arm’ her with continued hope and positive attitude which are so integral to the process.

On Tuesday, Val, Chris and Richard traveled once again to Los Angeles for Val’s second round of chemotherapy and an ultrasound to make sure that no problems had arisen from the laproscopic procedure the previous week. On the good news front – the ultrasound indicated no problems were apparent, so the healing process should result in decreased discomfort for Val; and the blood work that was done came back A-OK! The second round of chemo was a bit easier due to the insertion of a ‘port’ in Val’s arm – so no needles and no ‘burning’ as the drugs entered her body. In addition, Richard had an opportunity to meet and talk with Dr. Andy Klein, one of the liver doctors who is caring for Val. He was impressed and moved with the care and concern expressed by Dr. Klein, and his medical competency. We have a ‘great team’ working the problem!

We also are awaiting a reading on the biopsy that was performed last week by Dr. Nissen…..that should result in a ‘definitive diagnosis’ on the type of cancer this is, which in turn, determines the very ‘best’ treatment plan. We are encouraged by their conscientious approach to making sure they know exactly what this is – either confirming the cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis or determining that it is a different type of cancer.

A highlight of Tuesday’s trip to LA – amidst the long hours of ‘waiting’ for treatment, Val’s previous manager and her current manager traveled to LA because they knew she was having her second chemo treatment at Cedar’s to visit Val. They were able to locate Val, Chris and Richard, and had lunch together and presented Val with gifts. Yet another tribute to Val’s impact on those people she has interacted with…..

At this point in our ‘journey’, the battle has shifted to the ‘Chemotherapy Front’…..we all are ‘scouring the landscape’ to research and find ALL possible options to find the right ‘weapons’ to halt the spread of this cancer, and to shrink the existing tumors – THAT IS THE GOAL! After speaking to Dr. Klein, Dr. Nissen, and the Oncologist Dr. Drazen, I am confident that they are researching all of the latest abstracts on treatments for cholangiocarcinoma, and contacting colleagues throughout the medical community on any effective chemo regimens or any clinical trials relating to this cancer. In addition, Dr. Drazen also looks to resources outside of the US to find any possible treatment that could be considered in the future. In addition we are contacting several prominent Cancer Centers throughout the US – Sloan-Kettering, The Mayo Clinic, Stanford, Northwestern University Oncology Dept,, Lutheran Medical Center Oncology Dept. in Brooklyn – all of whom have been recommended as ‘cutting edge’ cancer treatment centers. Currently, the plan is to finish 3 – 4 rounds of the current chemo regimen, have an MRI or Scan done to determine the response to this treatment plan. Depending on the results of this scan, we will either continue current regimen, perhaps adding additional ‘chemo weapons’ or change to a different regimen, if the response is not favorable. In any case, we will be PREPARED!

Prayer List:

· Val’s quick recovery from the Laprascopic procedure last week

· Val’s continued faith and strength in fighting this battle

· The cancer is effectively being stopped by the current chemo

· The cancer is beginning to shrink from the current chemo

· Continued recovery for Chris’s back

· Strength and energy to all of Val’s family to ‘stay the course’