back to bethesda

This week we go back to the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda. First for an MRI and then we meet the doctors.

$13,500

After each carboplatin treatment, Maries get's a shot of a drug called Neulasta. The purpose is to help boost the production of her white blood cells. She's had three of those shots which cost $4500 each. So far our insurance has denied payment on the first two, and I don't think they've even received the third yet. If they deny all three, I will own $13,500 just for those shots. If anyone has any ideas, let me know.

chemo today

Marie Had chemo today. Her white blood count was low, but still good enough to proceed with chemo. In the next few week we will go back to Washington for an MRI at the National Cancer Institute.

one more chemo

More than a month has past and Marie is handling the chemotherapy well. She's had two of the carboplatin treatments and two Neulasta booster shots. On Wednesday she will get her final Chemo treatment before the next MRI. That should be done about mid September. Is it working or not? I can't tell from anything that I'm seeing on a day to day basis. But at least she not having any side effects of any significance.

so far so good

Today is Saturday and a few days after Marie's chemotherapy and blood cell booster shot. Up to this point she has not had any after effects except for some redness on her face after the chemo. And even that went away after the next day.

free pie day

I will fill in the last two weeks in bit. Let me start with Marie began chemotherapy today. Carboplatin is the drug of choice this time. The whole thing took about an hour and a half. First a steroid was given, followed by anti nausea medication. Finally came the carboplatin. After it was done we went to Village Inn to get something to eat. Wednesday is free pie day.

Tomorrow she gets a shot to help boost the white blood cell count.

back from nih

We returned yesterday from NIH. They confirmed that the tumors had grown and had opinions on treatments. No more surgery. No more radiation. More chemotherapy. They had opinions on what types of chemotherapy to do as well. Marie has now become a patient of NIH, although her treatments will be done in Omaha. Then we will travel back to NIH in about 9-10 weeks to see if there is any progress.