June and July updates

July 26, 2012

DearFamily and Friends,
     Yesterday Janae and I traveled to the University of Washington in Seattle to meet with our several cancer doctors.  We met with her Neurologist, Radiology Oncologist, and Neurosurgeon.  They were all very concerned about the fast growth of a new tumor combined with the overall swelling throughout the brain attributed to a large tumor behind her left ear.  We didn’t have a good report.  It seems that many of the treatments that we previously felt were still options to utilize are no longer viable.  Her Neurologist felt the best treatment to undertake presently is to use Avastin a chemotherapy type drug.  However, use of this drug has significant chances of causing bleeding of the other tumors, which could cause severe and even life threatening responses. 

     Her Radiology Oncologist feels that dueto the global swelling and space taken up by the tumors themselves, that theuse of the Gamma Knife is very dangerous and may cause significant problems due to increased swelling which almost always follows treatment.  This swelling could cause a stroke, aneurism, or series of bleeding of the tumors.  He told us that he would be very reluctant to proceed with the Gamma Knife presently.  We had considered surgery prior to meeting with the Neurosurgeon.  He described the process necessary to remove the newer tumor, which basically would not be feasible until after removing the larger tumor surgically.  The removal of the larger tumor would most likely make it so that Janae could no longer speak.  This would be followed about a week later by the removal of the smaller (new) tumor would most likely make it so that she could no longer walk.  Obviously we are not at all interested in surgery with these types of outcomes.  He continued by stating that in his review of the recent MRI he could see that several of the other smaller tumors were starting to grow.  Any of these could shortly become just as much of a threat as the newer tumor which is currently causing Janae so many problems.  We met repeatedly with the doctors and at last came to the conclusion that we would use the Avastin to try to reduce the swelling. If this were successful, then the Radiology Oncologist would consider providing treatment of the newer tumor by use of the Gamma Knife.  We felt good with this solution, even in light of the risks associated with use of Avastin.
    
     These were very sobering discussions and the doctors repeatedly reminded us that none of these treatments would change her survival.  This was very hard to hear since we have had such great response to the many different protocols that we have utilized over the past 3years.  We have been very downhearted over receipt of this information. However, we continue to be upbeat about finding and using treatments that will still be beneficial for Janae.  Janae very much dislikes being unable to care for herself and dependent on others for all of her care.  We love Janae and also want to make sure that we do what is best for her. 
We thank all of you for all of your prayers and encouragement.  I know that we will most definitely need them now more than ever.  We love you all,
Calvin and Janae



June 28, 2012

Dear Family and friends,

I wanted to just let all of you know that Janae has been deteriorating for some time.  Lately her speech has gotten more labored and she just chooses not to talk very much because it is hard for her to think about the words to use.  Her balance has also gotten much worse and she fell in the bathroom a few days ago.  I believe all of her challengesare the result of the continuing large amount of inflammation in her brain. The doctors believe this could be the result of the after effects of the GammaKnife.  We feel it could also be from the body fighting the cancer and just as in a wound, the infection is a sign of the fight going on.  In any event the brain is not a good place to have the inflammation since it is difficult for the body to remove it from the brain.

From observing her, it seems that either the tumor, or the inflammation, or both have continued to grow.  Neither one of these is good.  Our doctors are also very concerned with the large amount of swelling that has been present in her brain now for many months.  I feel that we need to do something now to help her condition.  Since we have not found anything in the U.S. that seems to help reduce the inflammation, we have decided to go back to Tijuana, Mexico for some more of the treatments she received there.  They will not harm her in any way and can only help.  After the 2 trips we made for treatments last year, I recall that her inflammation seemedto be reduced.  We hope to have the same results this time.  We leave Sunday,July 1st and may be gone up to 30 days.  We pray that all will go well for you and your families.  Thank you for all you do for us and our family.  We love you all,

Calvin and Janae