Off to the races, again!

I thought I would post a brief update. I started on Ibrutinib today. So far no nasty side effects and all going well. I am on a slightly lower usage to start for about  a month and then if things continue going well it'll be increased.

I certainly have hope that this drug will be as amazing for me as almost everyone else who have taken it. So stay tuned as I give you my lap by lap report! Until then thanks for checking in.

A new Horizon

I spoke with one of my specialist on Tuesday. He ran my case by a team of four other hematologists at a lymphoma conference and with my regular treating hematologist Dr. Yee who is currently on sabbatical in Germany. Most of them were of the opinion to re-treat but with Ibrutinib.  One opted for a combination of Bendamustine and Rituximab  (BR).

BR would only be a six month course as opposed to an indefinite  daily dose of Ibrutinib. The risk of BR treatment is twofold. Bendamustine is an alkylating agent invented in East Germany as ancheap alternative to other chemo agents which were either too expensive or unavailable behind the Iron Curtain.   It can cause DNA damage, possibly resulting in secondary cancers. Secondly if it does not work it can cause the cancer to mutate into a more aggressive and treatment resistant form. In short, the risks outweigh the possible benefits.  Therefore, we decided that I would immediately start taking Ibrutinib.

There are many possible side effects and there are many things that interact with this drug.
Here is  a partial list:

Ibrutinib is a BTK inhibiter which basically starves the cancer cells from a protein they need to grow and therefore induces cell death (apoptosis).  It's considered a targeted therapy as opposed to chemotherapy. It has only been approved in Canada as of January 2017 and because it it is so expensive, only for people who have relapsed or are resistant to traditional chemo; people like me.  It has a track record or working 90% of the time. It's the latest greatest and I hope it works!

Beneath the surface of constantly studying  the biochemistry of the disease, and understanding the complexity of the drugs, lurks the ever present emotional stress of living with a life threatening and (as of yet) incurable  disease.  I am reminded of this reality every time I have blood work, discussions with doctors, explain to friends and family, and as I see the the signs of the disease progressing. To say that living with cancer is life changing is a great understatement.  Regret, sadness, anger and sometimes just resolve are emotions that come up frequently.  Overall I believe my lesson is to try and live life in the most meaningful way possible.  I am grateful for my partner, friends and family who have and continue to support me through this journey.  

Thanks for checking in and following along. Stay tuned as the "race" continues with me back in the saddle with even better and faster new "machinery."

Henry keeps me calm and reminds me to have a sunny outlook.