I’m happy to report that Laura started to see some improvement in her leg strength and control starting last Thursday — just after I wrote that nothing had changed! Since then she has continued to noticeably improve her walking and climbing. Ten days ago her legs were too weak to climb stairs and Joe and I had to lift her up each step. She couldn’t control her leg lifting. Now she can pull herself up one step at a time, is able to easily clear each step, and can reach the top without pause. She’s cruising the floors with her walker at a pace, whereas before it was very slow and irregular. She still must walk assisted, but is comfortable enough to move two or three steps without support. She still has to lift her legs with her arms into the bed or car.
This all suggests that the radiation treatments are not just stopping the tumor progression in the base of her spine, but reversing the walking problems. Physical therapy is probably also helping. This is unexpected good news! Not everything is rosy. Laura’s handwriting continues to worsen along with weakening and tremors in her hands, and her left arm is starting to feel numb. But we were expecting that she might become unable to walk at all, so this change in the other direction is hopeful.
Today Laura and I met with her general oncologist who had consulted with her neuro-oncologist last week. Everyone was in agreement for Laura to begin a new combination chemotherapy treatment of two drugs called Xeloda and Avastin, which she started today. Both are usually well tolerated among most patients. Laura takes Xeloda, a pill, every day for a week and then rests a week. Avastin is administered intravenously every two weeks.
As her oncologists have explained, her treatment is now beyond the realm of known treatment regimens and into the realm of intuition and experimentation. Neither drug has yet been shown to work (or not work) for CSF mets through clinical trials, however it is known that Xeloda passes through the blood-brain barrier and there are anecdotal cases in which Xeloda delayed progression of CSF mets. The neuro-oncologist is not aware of anyone using Avastin for CSF mets, but the intuition is that it could starve the cancer of necessary blood supply. Avastin has recently been shown to help patients with glioma — brain tumors like the one found yesterday in Ted Kennedy — so it’s reasonable to believe that it also crosses the blood-brain barrier and could be useful.
As a heads-up to the Arkansas crowd, Laura plans to visit after her second Avastin drip in about two weeks and stay for the weekend of June 7th. I’ll send our travel details through the local grape vine soon.
Improved mobility and new chemo
Tue, May 20th, 2008 11:08pm by dkulp
Tags: Uncategorized
10 responses so far ↓
1 Elena // May 21, 2008 at 5:54 am
I pray for continued strength in her legs all the time. And I am so glad that she will get “home” to Holly Grove. A good dose of Arkansas is just what she needs!
2 Heather // May 21, 2008 at 6:39 am
I wanted to let you know that Aunt Rhonda called me last night and asked to pass along that they are thinking about & praying for “ya’ll”. She wanted to know if Mom & Dad would be going with you all to AR. Glad to hear that your legs are being more cooperative !!
3 PJ // May 21, 2008 at 6:42 am
Glad to hear of these positive changes.
She may not be able to tap dance, but maybe she can manage a little soft-shoe.
4 DonnaCasey // May 21, 2008 at 6:51 am
The sun is shining here in Annandale this morning…both literally and figuratively! Happy to hear the positive news;prayers continue 🙂
5 John Tuttle // May 21, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I’m glad to hear that the treatments are working. I’ve been to Holly Grove with PJ and I can first-hand attest to the healing properties of “Diet Dr. Pepper.”
6 shannon coleman // May 21, 2008 at 3:25 pm
So glad to hear better news. We need to get a prayer chain started now for the Arkansas trip! I’d be willing to bet some menu’s are already being planned!
7 Rocky // May 22, 2008 at 7:42 am
I am always glad to receive positive and good news. I hope your trip to Arkansas is fulfilling. God Bless,Rocky
8 Justin // May 22, 2008 at 8:29 am
That’s good to hear, David. Please give her a hug from me. Hope to see y’all soon!
9 Alisa Greenbacher // May 22, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Hi all–I am thinking about you everyday. In my heart, I celebrate all of Laura’s triumphs and strength. And I was horribly saddened to read your words about hospice, grief and preparing for a funeral. It seems surreal. I am sure many people have already mentioned this, but the Garden in Northampton is a wonderful organization for children in grief. They are connected to the Y and I also can give you more info if you don’t already have it. -Alisa
10 Allison Johnson // May 23, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Hi family, glad to hear such positive news…really glad you will be making a visit to Holly Grove soon….sending lots of love and prayers your way