Treatment updates

Rick and Angie and kids are now finally back in their home as of Thursday this week - the boiler and hot water heater saga kept them away far too long and they are glad to be back and settled in. Rick started to student teach this week and the kids are back in school/pre-school. Thanks to all who are helping to drive, provide meals and gift cards to keep life simpler for them right now!

Angie has just a few radiation treatments left - they end on Monday Jan. 14th. She has chemo today and next Friday the 18th. A PET scan will then be completed (date tbd but we think the week of 1/28) to assess how the radiation and chemo have affected her tumors. This will lead to further assessment of the treatment plan and the formulation of next steps. A second opinion was sought out of Denver based on the earlier scans and pathalogy reports and this review concurred with the plan being followed now. The next PET scan will allow Angie and Rick to possibly seek other opinions and treatment options here or even out of town. Stay tuned for the results and next steps.

A surprise CT scan was requested on Wed this week by the radiation doctor. The doctor wanted to have the tumor board at the hospital review the case for a possible referral to Cyberknife, which is a concentrated intense radiation facility in Boulder. There are only a few in the country and the tumor characteristics must meet certain criteria to even be accepted. We will find out today (Friday the 11th) if Angie is eligible for a referral to this clinic in Boulder and should have some early information as to what is happening with the tumors (picture shrinkage!). I will update the blog this evening as soon as I get word. Though this will not be the detailed information that we expect from the petscan, it will give some early indication as to how the treatment is impacting the growth overall.

Finally, Laura and Sarah, Angie's pals from high school, are visiting Angie this week and the laughter and support they are generating is so appreciated. So glad they could come!

More later,

Beth (Angie's cousin)