Let the Immunotherapy Begin

As you all know, I recently had a full-body scan. I won’t rehash that data, but since then, I’ve also had scans of my neck, head, and brain. The results were a mixed bag.

On the downside, a new lesion (tumor) has appeared on the exterior of my skull, and there are several new subcutaneous lesions. We already suspected these because I can feel them just by running my hand along my scalp.

The good news is that the radiation appears to have slightly shrunk the tumors in my sinuses. And the best news? No lesions were found on my brain!

Yesterday, I started my new treatment regimen. Instead of traditional chemotherapy, we’re trying immunotherapy. Essentially, two drugs are administered intravenously to help train my immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells—essentially enlisting my body to fight its own disease. Please don’t ask for further clarification; I don’t fully understand the process myself! 😃

There’s also a third drug—an oral medication I would take daily at home—that my doctor wants to include. However, insurance denied coverage, even after an appeal — it’s not approved for Sarcoma. It’s now under review to see if we can obtain it at a reduced cost through a grant. It’s quite expensive, so please send prayers or positive thoughts that our application gets approved.

The immunotherapy infusions are scheduled every three weeks. Thankfully, my Stanford specialist is coordinating with my local oncologist so I can receive all future treatments in Fresno. This will save us a significant amount of time and travel, and I’m incredibly grateful for the doctors’ willingness to collaborate.

On a lighter note, I got to enjoy an overnight trip to Yosemite last week, along with Jim and Melki (college student who lives with us). I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t know how much I love to travel and explore, especially the mountains. This quick getaway gave Jim and me a chance to breathe in the crisp winter air—and Melki got to see the park for the first time.