The End of Carboplatin

This week has been a long one for us, but at least we have the couch squared away! Front Room Furnishings decided to honor their sales agreement and take it back. I didn’t want to mention in my last post that the couch was fully delivered (can you half deliver a couch?) when we discovered the odor. It was with great dismay that Karen and I lugged the thing out into the garage and gave them a call. She really liked that couch.

I didn’t mention in my post that we’d already received the couch because Front Room Furnishings refused to take it back. My hackles were already up, and I didn’t want it making you mad as well. I’m sure it was hard enough for Front Room Furnishings to deal with me, and they really had no idea what was in store for them. Polite, professional, but pointed wins the day again. They probably don’t know how fortunate they are.

Unfortunately, the formula we use to achieve success in business, and with sleazy couch sellers (in this case both the couch and the seller were sleazy), doesn’t really work as well against cancer, at least in a manner easily quantified. If you’ve spoken with me about this you probably know that Karen and I broke her treatment down into things we can control, and those we can’t. We’ve tried to keep our house illness free, keep her away from unsanitary conditions, stay positive, make sure each of her doctors is clearly informed, etc.

Sometimes that means asking pertinent questions of the health professionals to allow them to consider things. Asking your oncologist his thoughts on a special test and discussing his response elicits different emotions than simply telling him you want the test. Both end up with the test being performed, but one way fosters a partnership, and the other not.

It also means no more cleaning litter boxes for Karen. I know you were all wondering about this, so now you know. I empty the litter boxes, often. We even have a nice big air filter right next to them to keep the house sanitary. Have fun imagining me wearing gloves (9 mil Adenna “Dark Light” industrial strength nitrile gloves) performing cat cleanup doody (pun intended), you’re welcome. But that changeover occurred the first day, so that’s not really news.

The big news is the Carboplatin. [Dramatic Pause] No more Carboplatin. Good riddance. But that’s not because of it’s efficacy.

Chemotherapy poisons the cancer. The various chemo cocktails work differently, but all damage healthy cells as well, and some cumulatively. Carboplatin is cumulatively toxic to healthy cells and is subject to the law of diminishing returns. If we could break that law, we would (our favorite attorney would protect us, right?), but alas, we can’t.

NO MORE CARBOPLATIN! That is good news, but there is more. Early tests indicate that the treatment has continued to reduce the size of the tumors. Karen has a CT scan scheduled, but we just received results from a new CA125 test, and she is back in the “normal” range. This test checks markers in the blood that indicate ovarian cancer, and was the early test that helped identify the problem. She’s had this test three times now, and the last two show steady improvement. As we’ve discussed, Karen’s cancer can’t be cured (using today’s technology), but can be treated. Ultimately, we hope for remission, which might provide time for a cure to be developed. Yes, I’m sure you already knew that I’m an avid futurist.

Primary Peritoneal Cancer is serious and rare, and sometimes the patient doesn’t respond well to any of the treatments. The continued progression of Karen’s CA125 numbers indicates she is. Thank you Carboplatin (and Taxol). As nasty as you’ve been, you’ve provided a bit of hope.

After the CT scan on the 20^th we’ll regroup with her doctor to discuss the next chemo or medication options. It won’t be until then that we know how much the tumors have reduced. We’ll use that information along with anything helpful from additional genetic testing that is scheduled (see above) to proceed on our path to remission, and a cure.