Scan Results from last week's MD Anderson visit

Happy Monday everybody,

First off I want to thank everybody who was praying for me this past week, there are a ton of you out there who have stayed so faithful with prayers/positive thoughts during these first two years of my cancer fight. Texter's, caller's, emailer's, facebooker's, you know who you are, THANK YOU-I feel so supported by all the kind messages.

Now to the visit. The trip went really well with regards to travel. Flights, cabs, hotel stay - all very simple. That always makes for an easier journey up to the ol' 9th floor sarcoma unit when travel has been made easy. I had my really good friend Myles along with me, and he made the trip as fun as possible for me. We ate some good food, went to a couple movies, talked sports/business/life, and he even kicked my butt in Pop-A-Shot (maybe I've lost my jump shot) HAHA.

The Scan results didn't go how I planned. This was the first time I truly had gotten poor results from when we began this adventure a few years ago. The tumor in my stomach lining that has grown slightly over the past few scans has continued to grow even larger. Also for the first time I have new spots that have appeared on the scan. All the new spots continue to be growing in the abdominal area. My heart sank when the Doctors Assistant read the scan results to me: "The results of the scan aren't very good" were her exact words. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I actually feel pretty good, don't have pain at the moment, and wasn't expecting those words to come out. Had two years of agonizing chemo every two weeks gone down the drain in one Scan? Well, we waited for Dr. Araujo to come in and talk further about what was next. She walked into the room and said "Whats your problem?" as my head was slunk down in disappointment as if I had just lost a big game, or big sales contest. I responded to her how frustrated I was with the scan results, and I just couldn't believe it because I felt fine. I couldn't have asked for a better coach at that exact moment in my life. She told me I had 24 hours to feel sorry for myself then I needed to get focused on the next phase of this process. We talked at length about realizing that this particular type of tumor comes back, and when it does she has the right mix to combat it. They continue to remind me how well I have done, how I am beating all of the odds of this cancer, and how strong and good I look for having done nearly 30 rounds of chemotherapy without any break for two years. I guess I don't always feel that way because I just want it to go away, and in my head sometimes don't think victory has happened til its gone. I do realize that my goal right now is to live with this cancer until otherwise noted (long-term solution, etc.)

Whats next? I will be going back to a chemo drug ifosfamide. Its generally regarded as one of the strongest, toughest, chemotherapy treatments there is. I have to be in the Hospital full time for the 6 day treatment, as my body needs the 24 hour infusion of "Mesna" for the entire 6 days. This helps protect my organs from the stiff chemo dose. I will be doing the treatment at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, starting sometime this week. I will post my schedule once I hear back as to when I'm being admitted, etc. I want everybody to know that while this news was very discouraging to me, I actually feel pretty good going into this next phase. The tumor is basically the same size as it was in September of 2009 when I left Houston, after the initial 8 rounds. I am thankful that it hasn't spread outside the abdominal area yet. I can walk, eat, talk and function like a healthy person. Many of my cancer pals cannot say that. I have had this drug before, and I know that it works on my body. I know what to expect with it, and am ready for it. Thanks everybody for following my blog, progress, and results. I really appreciate the tremendous love and support from all over the world.

Andrew

Houston Jan 24-26

Andrew is arriving in Houston as I write this. He will be there until Wednesday for tests, scans and then a meeting with Dr. Araujo Wednesday morning. Please keep him in your prayers and thoughts during this process. We will post an update when we hear one after Wednesday. Andrew needs lots of support right now.

Thank you!

Two Years

Sonja Drew with her Uncle Drew on Christmas

Two years ago Andrew was diagnosed with cancer. His doctors would not have guessed he'd be where he is at today. We are so thankful for the constant love and support from all the amazing family, friends and medical professionals.

Andrew continues to plug along, doing chemo for 10 days and off for two weeks. He will be in Houston towards the end of January for more tests and will meet with Dr. Araujo for a new treatment plan.

Please keep praying for Andrew, that his tumors would shrink and that his body and spirit would be renewed.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We love you all!

September Update

I wanted to send out a quick medical update for everybody who is following my medical progress. I am currently doing a round of chemo both this week and next week. I think this is my 3rd round since I last blogged in late July. I did gave a scan done about a month ago down in Houston at MD Anderson. I would call the test results positive mixed results. No tumors in any major organs and nothing blocking anything vital at this time. I did have some small growth in the tumors that still exist in my abdomin wall, interestingly though I had some shrinkage in similar tumors in the same area. I will be getting scanned again in mid October. At that point we will see if I need a new chemo regimine. I feel good, other then a few pounds overweight right now, I feel the best physically and mentally that I ever have during this nearly two year process. I have alot of good things going on outside chemo that I'm excited about as well. Thanks everybody for all your continued thoughts and prayers. Congratulations to my sister Elizabeth and her husband Tyler on their second child, Sonja Drew Denton!

Andrew

FAMILY

Late July...

Hey Studs/Studettes,

I started another two week round of chemotherapy this week at Swedish in Seattle. Once I finish this round, I will be in Houston Aug 16/17 to meet with the MDAnderson crew. I'm going to see if I can start spreading these treatments further out, so I can lead a slightly more normal schedule, we will see.....Some thoughts from the land of chemo:

1. When you have been off for several weeks and are finally feeling like a normal human, that needle that is shoved into your body which attaches the port to the chemo infusion is really annoying! It lets you know quickly "you are back! welcome to the land of the fuzzy!"

2. Nurses are awesome, don't ever act like they are giving you a service of some kind, and not true care. I heard an elderly gentlemen say one time "Medic, I need service over here" I almost spit up laughing, but that dude nearly got kicked in the face and kicked out of chemo for that comment....

3. When you start getting the first infusion after being off for awhile, so much races through your head immediately. "am i going to die soon?" "am i going to live longer then anyone predicts?" "am I ever going to decide what I want to be when I grow up and get done with this insane cancer process that feels like a scene from the movie inception?" All these kind of thoughts flood your mind for like the first 20 minutes of treatment, then you resort to wondering what yummy food item a friend or family member can bring you! haha...

4. Many people will ask you what stage cancer you are in. Its always an odd question, I don't mind answering but its almost like the guy at the gym asking you how much you can bench press, or somebody asking you how much money you have.....The conversations between people about what stage they are in, and what level of treatments they have done is hilarious.....Not taking anything away from ANYBODY who has done ANY treatment of ANY kind for cancer, everyone is a winner, and a fighter, but you would think some people had fought on the front lines of a major war when they get treatments a couple times a year for a treatable cancer......(No I'm not jealous, well a little bit maybe...hahaha) Enough locker room talk.

5. Maybe my attitude or something has rubbed off on this one particular patient or something but he made a comment to me the other day that made me laugh, smile & take things into perspective (thinking about all my struggles over the last 1.5 years) and reply with a funny response.

Patient: "How's life at the top my man?"
Me: "Oh my friend if you only knew, if you only knew...." haha

Thanks everybody for following, I am truly amazed and blessed!

Andrew


A couple PS's:

-This Lance Armstrong deal was pretty cool, despite all his steroid troubles, he still reps the cancer crew hardcore. Click here

-Inception and Salt were both cool summer flicks

-Some pictures of my family below from the spring

Vegas in March for Tyler's 30th birthday

Woodland Park Zoo with Riley in March

Family Easter Dinner

Henry's 2nd Birthday in May

Elizabeth's 30 Birthday in May

July update

Blog Followers!

I had a scan done a few weeks ago, it was relatively uneventful in a positive way! There continues to be no new growth or existing tumors in any major organs, which is such a blessing-Especially the tumor in my liver that existed. I feel so lucky that isn't showing on the scans as of right now.....I still continue to have very small tumors in the lining of my stomach wall. NO growth or enlargement of those spots to report which is really cool. I also completed a round of chemo last week, which was nice to enjoy the fourth of July chemo free so to speak. It was a hard 2 weeks for some reason this time, but we made it through a-ok....I think the world cup on at all hours helped me pass the time! I am planning a visit in a couple weeks to MD Anderson, as my doctor is back from maternity leave. I need to work with her on what the next six months looks like, then the 2011 year. I'm certainly grateful for how far we have come in this past year and a half. I couldn't have dreamed for these levels of positive reports. So far to go still, but still grinding!

Andrew