Next Steps

As promised, we saw the oncologist this morning at the Brown Cancer Center.  The suggested treatment for Bill is called Bio chemotherapy, which is a combination of three chemotherapy drugs and two immunotherapy drugs given over a period of 5 days.  He would be in the hospital for the treatment.  The nurse explained to us that the first week home is usually pretty rough, still a lot of the side effects, but the third and fourth weeks are usually pretty good.  If the treatment works, the PET scan shows no further cancer growth, then he would have another cycle of the treatment.  If it does not seem to be working, we would seek an alternative treatment. 

He is tentatively scheduled to begin the first cycle of the bio chemo treatment on Sept. 9, at University Hospital provided the wound in his belly is healed.  The oncologist does not want to begin chemo until the wound is healed.  It sounds like this is a solid plan, from all that we've read about metastatic melanoma, this seems to be the most aggressive and successful treatment.  

We're still trying to absorb it all, as you can imagine, it is overwhelming.  We know you will  keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we make these decisions.  More time in the hospital will not be easy, but if that's what it takes, then that's what we will have to do.  Please stay in touch, I know if we do not go back into the hospital until Sept. 9, we're going to get out and do some things as Bill feels better.  Holly