Some of you have asked me what my actual Cancer treatment plan is overall. So for those of you who asked, and those of you who care to know, here is the overall plan.
I am currently undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (pre-chemo therapy) for four cycles (possibly up to six cycles) which should end around mid-November. The goal of the neoadjuvant chemo is to stop the growth of, and possibly even shrink (or kill) some of the cancer is my system BEFORE I begin the main Cancer treatment plan.
Mid-November (after the neoadjuvant chemo) they will conduct more CT scans and compare those to my August 31st CT scan to see how well the chemo has worked at stopping the growth of, or shrinking the tumors.
Once they evaluate the success of the neoadjuvant chemo, they will have to decide to proceed with chemo-radiation treatment, or look at surgical alternatives. There is still a possibility I may lose my bladder if it appears the neoadjuvant chemo has not worked at reducing tumor size or if it appears the cancer is still spreading.
If it appears all was successful at stopping the growth of the cancer they will proceed with the main cancer treatment of chemo-radiation. They may also, at that time, decide whether my nephrostomy tubes can be removed, however that will depend on whether or not the neoadjuvant chemo has shrunk the tumors in my bladder (ureters) allowing for proper drainage from my kidney to the bladder.
If I begin the main cancer treatment of chemo-radiation, I will be going five days a week (Mon to Fri) for radiation treatments, with a small chemo treatment every Monday that I am in radiation treatment.
Following the chemo-radiation treatment, they will conduct more CT scans to look for remaining cancer. They may conduct more post-radiation chemotherapy at that time.
The ultimate success will be a finding of no more cancer detected, meaning that my cancer is in remission (not spreading or growing, or competely undetectable).
That's the overall Cancer treatment plan. Let's hope it works. :o)
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