Biopsy

 Entry 1     6:55 a.m.

A few weeks ago Jenny had a biopsy done on a liver metastases to identity whether there were any genetic sequences that could be targeted through immunotherapy.  Immunotherapy is, as described by cancerresearch.org, a form of cancer therapy that uses a person's own immune system to fight the cancer.  Such treatment may include "targeted antibodies, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell transfer, tumor-infecting viruses, checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines and adjuvants." Adoptive cell transfer is the use of your own T-cells to fight the cancer.  Omi underwent this as a second-line response to her lymphoma.  It didn't work for her, obviously, but it can work and is a powerful tool fighting against cancer.  If Jenny's biopsy results demonstrated she was eligible for this treatment, the procedure entailed extracting T-cells from her bone marrow, growing it in a petri dish for a few weeks to create more, and then injecting them into her veins, where they would help the immune system fight the tumor cells. As far as I know, that would be the treatment for which she would have qualified, had her sequencing shown she was suitable for the treatment.

The headline of the biopsy results, reads in bold letters

"NO REPORTABLE ALTERATIONS WITH COMPANION DIAGNOSTIC (CDx) CLAIMS." 

I looked it up, of course.  What could this possibly mean? It turns out, it means what it states. That is, the search of her genetic code found no transcription errors in her genes suitable to be treated by immunotherapy. We got that from the substitute doctor who filled in for Dr. P.  She was far more forthcoming than he ever is.   But she deferred, when it came to discussing specific findings, to Dr. P. The good news is she released the report.  It is chock full of information.  While I thought to analyze it here today, I think I need to wait until Jenny herself actually gets all the information from her doctor on October 7.  I am on edge, and worried about that day's meeting.

This morning we plan to take Willow for a walk in the park.  That will be challenging for both of us.  I feel like Kathy Bates took her sledgehammer to my knees.  Then, we will go retrieve my Jeep, and bring it back here to our home.  I will take it in to our mechanic thereafter. I am looking forward to having my own wheels again--very much so.  This is even though I rarely go anywhere--especially since I am hobbling around.  It will be nice to have the ability to bail, should I decide to do so. 
Camp counselor, teacher, and friend to anyone she met, Kimmie Marton's memorial will take place tonight, after she was killed through medical negligence. She will be missed. We may go, should Jenny feel able to go.





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