Catching Up: Radiation, Medication, and a New Additional Chemo Drug

Since our return from U.W. Hospital it has been a whirlwind. Sabine started radiation therapy on Friday and Saturday (friend Jeff took her to her Saturday morning appointment while I joined granddaughters Heather, Gracie and Gracie's mother for the 3rd Annual Dubuque Boat Parade) (see pictures below). Sabine's brother, Rainer, showed up on Sunday to help out this week with Sabine's mom.

Radiation was again administered on Monday and today (Tuesday). The 5th session (and last in this cycle) will be tomorrow after an afternoon of the first of four weekly infusions (read: in hospital) of the additional chemo drug, elotuzumab, which is a monoclonal antibody. The first administration of this drug is scheduled for a four hour period of time.

So we have a plan to move forward hoping that the radiation will quickly help reduce the cytomoma to reduce her neck pain. Next, the chemo should kick in and we should see the results in about 4-6 weeks with another MRI.

Thanks to another friend, Tony, Sabine was able to take a ride to Dubuque and pose with the pirate girls before they headed back to Michigan and California on Sunday.

Whew!

With a great sense of thankfulness and accomplishment I post this.

Dubuque City Marina Basin

Getting ready for the 3rd Annual Lighted Boat Parade (we should have won -- our theme was Halloween and we had a pirate on the bow, scary Halloween music and a fog generator which enveloped the boat).

Capt Jack and his all-girl pirate crew (in the midst of last week's pain and cancer-scare, some levity was needed!

Another shot of Capt Jack (with dreadlocks) and his crew.