Here We Go Again

So we officially start up chemotherapy again tomorrow, Thursday, November 4.  Our oncologist has put together different drugs for a custom treatment plan for Isabella.  There is no protocol anymore – at this point, we’re just trying anything in hopes of trying to contain this thing.  Right now, we have two cycles of chemotherapy planned.  For the first one, she’ll receive two drugs over the course of two days.  We’ll then monitor her blood counts, and over the course of the next three weeks, she’ll probably require some blood transfusions.  With low blood counts, Isabella will be susceptible to infections, so we’ll also be watching out for fevers – if she suddenly develops a fever, we will need to be admitted to the hospital for antibiotics for 10 days.

In about a month,  we’ll try two different drugs for the second cycle.  The theory behind this approach is that since these drugs work in different ways, if we attach the tumors from different angles, we have a better chance at some sort of response.  Shortly after the second cycle, we’ll do another MRI and see if there is any response and either try something else or do more of the same.  At this point, we’re not looking past that next scan.

Isabella did well with the chemotherapy last time.  She tolerated it fairly well and the tumor responded well.  We’re hoping that it’s the same this time around.

Thanks to everyone for your support and well wishes.