Elkan wanted to make sure you all knew this was from me and not him. Today we took the Acela train to Georgetown Hospital's Lombardi Cancer Center and met with Dr. Pishvaian as arranged by Elkan's wonderful oncologist, Susan Littman. His trial, which will be available at Jefferson in January, combines chemo with a PARP inhibitor that blocks the cancer from repairing the chemo's damage to the cancer cells. Dr. P says that it's had great results with BRCA 2 mutants (like Elkan), and he can hopefully start the treatment next Wednesday - or at least the opening tests.
We think getting down to DC is doable. We're in a limo now coming home, and I kind of prefer the train, but DC station is kind of arduous. The first two treatments also are strung out on a Wednesday, Friday, and Tuesday, so we will undoubtedly stay overnight for the wed., Friday days. Who said this isn't fun - especially for Elkan, who is as brave and uncomplaining as always, and we still find things to laugh about. thanks to Dr. David, we now have a recipe for the cookies that help Elkan eat and sleep, and also confuse him some - like he didn't know where he was for a minute after coming out of the men's room at Lombardi. I always thought that he would become one of those seniors who wanders away -- the old age version of the "bolt."
in any case, Dr. P says that if this stuff works, the quality of life is very good. So, we signed on.
Linda. Linda. Linda. Linda. Etc., etc., etc.
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