I’m getting two second opinions before I move forward with the plan that the hematologist from Duke has proposed.
This first was from UNC this past week. I really enjoyed the doctor. Short version: He likes the plan of the three drugs proposed for chemotherapy (four rounds for a total of 16 weeks). His opinion was to hold on the high dose chemotherapy and stem cell therapy.
If you’re curious (as I didn’t know any of this previously). Stem cell therapy is when they take stem cells out of your blood (like dialysis for your kidney). Take blood out, extract stem cells and put blood back in. Then they zap you with a very high dose of chemotherapy. It kills all of your bone marrow (and cancer cells). Your blood counts basically drop to zero. The next day they put your stem cells back in and you rebuild your bone marrow and blood counts come back over the next 2-3 weeks. Don’t get sick then.
I’ll be traveling to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for a second opinion on July 28. Then hopefully we’ll come up with a plan. Praying for wisdom and peace from God.