Dr. Nadlers Treatment Plan!

August 19th - Thursday - Robert's oral surgeon was able to grind down the exposed jaw bone after 9 numbing shots and 10 stitches. His mouth is doing much better.

August 20th - Friday - We met with Dr. Nadler for the results of the CT scan. The scan showed that the cancer is in the large bronchial stem in the Left lung same as the lung scope showed and also has affected Lymph Nodes in the center of the chest. Therefore surgery is not an option for Robert. We will go back to Baylor next week and Robert will have a medi-port put in his chest for easy access for blood work and Chemo. Dr. Nadler is also scheduling a PET scan next week, if the scan shows that the cancer has spread to any other areas, then Robert's cancer will incurable, if it is just in the areas the CT scan showed, then Dr. Nadler is going to treat it aggressively with high doses of Chemo. The Chemo drugs will be: Taxotere, Cistplatin, and 5-FU. Robert has already had these chemo drugs, but in lower doses to enhance radiation. Chemo will start August 31st there at Baylor and he will have 6 weekly treatments and then he will have another scan to see if the cancer is responding to the Chemo. It if is, then they will continue with 6 more weekly Chemo treatments and then follow up with 7 weeks of daily radiation treatments. Dr. Nadler feels this is the best approach to this. The pathology report showed this is indeed the same type cancer that initially started at the base of Robert's tongue. Dr. Nadler is not completely convinced. He has never seen nor heard of this happening in a non smoker. He said this would be the first case that he knows of. Robert said he feels special.

We are glad to be home today and will try and gather ourselves. We are so blessed to have such an awesome support team of family, friends and doctors. Our specific prayers this coming week will be that there will be no change in Robert's cancer and he is allowed a fighting chance.

Love,
Robert and Judy