Time To Celebrate!!- CarePages

Time To Celebrate!!

Posted Mar 20, 2012 6:58pm

Edit: REPOSTED FROM CAREPAGES

We found out over the weekend that there is enough protein in the cancer to make the vaccine.

I just returned from UCLA, where I had several appointments this morning. I had to give about 35 vials of blood to be tested to see if I still qualify for the vaccine. They also had to check my veins to see if they would be able to handle Leukapheresis (where they filter my white blood cells out of my blood and then put my blood back in my body, out one arm and back in the other). And then we saw Dr. Liau, my neurosurgeon. She gave us the report from the radiologist who read my MRI and he said there is no residual tumor left, the little bit we see is either swelling (since it was done only a few hours after my surgery) or scar tissue.

My next step is to go back next Tuesday to do the Leukapheresis. They will then "train" those white blood cells to fight the cancer and I will get my 1st injection of the vaccine about 2 weeks after this appointment and then 2 more with in 28 days from the 1st injection.

I will be the 1st patient in this part clinical trial, but the first part of this trial was done on people who have stage 4 brain cancer and Dr. Liau has said that some patients have lived 10 years, where they usually are given 18 months at the most. So this makes me very hopeful!

I will have MRI scans every 3 months from now on. My latest scan is posted on this site and you can see the hole where the tumor was!

Out of the hospital- CarePages

Out of the hospital

Posted Mar 3, 2012 8:52pm

Edit: REPOST FROM CAREPAGES

Melanie is out of the hospital!

She is recovering exceptionally well. I think she is recovering better and faster than the last surgery. She wants to walk the kids to school on monday and I might even let her.

I am very happy with the MRI results as they show very minimal tumor, if any. We spoke with the surgeon yesterday and she confirmed the same. She also mentioned it was a very vascular tumor and she removed many of the arteries and veins that have been feeding the tumor.

Her only side effects are temporary and include
• Headaches
• Fine motor skills in the left hand, which already seems to be getting better
• Additional hair is shaved
• Larger incision

The next step is to test the tumor for the proteins for the vaccine

Thanks again for all your support. We love all the comments and positive enrgy we get from you guys.

Sean

Out of surgery- CarePages

Out of surgery

Posted Mar 1, 2012 4:47pm

Edit: REPOST FROM CAREPAGES

I just talked to the surgeon.

The procedure went well. From the time of the first incision it took about 2 hours.

The surgeon fells she got 90% or more of the tumor removed, enough for the vaccine. The next step is to test the removed tumor tissue to determine if there is enough protein. That takes a couple weeks to find out.

The surgery was close to her motor area and the surgeon feels there may be some slow movement on her left side, but she should make a complete recovery from that within days or a couple weeks.

She is still recovering and I should be able to see her in about an hour.

Stay posted as i'm sure she will send an update tonight or in the morning.

Sean

Today's the day- CarePages

Today's the day

Posted Mar 1, 2012 8:02am

Edit: REPOST FROM CAREPAGES

I am sitting in the waiting room to get checked in for my surgery. I just wanted to thank everyone for all the nice things you have posted and for all the love and support that has been shown to my family and me. I'm sure Sean will post something when I am out of surgery.
All my love,
Melanie