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Stable Disease

I just started cycle 2 of the Nivo/Liri trial. My CT scan yesterday showed stable disease -- the existing 3.0 x 2.4 cm tumor did not grow larger in the last two months. Whereas in the previous two months (January to March), it had grown by 1cm. So it's likely that the treatment is probably doing something. My participation in the study now goes forward to a new cycle.

Side effects for cycle 1: a short period of mild stomatitis; a continuing grade 1 (mild) mucositis in the same area; and some inflammation/stiffness/weirdness in my left knee initially, and now in both. This one does affect me more; but in the scheme of things it's not a large problem.

Also, my phosphorus levels, which had been low and outside the normal range, bounced back. For a long time I have been eating a diet that is probably 90% vegetarian, dairy aside. Adding high phosphorous pumpkin and sunflower seeds did not get the job done, so in the last couple of weeks I went to probably 75% burgers, chicken, red meat, etc. in my diet. The phosphorous level is now well into the normal range again. I can probably cut back a little.

One reason I keep this blog is to keep my own records for reference. Looking back to 2010, my CT scans from that May showed involvement of pulmonary lymph nodes, in addition to 8 lung mets. So the new paratracheal lymph node tumor may not be a new met/location, so much as a recurrence in a previous location.

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