Brain Tumor Vaccine
Brain Tumor Vaccines, DCVax, Medical Updates March 24th, 2010
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As most know that follow my blog, I am continuing now with my vaccine therapy. I have 2 doses left after using one of them on Friday. We’ve also been trying something interesting. Each dose consists of 2 injections , one in each arm. For the last two sets we have been using Aldara cream. I’m placing the cream at the injection sites 48 hours in advance under tagaderm bandages changing them once. The theory is that this will pull more dendritic cells to the surface of the skin thus allowing for more “scouts” to carry the vaccine to existing tumor. Call it super-charging the process if the hypothesis is correct. I’m using the cream for two days post-injection. Only a few seizures since gamma-knife – focal and localized in my left hand.
I continue to be amazed at the power and blessings that God has given us. I’m not working but so far my most important accomplishment is how much more I have fallen in love and bonded with my son Keegan. He’s almost 3 (July) and I have never spent this much time with either of the boys. Of course with Aidan being older I have spent a lot of time on weekends coaching him in soccer and doing other things but I didn’t do what I’m doing with Keegan with Aidan. It’s been great except yesterday when he decided to play mountaineer and apparently lost his footing and fell! He’s fine.
I’m back in touck with some near and dear friends which is really nice. What a gift to have the opportunity to thank people, tell them how they influenced your life or just that you love and care about them. I don’t know that everyone who leaves this place is able to really do that or at least to the extent wanted. It’s great!
I’ll have the vaccine again a week from Friday, and another MRI here in a few weeks but it’s about today. Later Avastin will be folded back in along with VP-16 and Valcyte. We’ll likely have to move rapidly to other treatment modalities
I’m going to speak at UC Davis at a Brain Tumor Survivors Meeting in May. The topic? How to use technology to effectively support treatment. I’ll save details on this for another post.
Spring is beautiful here so far. The days have been nice. Slight breeze and sunny.
Cheers,
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Hey Mark, first I want to say that you look great. You certainly don’t look like someone who is having to do all those meds and treatments. My husband has aged ten years since he began treatment 1 1/2 years ago. And yes all this time with your family is the best gift you can give them. Marc received a great report from our NO yesterday. No active cancer cells on the PET scan and he is stopping Avastin for now. Next scans are set for late June. The Good Lord has truly blessed our family again!
Hope you and your family have a lovely Easter break. God Bless you.
Stacey – Baton Rouge, LA