Sean Martella's Testicular Cancer Update Blog: Sean's Latest Update

Monday, February 25, 2008

Sean's Latest Update

It's been a while since my last update but I haven't had much news in the last couple weeks. This last week was a good week for me and I felt really good. The whole week of Valentine's Day was a struggle. I had a lot of problems and ended up losing 10+ pounds in a matter of days. I was dehydrated and as weak as I've ever been. They eventually fixed it though and my weight is back up to normal.

On Friday we met with Dr. Chandramouli and talked about my treatment. He prescribed me some new medicines. He also took a look at my latest CT scan. I guess the tumor in my lungs that was 2.5 millimeters is 1.5 millimeters. The big tumor in my abdomen was 10 millimeters and on the CT scan it's 8 millimeters. Keep in mind this scan was done about halfway through the first week of my second cycle. I think it's pretty good news. It helps if you think about it like a sphere. 2 millimeters is a lot if you think of it that way because 2 millimeters of it when the tumor is at 10 millimeters in size is a lot more than 2 millimeters of it now that it's 8 millimeters in size. So next time it's measured it should be an even bigger number smaller. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone or not.

Today I started my 3rd "hell week" of chemo. So tomorrow or Wednesday is when it starts to make me sick again. I got the latest blood results back as well. Remember the AFP level I talked about? Well, it was 7308 at the start, 2513 after the first measure, and now it's 120.4. Like I said, normal for a person is 15. So it has dropped significantly again. In fact it's almost normal and I'm only halfway through. The tumors aren't secreting very much anymore. They're almost dead. My other marker, Beta HEG, has dropped a lot as well. A normal level for a person is .03. At the start mine was 5. Then it was 1 at the beginning of February. Now it is .1. So that marker is almost normal as well.

That's all the news I have for now. Thanks for everything. 6 more weeks to go.

Love, Sean

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Sean, THIS IS WONDERFUL NEWS...YOU ARE A MIRACLE!!!!!We ALL Love You and EVERYONE that is helping you get through this time....YOU WILL BEAT IT!!! You're a Martella and we don't give up easily...Keep up the positive attitude and PLEASE keep the updates coming....WE LOVE YOU, Aunt Laura and the rest of our Family; February 26, 2008 at 5:08 AM
Mel said...: Good luck this week and I hope it's not too bad!! You are a trooper. I am so proud of you and the way you have handled things. Is there anything I can do? I know you get that a lot but I am serious. I feel helpless and want to serve. So please don't hesitate to ask!!

Love Melanie; February 26, 2008 at 9:01 AM

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The Rundown

Okay, so here is how it all started and where we are at now (short version):

Throughout 2007, I had lower back pain. The back pain got worse and worse. Finally, a doctor ordered bloodwork, which showed that I was anemic. A CT scan was ordered that showed widespread cancer that had originated in my right testicle. There were small metastases in the lungs and large tumors in the abdomen.

In January of 2008 I had a right orchiechtomy surgery done (right testicle removal). A biopsy was done that showed a nonseminoma/seminoma mixture. I was diagnosed as stage 3 high risk. I went on a BEP regimen (Bleomycin,Etoposide, and Cisplatin) of chemotherapy that lasted 12 weeks. All this was done at home in Salt Lake City under the direction of Dr. Nitin Chandramouli. After it was done, a CT scan showed that all cancer was inactive except for the largest tumor in my abdomen. Circa June '08.

In August of 2008 I underwent an RPLND (Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection) in SLC. The surgery appeared successful but a subsequent CT scan showed the cancer had spread to my liver in a couple spots. In September of '08 I was taken to Indiana where Dr. Einhorn (inventor of platinum based chemo and recognized testicular cancer specialist) practices. Under his direction, I received three weeks of salvage chemotherapy. After the salvage, I underwent two rounds of high dose chemotherapy (5x strength Carboplatin and Etoposide). Before undergoing treatment, my stem cells were harvested so that they could be given to my severely weakened body after treatment. I achieved a complete remission in December of '08

As part of maintenance, I took a VP-16 etoposide pill until April of 2009. I remained in remission until July when my blood markers began elevating again. A PET scan revealed a localized tumor in my abdominal cavity, near the vena cava. I was taken to Indiana again, where Dr. Beck performed a second RPLND. The surgery was difficult but successful. At the cost of half a kidney, a bowel obstruction, a possible blood clot, and several weeks in the hospital I was in remission again.

In October of 2009 I relapsed again. I began a regimen containing Taxol and Gemcitabine. At the time there were small metastases in my liver, lungs, and abdomen. Taxol/Gemzar failed in early 2010

In late January of 2010, after having several months of normal blood tests, the AFP marker began to rise again. Tumors in my abdomen, lungs, and liver began appearing again.

In March 2010, I went to Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Hospital in New York and began a clinical trial under the guidance of Dr. Darren Feldman. The ARQ-197 pill looked like a good side-effect free choice to try and fight the cancer.

In April 2010, the trial was determined not to be effective for me. New tumors appeared and disease progression showed no signs of slowing. A tumor on my spine threatening paralysis was of particular danger. Fearing that consequence, I underwent a short course of radiation on that tumor and another in my hip.

I have multiple lesions in my lungs, liver, and other areas that continue to grow. Currently, I am in the process of having my tumor profiled on a molecular level by TGen. TGen is a company that is based out of Arizona. They look at tumor's case by case, on a genetic level, to determine new and unused courses of treatment that will be as effective as possible for that individual.

Because that process takes a while, and the treatment itself may not be covered by insurance, I just started a regimen of Oxaliplatin as well. Oxali is effecive in 20% of people in my situation. The regimen often comes with a lot of neuropathy and cold sensitivity. I started this regimen on 5/12/10 and am still waiting to here about how it's working.

Sean Martella's Testicular Cancer Update Blog

Monday, February 25, 2008

Sean's Latest Update

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