Sean Martella's Testicular Cancer Update Blog: Good News!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Good News!

Sean was doing much better today than yesterday. He hasn't actually been on pain medication for several days and he was able to keep food down (the hospital gave him terriyaki chicken!) and his nausea under control. They decided he was well enough to go home so they discharged him today around 6:00 pm. Before we left the hospital though, the nurse showed me how to give him his lovenox shots. Sean didn't think he could give them to himself (something about stabbing himself with a needle.....whatever...) so I learned how to do it for him. I have to give him 2 shots a day in his stomach. I've never suck a needle in anyone before and it was a very strange feeling to give him the shot! I'll get used to it though, just like everything else, and who knows--maybe it will desensitize me enough to the point where I'll believe I actually could puruse a nursing degree. Anyway, they also removed the stables in Sean's incision and it looks like it's still healing properly. We'll definitely keep a close watch on it though to make sure there's no infection. He does have a minor bladder infection and was sent home on some antibiotics to take care of that. So the only two medications he was sent home on were the antibiotic and the blood-thinner which is a welcome change to his usual pain/nausea medication. He's still going to take it easy for a while--no work or heavly lifting for a few more weeks, but he'll be able to drive again soon and he's even thinking he'll be up for an outing to see Harry Potter tomorrow. Tonight, though, we both get to sleep in our own bed for the first time in 3 weeks! Sean has a follow-up appointment with Dr. Chandramouli in a week and we'll go over thinks to do with his surgery and cancer updates at that appointment so we'll be sure to post again after that.

Thanks to the visitors who came to spend some time with Sean in the hospital. We had a lot of wonderful support from both of our families, our friends, and our church family. The staff at the hospital was great and we felt like he was in good hands the whole time. As good as it was though, we're hoping to never go back!!

Karen

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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

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Good News!

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