Mayo Clinic

Scott and I went down to Mayo last night to easily make my 7:00 checkin time at Mayo.  Sue stayed home as we decided Scott would ask better questions and listen better and had lots of information about trials.  We had a low key night walking a bit to get the lay of the land, eating at Chester's and then walking along the river.  7:20 blood test and 8:00 CT test.  Process slowed as they tried to figure out if they could use my port for the CT.  Turns out the card I carry did not have enough info and eventually we went with an IV.  I was a wreck since my last IV experience was awful but I decided it was Mayo and they should be good at it.  Chelsea was great, both in trying to figure out the info they needed for the port so I will have it in the future and in putting in the IV.  After that I was only a little nervous about the dye going in but Jason was great and all went well.  We were hungry by the time we got to breakfast in the small Eisenberg building cafeteria   Bought sandwiches and cookies (we are related) for lunch and went back to  the room to rest.

Walk and picnic lunch before 1:20 oncologist appt.  Dodged the rain and arrived early.  Met with a physicians assistant first who said the doc would be in to talk about the diagnosis and treatment.  Treatment sounded good.  Turned out he had three options-trials rather than treatment.  An immunology trial for which I have to have a positive MSI to participate.  Hopefully the Foundation one test Dr Dan has ordered includes this so I could know soon.  The other is an agent added to gemcitibine which I did with Dr Dan first.  Third option wait and see.  The CT did not show any radiological growth, a good thing but is active bio-chemically as shown by the CEA.  This matches Dr Dan's "the cancer is active, we just don't know in what ways."  CT showed that.  Mayo Dr Yoon was patient, forthcoming, protective when Scott's questions were too direct--making sure I was comfortable and wanted the answer before continuing.  He thinks immunology is the way too go, there just are not a lot of pancreatic cancer trials with that.  He also cautioned about using two agents as some of the second agents have severe side effects.  He is cautious about quality of life, and trials that are far away with difficult regime timetables.  He is much like Dr Dan in thinking about what is important and where we are now, different words and manner but re-affirming what Dr Dan has been saying.  At this point success in trials is measured by adding three months lifespan.  Some immunology trials for 2-15% can add more but they don't know who, why or when,  and he could not point to any.  His best hope is the MSI trial if I am eligible, then if foundation one turns up anything interesting.  I think he was at a draw between the other and waiting/watching.  No silver bullet, no secret that Dan does not know about but glad I went.  He said, as everyone does, that I look great and am otherwise healthy.  I keep holding on to that and in spite of reality I told him I wanted to live 5-10 years, just not sure how to do that!

Next Dan appointment is Monday the 15th.  Next trip--Vancouver and Mayne Island Tuesday the 16th!