Matt has decided to try the Mk2206 clinical trail. It is to start at the end of May. The first 5 weeks he will take a chemo pill every day and a pill 3 times a week. They want
Matt to go to Madison Hospital 3 times during the 5 weeks to test how the drugs are
doing. Possible side effects would be tiredness and break out with pimple in his eyebrow area. He can continue to have his labs done in Johnson Creek cancer center and his CT-scans down at Watertown Hospital. After 5 weeks he will have to only go to Madison once a month as long as the drugs are working. The drugs are supposed to shrink the tumors. At any time if Matt wants to op out he can. If the Doctors don't think the drugs are working they would ask Matt to step out of the clinical trial.
Matt thought it is worth a try. Hopefully this will help shrink everything.
Matt is still getting ready to go to Mayo Clinic for a second opinion. Dr Holen from Johnson Creek would like another Doctor to look at Matt and go through
all his paperwork and see if there is anything that the Doctor at Mayo clinic might think of that he has not thought of. Matt leave on Sunday, May 1 to go to Rochester, MN to Mayo clinic. His appointment is at 8:00 in the morning. Matt was informed that testing could take up to three days. Mayo has requested all the paperwork from the day Matt
was diagnosed from Watertown hospital, Washington Hospital, Johnson Creek Cancer Center and glass slides. We are working and getting everything sent to Mayo Clinic.
Matt has been working when it hasn't been raining.
Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers and positive thoughts!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Happy Birthday & Happy Easter!
Matt has been feeling pretty good. He has been fighting sinus problems and his voice has been rough. He also has been feeling a little hip pain. Matt has decided to due the clinical trial from Madison from Doctor LoConte. He has reserve a spot and it will not start until the end of May. Matt is still going to Mayo Clinic on May 2 to get a second opinion.
Matt celebrated his 22nd birthday with his family. We had lots of fun eating great food and playing cards and visiting. Then Matt celebrated Easter with Casey and her family Easter Morning. Matt was happy he
wasn't the last one to find his Easter Basket. Then Matt and Casey went to Matt's side of the family and visit with family and celebrate his birthday again!!
Matt and Casey had fun visiting with family and spending time with their cousins.
Thank you to God for Matt celebrating another birthday! Thank you to everyone for you thoughts and prayers.
Matt celebrated his 22nd birthday with his family. We had lots of fun eating great food and playing cards and visiting. Then Matt celebrated Easter with Casey and her family Easter Morning. Matt was happy he
wasn't the last one to find his Easter Basket. Then Matt and Casey went to Matt's side of the family and visit with family and celebrate his birthday again!!
Matt and Casey had fun visiting with family and spending time with their cousins.
Matt at his house celebrating his 22nd Birthday!!
Everyone playing cards at Matt's house.
Singing Happy Birthday to Matt at Aunt Shelly's house.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Clinical Trail News
Sorry, my internet was not working for a week. I am back on line. Thanks for waiting.
Matt talked to Dr. Noelle LoConte on Tuesday. She explained the MK2206 Clinical trail. Dr. LoConte did a physical exam on Matt. She asked him a lot of questions. Dr. LoConte said Matt meets all the criteria for the clinical trial. She explained how this trail works. If Matt consents to trying this clinical trail it would start at the end of May. Matt would take a chemo pill every day and this Mk2206 drug which comes in Pill form three times a week. The first session would last 5 weeks of taking the pills. In that five weeks Matt would have to go to UW-Health Hospital in Madison and spend the night three different times. They would do a few tests on Matt to see how things are going. After the 5 weeks he would have to go to Madison once a month for them to check on how he is doing. She explained at any time Matt wants to drop out he can. All he has to say is he wants to stop. If they feel that the drug is not working they will ask Matt to drop out so there would be room for another person to get in the trial.
All labs and CT-scans can be done as usual in Johnson Creek and Watertown Hospital. They explained to
us that 99% of the time Matt's insurance should pick up the cost of the scans and labs because they would
have to do that anyway. The overnight stays and other tests they might perform would all be at the cost of the clinical trail. There should hardly any expense to Matt.
They explained that Matt has one or two days to make the decision. Then he has to contact the Doctor and let her know which way Matt decided.
Matt has been feeling pretty good. He has a sore throat so talking is alittle hard for him. He has been working some this week again with a big smile on his face. Matt wants to get his lawn in and finish the
basement!
Thank you for you continued support and prayers. Matt is a special young man with a strong faith. Matt is such an inspiration! I wish I was as strong as he is!
Matt talked to Dr. Noelle LoConte on Tuesday. She explained the MK2206 Clinical trail. Dr. LoConte did a physical exam on Matt. She asked him a lot of questions. Dr. LoConte said Matt meets all the criteria for the clinical trial. She explained how this trail works. If Matt consents to trying this clinical trail it would start at the end of May. Matt would take a chemo pill every day and this Mk2206 drug which comes in Pill form three times a week. The first session would last 5 weeks of taking the pills. In that five weeks Matt would have to go to UW-Health Hospital in Madison and spend the night three different times. They would do a few tests on Matt to see how things are going. After the 5 weeks he would have to go to Madison once a month for them to check on how he is doing. She explained at any time Matt wants to drop out he can. All he has to say is he wants to stop. If they feel that the drug is not working they will ask Matt to drop out so there would be room for another person to get in the trial.
All labs and CT-scans can be done as usual in Johnson Creek and Watertown Hospital. They explained to
us that 99% of the time Matt's insurance should pick up the cost of the scans and labs because they would
have to do that anyway. The overnight stays and other tests they might perform would all be at the cost of the clinical trail. There should hardly any expense to Matt.
They explained that Matt has one or two days to make the decision. Then he has to contact the Doctor and let her know which way Matt decided.
Matt has been feeling pretty good. He has a sore throat so talking is alittle hard for him. He has been working some this week again with a big smile on his face. Matt wants to get his lawn in and finish the
basement!
Thank you for you continued support and prayers. Matt is a special young man with a strong faith. Matt is such an inspiration! I wish I was as strong as he is!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Tumor Marker score
Matt had his labs on Thursday and we found out Friday afternoon Matt's tumor marker score. It had previously went down to 28 and it went up to 56.2. Matt is going to continue to not eat sugar and watch the other foods he eats.
Matt is feeling well. He has been working. He worked Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. He was very happy to be working some. He took Friday to a day to relax. He might have over did by working a few long days. He has a bit of a sore throat. He says it is his sinuses. So he is taking something for it.
Tuesday Matt has an appointment in Madison with Dr. Noel LoConte. She is going over clinical trials that are available for Matt.
People are always asking what they can do to help Matt. I truly believe in the power of pray and the power of thinking. Please pray for Matt's health to get better and to think and believe he is going to live long and have children with Casey and raise them together and grow old together. The power of the mind is a wonderful thing!
Thank you to God for letting Matt feel well and not have the diarrhea. Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers and positive thinking.
Matt is feeling well. He has been working. He worked Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. He was very happy to be working some. He took Friday to a day to relax. He might have over did by working a few long days. He has a bit of a sore throat. He says it is his sinuses. So he is taking something for it.
Tuesday Matt has an appointment in Madison with Dr. Noel LoConte. She is going over clinical trials that are available for Matt.
People are always asking what they can do to help Matt. I truly believe in the power of pray and the power of thinking. Please pray for Matt's health to get better and to think and believe he is going to live long and have children with Casey and raise them together and grow old together. The power of the mind is a wonderful thing!
Thank you to God for letting Matt feel well and not have the diarrhea. Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers and positive thinking.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Work, work, and Work
Matt is back to work and loving it!! He worked yesterday and a long day today! He loves his job and he couldn't wait to get back to work. Matt is feeling better. Matt has labs tomorrow, a tumor marker test and
we should fine out his number on Friday,
On April 19th Matt has an appointment in Madison to check out the possible clinical trails. On May 2
Matt has an appointment in Rochester, MN at Mayo clinic for a second opinion.
We thank God for Matt feeling better and able to go back to work! Thank you for all your prayers!
They are working! This is a special Easter! Matt's birthday falls on Easter this year for the first time ever!
we should fine out his number on Friday,
On April 19th Matt has an appointment in Madison to check out the possible clinical trails. On May 2
Matt has an appointment in Rochester, MN at Mayo clinic for a second opinion.
We thank God for Matt feeling better and able to go back to work! Thank you for all your prayers!
They are working! This is a special Easter! Matt's birthday falls on Easter this year for the first time ever!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Doctor appointment today
Matt, Casey and I saw Dr. Holen today. He told us that Matt's tumor marker score went from 47.7 to 28.7. Dr. Holen was questioning what Matt had changed!! The only thing he did was change his diet some. He is trying to not eat sugar. He is not drinking soda and sweets which he really misses! ( Not that he doesn't snitch once in a while a little sip of this or a little bit of that). He also started taking
Vitamin D, 10,000 IU. He started eating organic foods and gluten free foods. In the hospital he was able to do that as much but he did watch some of what he ate in the hospital.
Dr. Holen has not been able to talk to Dr. Sugarbaker yet. He is waiting for Dr. Sugarbaker to call him back otherwise he is going to call him at the end of the week.
Dr. Holen found 2 clinical trials that Matt meets the requirements. One of the clinical trial through UW Madison is taking the drug that made Matt break out with the rash all over his face. This clinical trial is called A2D. Matt was not thrilled with that idea. This drug mixed with other drugs are only given IV way. This means more trips to Madison if he were to do it.
The second clinical trial he found was MK2206. This is a combination of 2 clinical trials that seemed to work in the past now put together and making a new trial. AKT is a drug that is used to shrink cancer tumors and Patine was the other drug to block bad cancer cells. Now they are combining them to make one trial that is taking 2 pills and being watched. Matt is going to talk to Dr. Noel LoConte in Madison on April 19 to talk about these trials and make his decision if he wants to do one of them or none of them.
Dr. Holen is also getting a Dr. appointment at Mayo clinic first week of May for a second opinion.
Matt also took a bllod test for Adrenal insufficiency. Dr Holen thought his face is swelled, he is still tired, diarrhea continues all signs of adrenal insufficiency. He tested Matt for this and if he has it Matt would have
to take a pill and he will feel much better!!
Thank you for your continued prayers they are working!!
Vitamin D, 10,000 IU. He started eating organic foods and gluten free foods. In the hospital he was able to do that as much but he did watch some of what he ate in the hospital.
Dr. Holen has not been able to talk to Dr. Sugarbaker yet. He is waiting for Dr. Sugarbaker to call him back otherwise he is going to call him at the end of the week.
Dr. Holen found 2 clinical trials that Matt meets the requirements. One of the clinical trial through UW Madison is taking the drug that made Matt break out with the rash all over his face. This clinical trial is called A2D. Matt was not thrilled with that idea. This drug mixed with other drugs are only given IV way. This means more trips to Madison if he were to do it.
The second clinical trial he found was MK2206. This is a combination of 2 clinical trials that seemed to work in the past now put together and making a new trial. AKT is a drug that is used to shrink cancer tumors and Patine was the other drug to block bad cancer cells. Now they are combining them to make one trial that is taking 2 pills and being watched. Matt is going to talk to Dr. Noel LoConte in Madison on April 19 to talk about these trials and make his decision if he wants to do one of them or none of them.
Dr. Holen is also getting a Dr. appointment at Mayo clinic first week of May for a second opinion.
Matt also took a bllod test for Adrenal insufficiency. Dr Holen thought his face is swelled, he is still tired, diarrhea continues all signs of adrenal insufficiency. He tested Matt for this and if he has it Matt would have
to take a pill and he will feel much better!!
Thank you for your continued prayers they are working!!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Matt is Home
Matt went home Sunday afternoon. Matt still has continued diarrhea. The diarrhea seems to be not near as often. Matt decided with the drugs they are giving him, he can take them at home just as easy. Matt did have a good night. The doctor had given something to help Matt sleep. He said for the first time he got to sleep more than an hour. He said he got a well rested night.
Dr. Fullerton said the test results showed no infections. Although Matt still has a yeast infection in his stool.
Matt's abdomen is still swollen. He has some pain in his abdomen. He mentioned Matt's white count is up a little and his protein level is down a little. He told Matt he needed to go home and eat some protein. Matt didn't give him a chance to change his mind and asked him to write up the discharge papers. The doctor gave him a prescription to help him sleep and for pain. He can take his prescriptions as he needs them.
Casey took Matt home and he snuggled up on his couch and watched some movies and relaxed at home.
Thank you to everyone for their prayers for Matt and his family!
Dr. Fullerton said the test results showed no infections. Although Matt still has a yeast infection in his stool.
Matt's abdomen is still swollen. He has some pain in his abdomen. He mentioned Matt's white count is up a little and his protein level is down a little. He told Matt he needed to go home and eat some protein. Matt didn't give him a chance to change his mind and asked him to write up the discharge papers. The doctor gave him a prescription to help him sleep and for pain. He can take his prescriptions as he needs them.
Casey took Matt home and he snuggled up on his couch and watched some movies and relaxed at home.
Her is Matt and his Nephew, Gavin
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Some Test Results
Matt had an okay night. He didn't get much sleep. He continues with the diarrhea often. He received 2 pints of blood. I was hoping that was going to give him a little more pep! He is very tired due to the diarrhea and yeast infection that he has in his bowel. Matt has also had a temperature off and on since he was here. It has gone from 102 to 99 at various times.
Dr. McGrory was in and said not all his test results are back yet. He did say that his blood count went from 8 to 10.3. The Doctor thought it might have been higher but he is getting a lot of fluids that might have made it gone down a little. The Doctor did say that his urine test was negative so no infection in there. He also said
his chest x-ray was good.
We are still waiting for some of the test results. Matt decided he is not feeling good yet and said he would stay in the hospital until the rest of the test results come in on Sunday. Hopefully Sunday will bring a better day and Matt will feel better. Matt's blood pressure and Oxygen level have all been prefect.
To night Matt is going to take something to help him sleep. It has been months since Matt has gotten more than an hour or two of sleep in a row.
Thank you to everyone for their continued prayers.
Dr. McGrory was in and said not all his test results are back yet. He did say that his blood count went from 8 to 10.3. The Doctor thought it might have been higher but he is getting a lot of fluids that might have made it gone down a little. The Doctor did say that his urine test was negative so no infection in there. He also said
his chest x-ray was good.
We are still waiting for some of the test results. Matt decided he is not feeling good yet and said he would stay in the hospital until the rest of the test results come in on Sunday. Hopefully Sunday will bring a better day and Matt will feel better. Matt's blood pressure and Oxygen level have all been prefect.
To night Matt is going to take something to help him sleep. It has been months since Matt has gotten more than an hour or two of sleep in a row.
Thank you to everyone for their continued prayers.
In the Hospital
Matt went to Johnson Creek Friday morning to get some more fluids. They gave him 3 more bags of fluids and Matt felt a little better. Dr. Eastman said he thought Matt should go into the hospital to get more fluids, some blood and some help with the diarrhea. The diarrhea has been bothering Matt since last Saturday. Matt weighed in at 126 and Dr. Fullerton wants him to eat and gain a few pounds. After some fluids tonight Matt was hungry and had a Turkey and potatoe chip sandwich, green beans and mashed potatoes. The first thing he asked for when he got to the hospital was applesauce. We told Heleyna to make sure they have enough applesauce on the floor!!!
Depending on how Matt feels today (Saturday) after getting 2 pints of blood and if the diarrhea is under control he will be able to go home. If things are not any better he might have to spend a few more days in the hospital.
Please continue to prayer for Matt's body to start healing, Please give Matt the strenght to start feeling better. Thank you Lord!
Depending on how Matt feels today (Saturday) after getting 2 pints of blood and if the diarrhea is under control he will be able to go home. If things are not any better he might have to spend a few more days in the hospital.
Please continue to prayer for Matt's body to start healing, Please give Matt the strenght to start feeling better. Thank you Lord!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)