GREAT NEWS! Results of today's exploratory laparaoscopy

[janklo]

Lauren had her exploratory laparoscopy today - with great results. The surgeon looked inside Lauren's abdomen area with a scope and found the pertoneal mets had been reduced in number quite a bit. The ones that were left were not any larger. He could not see anything on any of the other organ surfaces, the only cancer was near the small bowel, but not on it. The surgeon showed us pictures from inside and you could actually see the areas where the cancer cells had died. He wants to schedule HIPEC again, probably in a couple months. He told us he feels he can debride most of what is in there and then use the heated chemo to finish off the rest. He told us the heated chemo penetrates to 4 mm (which is not what we heard before, we heard 2 mm). He said afterwards, it will be up to her onc to decide if he wanted to do maintenance chemo or just monitor. They did remove some of the cancer implants today, to have pathology look at them to see what chemo is doing to them. He also mentioned at the time of HIPEC sending what they remove out to a lab to have it tested and stored for future medical innovations - that they may find things that would help Lauren and then they would contact her because of what her tissue showed. This is in Dallas, Texas.

For all of those with peritoneal mets and signet ring cell, please know there is hope!! Six months ago we certainly could not have thought it would be at this point. Lauren's current chemo regime is xeloda with vectibex infusions biweekly. Prior to that she was doing Folfiri with Vectibex. Apparently it works well for her. Such a relief!!!

[stephh]

Wow-that is awesome!! So happy to hear this! It is wonderful the systemic chemo is having an effect on the peritoneal mets. I hear it is hard to do that. And now she can hopefully have HIPEC! How wonderful!! Thanks so much for sharing. Please keep us updated, and let us know if you get a HIPEC date set.

[RixInPhx]

Great news, indeed!

She has so much to live for, it's great hat this thing is being effectively attacked.
And as they say, things on the horizon may make it even better.

Hurray!

[fritts44]

That's great news! I know your family will have a relaxing, enjoyable weekend!

Lee F.

[Dori]

Fabulous news!! I'm so glad the chemo is doing its job!

-Dori

[Laurettas]

Sounds like a Ringer just got a ringer!! So glad to hear the news about the feasibility of HIPEC as well as the fact that the chemo is killing the mets. It is all good!

[Bev G]

Hi Janklo,

I'm so happy for you and Lauren to hear this great and encouraging news. You have all been through so much...I'm sure this was a fairly big sigh of relief today. Onward to HIPEC and kicking a whole lot of cancer A$$!

Hugs to you!

Bev

[Nanette]

Hi Jan!

That is the kind of news we want to hear!!! I'm so happy for Lauren and the whole fam!!! And yes, there is hope for signet ring cell folks!!

Hugs to you!
-Nanette

[Patience]

Thank you for posting the good news! It is always great to hear positive things when dealing with cancer, and we share your happiness.

[Ashlee H.]

Yippee!!! I'm so happy to hear the great news.

[Guinevere]

Yea!! I know it's such a relief to y'all and it always great to get good news here.
God bless ~
Guinevere

[Kathleen808]

So good to hear this news for Lauren. Your daughter is a strong woman. Sending you good thoughts and prayers.

Aloha,
Kathleen

[prtza]

Great news Janklo!!

[rosa01]

Fantastic news!!! I love to hear news like that.

Sheila

[Phuong]

What exciting news! So happy for you and Lauren.