Postby roadrunner » Wed Sep 21, 2022 4:32 pm
I’m going to echo Claudine and argue for “the glass is (at least) half-full” here. I totally get that your TILs need to make the grade, so clearly we’re all rooting for that. Beyond that, though, the other options all seem to hold promise. If the immunotherapy works, you’ve got at least regression and more time (for curative therapy and just in general). Plus the TILs are on ice, so nothing is lost. If not, you go right to the TILs, which is a promising new approach that may yield real benefits, either in terms of cure or time. As Claudine pointed out, time isn’t just time, it’s also progress, and the potential for curative progress or more life extensions.
I definitely understand the way emotions get buffeted around on this journey, and your has heavy wind right now, for sure. But a lot of these look favorable at the moment. The one caution I’d propose: If you supplement your program with alternative therapies, I’d suggest making sure they don’t interact poorly with the immunotherapy or—if it comes to that—the TILs. I expect you’ve got that covered, but just noting in case you haven’t thought of it. I recall that your alternative approaches had some immunosuppressive effects in the past, so it’s something to be mindful of, perhaps. Anyway, good luck with this, whether it’s the immunotherapy coming through for you, the TILs, both, or even an abscopal effect!
7/19: RC: Staged IIIA, T2N1M0
approx 4.25 cm, low/mid rectum, mod. well diff.; lung micronodule
8/19-10/19 4 rds.FOLFOX neoadjuvant, 3 w/Oxiplatin (reduced 70-75%)
neoadjuvant chemorad 11/19
4 rounds FOLFOX July-August 2020
ncCR 10/20; biopsies neg
TAE 11/20, tumor cells removed
Chest CT 3/30/21 growth in 2 nodules (3 and 5mm)
VATS 12/8/21 sub-pleural met 7mm.
SBRT nodule 1/22
6/20/22 TAE rectal polyp benign)
NED from 3/22 - 3/23
4 cycles FOLFIRI
LUL VATS lobectomy for radio resistant met 7/7/23