SuggsHouse_2011

 Good morning! I said I would do another update once treatment began, so here it is. This past Friday I had to be at MUSC at 7:15am for lab work. Then I had to see my doctor, who went over everything again with me. After that, I went down to the Infusion Center for my first immunotherapy treatment & first clinical trial treatment (I was approved for the clinical trial!). With the clinical trial treatment, it is what's called a "double-blind," which means that the doctors nor I know if I am receiving the actual drug or a placebo. However, I am for sure receiving the immunotherapy drug for sure. They told me that the first time or two would be longer because they have a set time period that they have to monitor me after the treatment to make sure that I don't have any initial adverse reactions to the drug. I didn't finish treatment and observation until a little after 4:30pm. It was an extremely long day to say the least! Then of course our drive home Charleston...

     I know it's been a few weeks since I posted...things have been a little hectic. Originally I was supposed to have surgery this week to remove the cancer from my lower neck/upper chest area. After much thought and consideration I have decided not to do the surgery yet. Since this cancer keeps coming back even after multiple surgeries, my doctors and I both agree that we need to try to attack it a different way. Also, even if we remove the cancer spot, there is a chance that it has already spread to other places in my body (since this spot got there through the bloodstream) and we just may not see it yet.       I will be starting immunotherapy treatment within the next few weeks. As an addition to the immunotherapy, I am also trying to get approval to participate in a Clinical Trial for a new drug. If I am approved, there is a 2 out of 3 chance that I will get the drug, and a 1 out of 3 chance that I will get a placebo pill. Either way, I will still...