Jett’s latest immunotherapy infusion
After a single round of chemotherapy back in June, the doctor switched her to immunotherapy due to concern over neuropathy (the loss of feeling in her fingers). She has received 4 immunotherapy infusions. Last week she underwent a round of tests to assess the effectiveness of the immunotherapy. Jett was understandably nervous about what the tests would reveal. If the treatments were not effective it would be a death sentence. And we would not be able to return to Florida for the winter.
Fortunately, the assessment was generally positive: while her cancer is not in remission and may never get there, the progress to date has been “miraculous.” Yes, the doctor actually said “miraculous.” All tumors have shrunk in size. When asked if she was well enough to return to Florida for the winter, he said “absolutely.”
So we are currently working out the details of how to get there and how to continue treatments uninterrupted. It is likely that I will drive the Corolla south with Rusty aboard (it is really the only way to get him there), leaving Oct 23 and arriving Oct 26. Because I won’t be towing the RV and won’t be doing much sightseeing (except, perhaps, visiting the Civil War battlefield in Chancellorsville), I won’t treat it as a “trip”.
I will load as much stuff in the car as will fit without crushing the dog. Anything I can’t fit (like my new golf clubs) will go into the storage unit in MA.
Jet will follow, via a nonstop JetBlue flight, arriving Oct 27. She will likely be accompanied by her sister Christine. She will stay with Christine while I am away.
At this point the greatest immediate threat to Jett’s health is her weight. She has lost a couple more pounds and is now in danger of dropping below 90. The doctor is concerned, of course, as she is approaching starvation. He told her if she can’t gain weight she will have to go on an IV feeding regimen. She is now taking the threat seriously and is eating every chance she gets, with the aid of a new anti-nausea medication.
She is not out of the woods, but there is now reason to believe that the forest is not as dark and dense as it once appeared.
She is now looking forward to getting back to Ft Myers – especially since the nighttime temperatures in Massachusetts are now dipping into the 40s.
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