We went to Huntsman Cancer Institute on Thursday. It was our first time ever going there for both of us. I have a friend who gave us some good advice of how to get there and what to do when we got there. May I say that I loved the Valet!!!
When we went through the front door, these stairs were so beautiful I had to take this picture, but this picture doesn't do it justice.
We were treated like royalty the whole time. I have nothing but good to say about the place.
When the doctor came in to see me he said that he had looked at all of my chart papers and that he had never seen liver cancer like mine. That he really didn't know which direction to go with me since I didn't have a cruddy liver and that mine was good. He asked me a lot of questions about how I feel day to day, and just all around. I feel like a pioneer in this kind of liver cancer. It disheartened me that he hadn't seen it before, but then not one doctor that I have seen with my cancer, has seen it before. I really thought he was going to send me home and tell me he couldn't or didn't know how to help me. I was trying to hold back the tears.
Then he came over by us with a paper and wrote down 3 different things we could do. One was a drug study that was closed to any more people right now. There were 4 people on a waiting list. When the drug company opens it back up, they let in 5 at a time. I would be the 5th. Unfortunately, we don't know when that will happen. So he is trying a different immune therapy that will try to get my immune system to kick back in and fight the cancer cells, which it isn't doing. They want me to start an infusion of this drug in two weeks.. Meanwhile, we will see if I get to try the other drug study if it opens up. I really want it to open up. He said if the immune therapy works, it could work for a few years. That was encouraging to me. The chemo alternative would only work about 3 months.
It was an overwhelming day to say the least. But I cant be in a better place than Huntsman!!!
I am so glad you're are happy with your appointment at Huntsman. They have treated us very well and between my MIL and my husband we have been there many times. They really seem to care and help you fight for the best outcome. I guess we should have used valet parking because the parking garage is a nightmare :) Hope they open the study again quickly for you. Also they have a library with many helpful books you can check out too.
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