Anything Happens in Houston!

Yes, anything happens in Houston!  We had some younger guys and girls move into the "park model" mobile home behind us and I just had an uneasy feeling about them. They paid for a weeks stay but left rather fast one afternoon. The following day, when management couldn't get anyone to answer the door, they entered and found suspicious looking and most likely drugs of several kinds. The group left so fast, they left a drivers license behind of one girl. Smart move.....not!

We also had a pretty good storm one evening with golf ball sized hail and it sure played a number on my car!  I woke up last night to a storm and when I was doing laundry this morning, another guy said it woke him up and it was pea sized hail. That'll be enough of that stuff!!  HMPH!

I have just a few days left on the clinical trial pill before getting a week off. My phosphorus level is at 6.6 and if it gets to 7, I will go on a drug to lower my phosphorus level. I feel great! Pat and I have been walking several days when possible and then there is all the walking from the Mays building to the Main building that does the body good if you have a good pace. I have about 3 pretty long days this week at MD Anderson for the trial. It starts tomorrow at 8 am and we will be there ATLEAST 8 hours.  Same thing for Tuesday.

The main reason for the more than usual long days is because they are accommodating me so I can attend the Cholangiocarcinoma Conference from Feb1-3....but we will fly there on the 31st and fly back to Houston on the 4th. I actually get to speak and it will be live streamed on the CCF website. I believe I speak at 3 p.m.

I want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes on Facebook, the cards I received, the Edible Bouquet from Chris and Samantha.

I am so blessed with my family, friends, and all the prayer lists I am on throughout the U.S. I am blessed with God's peace and I have a calmness in my heart that only God could put there. I have hope and am excited because I truly believe this trial drug is working inside my body.

In two days, I get that week off of the drug. That is one cycle. Only two more cycles, then we will scan to hear great news!!

Hugs & God Bless!!
Patty Corcoran

New Year.....New Plan!

My last dose of chemo or any treatment that I have had for this demon of a cancer was Nov. 10. I can tell my cancer cells are having one heck of a party in my belly so I truly am excited to get started on something to stop this cancer from growing anymore. I knew at two months that the chemo was not working so that is when we got the scan and then waited for my appointments in Houston.

I kept my appointment for MD Anderson on Jan 12 &13. Dr. Javle talked about another chemo option which I flat turned down and then there were two clinical trials for my FGFR2 mutation. One was full and who knows when there would be an opening, so we chose the clinical trial listed on my last post. I am too tired to get up and go look. :-)

This clinical drug is a phase 1/2 meaning they have already figured out the safest dose and it is some similar to the BGJ398 trial I was on for 8 months. BUT, this time there are no lowering phosphate drugs to go along with every meal, just the clinical trial drug you take once a day. You take the drug for two weeks, and then you get a week off.....then it starts all over again.  We will be down here for a bit as they keep a close eye on you and check your blood levels every week and see a dr.

Our address for now is Southlake RV Resort, 13701 Hycohen Road, Houston, Texas  77047

Pat and I have been walking 1 1/2 miles a day but today I was so pooped from being at MDA most of the day and then a trip to the supermarket to get a few more things at the store. I get my first dose of the trial drug on January 10 (Tuesday) and will be at MD Anderson for 8 hours for monitoring.

It has been awhile since I have had any treatment and looking at my labs, it's pretty angry inside my belly. I have faith that I will continue on this Journey with God right beside me. I had a day I was pretty down and when I went to bed, I sobbed a bit. Then, I dreamed I was in a cemetery wondering all over hunting for my tombstone (a little morbid...I know)....and I came upon one that made me stop.....it was a rock and it had HOPE carved into it. The dream made me wake up about that time and I just thanked God for that nudge to keep going. I am not ready to stop marching yet!!

I still have HOPE. To me, to have hope means you have faith...when you have faith, you have HOPE!   They just go hand in hand with our great Father.

So, as I start this new trial tomorrow, I ask for prayers that it will stop the cancer cells in their tracks. There are SO many new drugs/immunotherapies for mutations coming out and 2017 looks very promising.

Thanks for checking in and may God be right beside you every second of every day!!

Hugs and God Bless!!

Patty Corcoran