Well, we have pulled up anchor and set sail again on our voyage of palliative care. We have changed ships, however, and are now on the newly outfitted “Keytruda-GC.” Since Joyce’s cancer had progressed, her next best option ( in our opinion ) turns out to be what is called immunotherapy. Keytruda was okayed for use in July of 2021 for high risk triple negative breast cancer patients. In the blood tests after her last Trodelvy treatment her markers indicated that this new path may be helpful.
One positive note we took away from her last PET scan was that instead of a whole bunch of cancer all over the place, it seems to have settled in the area of the liver. I know, that should not sound like good news. But, if it is there, treatments that are more specific to targeting the liver are available now than had been in the past.
After her second infusion of the new treatment, Joyce had a DNA sample sent to the genetic counselors here at the Coborn Cancer Center. They are going to send it out to a lab on the west coast. Specifically, at this time, we are going to see if there is a BRCA2 mutation of some sort. If that is the case it opens up treatment options that are just being developed. This is being characterized as “targeted therapy using PARP inhibitors.” it is at the molecular level compared to the “bombard everything” level. Don’t get me wrong. The “bombard everything” level helped us to get to where we are today and for that I am grateful.
So, for now, we are on the Ketruda-GC under full sail. Yes, there will be moments when Joyce is “at the rail” dealing with the affects of this new medicine and I will be there to hold her hand and emptying the buckets. Needless to say we are very thankful for compazine and zofran to help her get through those moments.
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