We met with Dr. Karmen Wong. As expected she noticed the increase in the CA markers readings. She is recommending a CT scan which Nicole will be having on Dec 11. Meanwhile Dr Wong is not prescribing any treatment. This is the same recommendation from Dr. Gonzalez.
Nicole is decided to strictly follow the protocol of Dr. Gonzalez. She has 3 weeks to hopefully bring the growth of the cancer cells under control.
Carpe diem!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Day 673 Singapore Nov 18, 2008 - 16.46 hrs
Nicole has received the results of the blood tests done this morning.
They are as follows:
..................Nov 18 ............Sept 19........................... June 17
CA 19.9...... 40.8 ................38.4 ........+2.4................ 43.5
CA 125........ 49.3............... 36.8......... +12.5...............23.0
CA 15.3 ........13.5............... 11.8.......... +1.7.................n/a
Obviously there has been an increase in all the readings. This is indeed a worrisome trend. We are having a meeting with Dr. Karmen Wong tomorrow to see what she has to say.
I am sending these results to Dr. Gonzalez to ask for his opinion also.
We are somewhat disappointed with this these results. We were expecting an unchanged level of the readings. It just shows that Nicole has to adhere to the rigorous demands of the protocol - no sugar, no meat and more "live" food. Our recent stay in Mauritius did not allow her to comply with her diet. We shall make a special effort during the next three months. It is not easy to be on such a diet.
They are as follows:
..................Nov 18 ............Sept 19........................... June 17
CA 19.9...... 40.8 ................38.4 ........+2.4................ 43.5
CA 125........ 49.3............... 36.8......... +12.5...............23.0
CA 15.3 ........13.5............... 11.8.......... +1.7.................n/a
Obviously there has been an increase in all the readings. This is indeed a worrisome trend. We are having a meeting with Dr. Karmen Wong tomorrow to see what she has to say.
I am sending these results to Dr. Gonzalez to ask for his opinion also.
We are somewhat disappointed with this these results. We were expecting an unchanged level of the readings. It just shows that Nicole has to adhere to the rigorous demands of the protocol - no sugar, no meat and more "live" food. Our recent stay in Mauritius did not allow her to comply with her diet. We shall make a special effort during the next three months. It is not easy to be on such a diet.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Day 666 Singapore November 11, 2008 -14.55 hrs
Nicole was having a bad cold during these last few days. She is feeling a little better today. I am glad that she is recovering. Any sign that her immune system is not coping well is cause for worry, if one believes that cancer is the result of a poor immune system. She continues to take the pancreatic enzymes and supplements.
Last week end we met with Pascal and Nathalie - the newly married couple. Father Bathfield launched his CD last Sunday for his fund raising.
Last week end we met with Pascal and Nathalie - the newly married couple. Father Bathfield launched his CD last Sunday for his fund raising.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Day 661 - Singapore November 6, 2008 - 22.19 hrs
We are back home after a visit to Mauritius. Pascal and Nathalie got married. We enjoyed the wedding and meeting family members, relatives and friends. Bert flew all the way from New York to be at the wedding. We enjoyed his company. We also were happy to meet Philippe and Ah Lee from Paris.
Nicole is slowly getting back into the Singapore life routine. She will have her next medical check at the end of this month.
Father Bathfield is raising funds for a new church building. The existing one is falling apart. He is launching a CD with some songs of his own composition for this fund raising. I am sure he will be delighted to receive our support. The picture above is the church with father Bathfield standing infront. The church will be pulled down.
Nicole is slowly getting back into the Singapore life routine. She will have her next medical check at the end of this month.
Father Bathfield is raising funds for a new church building. The existing one is falling apart. He is launching a CD with some songs of his own composition for this fund raising. I am sure he will be delighted to receive our support. The picture above is the church with father Bathfield standing infront. The church will be pulled down.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Day 620 September 26th, 2008 Singapore 21.25 hrs
" Rejoice, you just, in the Lord;
praise him for the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the Lord on the harp;
on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise.
Sing to God a new song;
skillfully played with joyful chant." Psalm 33
A fitting prayer as we have good news. The CT scan shows that Nicole is making progress.
"The small nodules in the major and horizontal fissure of the right lung are significantly smaller compared to the last CT scan. The subpleural nodules in the posterior aspect of the lung in the mid zones are also smaller. The subpleural nodules in the right lower zone and lung base are stable."
The report continues: "The liver is normal and attenuation... The sclerosis of the right 7th rib is also stable."
Dr Karmen Wong is very satisfied with the progress so far. The blood tests are ok, according to her. She recommends that Nicole has a blood test in two months - end of November.
We both were very relieved on being told these results. Nicole was particularly happy as she has been very worried before she underwent the CT scan.
Nicole is not on chemo. She is following the protocol prescribed by Dr. Gonzalez. We did not argue with Dr. Wong regarding which treatment is working. She is monitoring Nicole's health by using modern medicine technology. Dr Gonzalez is treating Nicole using his knowledge of the immune system. We are happy the way it is.
Nicole will continue following the protocol of Dr Gonzalez.
I discussed Patricia's case with Dr Karmen Wong. She is recommending a CT scan to check if no other organ is affected. Unfortunately the results of the biopsy done in January 2005 did not revealed enough information. It found the tumour HER2 positive at 2+. When a tumour is scored 2+, oncology guidelines recommend another test (FISH) to get a definite result. Unfortunately this test was not done.
I am told that Patricia will be returning home soon. The doctor will have the CT scan done at City Clinic.
praise him for the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the Lord on the harp;
on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise.
Sing to God a new song;
skillfully played with joyful chant." Psalm 33
A fitting prayer as we have good news. The CT scan shows that Nicole is making progress.
"The small nodules in the major and horizontal fissure of the right lung are significantly smaller compared to the last CT scan. The subpleural nodules in the posterior aspect of the lung in the mid zones are also smaller. The subpleural nodules in the right lower zone and lung base are stable."
The report continues: "The liver is normal and attenuation... The sclerosis of the right 7th rib is also stable."
Dr Karmen Wong is very satisfied with the progress so far. The blood tests are ok, according to her. She recommends that Nicole has a blood test in two months - end of November.
We both were very relieved on being told these results. Nicole was particularly happy as she has been very worried before she underwent the CT scan.
Nicole is not on chemo. She is following the protocol prescribed by Dr. Gonzalez. We did not argue with Dr. Wong regarding which treatment is working. She is monitoring Nicole's health by using modern medicine technology. Dr Gonzalez is treating Nicole using his knowledge of the immune system. We are happy the way it is.
Nicole will continue following the protocol of Dr Gonzalez.
I discussed Patricia's case with Dr Karmen Wong. She is recommending a CT scan to check if no other organ is affected. Unfortunately the results of the biopsy done in January 2005 did not revealed enough information. It found the tumour HER2 positive at 2+. When a tumour is scored 2+, oncology guidelines recommend another test (FISH) to get a definite result. Unfortunately this test was not done.
I am told that Patricia will be returning home soon. The doctor will have the CT scan done at City Clinic.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Day 620 Singapore September 25th, 2008 -21.54 hrs
In our anxiety to have the CT scan done, Nicole went to have her CT scan one day before it was due. And today we call Dr Wong before our appointment and were told that the appointment is for tomorrow. When we checked our diary we found that the CT scan was due today and the appointment of course is tomorrow. How can we be so confused?
So we do not know the results of the CT scan.
Meanwhile we continue to live one day at a time but looking forward to Pascal's wedding.
So we do not know the results of the CT scan.
Meanwhile we continue to live one day at a time but looking forward to Pascal's wedding.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Day 613 Singapore September 19, 2008 -17.10 hrs
We have been back to Singapore since Sept 17 . Nicole went to Gleneagles this morning for her blood test. It has been a while since we last were there. Nicole remarked : " we are back again at this hospital..." with past feelings resurfacing.
We have got the results:
---------------Sept 19 ------June 17 -----Ref range
CA 19.9 -------38.4 -------- 43.5 ----------<39.0
CA 125 --------36.8 ---------23 -----------<35.0
CA 15.3 ------- 11.8 ---------n/a ----------<25.0
We have not met yet Dr. Karmen Wong. However, we note with concern the rise of the CA 125 reading, which was declining but bounced back from a reading of 23 to 36.8. However, the positive development is the lowering of the reading of CA 19.9.
Most probably Dr. Wong would want to have a CT scan done, which will happen next week.
It is not easy for Nicole to go through these tests as she is being reminded of her state with cancer. Our surrounding is not helping.
One of my brother in laws was found with cancer of the colon after surgery. We visited him during our recent visit in Mauritius.
Patricia, my younger sister, was found with cancer having spread to her spine near the neck. She is being treated with radiotherapy at Victoria hospital in Candos. She is not looking good and we hope that the radiotherapy will work. She was found with breast cancer in 2004 and had surgery to remove the tumor. But it now appears that the cancer is back.
I met with the doctor treating both my brother in law and Patricia. There is such a gap in the quality of treatment given in Mauritius and the one in Singapore. Plus the facilities at Victoria hospital cannot be compared to those at Gleneagles. There is a serious effort to be made in Mauritius to improve cancer treatment.
During our recent trip to Mauritius and New York, we met with so many persons - relatives and friends - who have been and continue to pray for us. It was so gratifying for Nicole to be able to thank these persons face to face. We met Mario in Mauritius . He is in Canada and we met him at the wedding of Vincent. We met the meditation group at St Luke parish in Roxboxo. I was so touched by the reception they gave to Nicole.
We continue to be united with all of you in prayers.
We are now looking forward to the wedding of Pascal, the son of my sister, Florise. This is going to take place in Mauritius on October 11. Pascal leaves in Singapore. He started this blog when we first returned to Singapore after Nicole was found with cancer. He has been a most valuable support to us.
We have got the results:
---------------Sept 19 ------June 17 -----Ref range
CA 19.9 -------38.4 -------- 43.5 ----------<39.0
CA 125 --------36.8 ---------23 -----------<35.0
CA 15.3 ------- 11.8 ---------n/a ----------<25.0
We have not met yet Dr. Karmen Wong. However, we note with concern the rise of the CA 125 reading, which was declining but bounced back from a reading of 23 to 36.8. However, the positive development is the lowering of the reading of CA 19.9.
Most probably Dr. Wong would want to have a CT scan done, which will happen next week.
It is not easy for Nicole to go through these tests as she is being reminded of her state with cancer. Our surrounding is not helping.
One of my brother in laws was found with cancer of the colon after surgery. We visited him during our recent visit in Mauritius.
Patricia, my younger sister, was found with cancer having spread to her spine near the neck. She is being treated with radiotherapy at Victoria hospital in Candos. She is not looking good and we hope that the radiotherapy will work. She was found with breast cancer in 2004 and had surgery to remove the tumor. But it now appears that the cancer is back.
I met with the doctor treating both my brother in law and Patricia. There is such a gap in the quality of treatment given in Mauritius and the one in Singapore. Plus the facilities at Victoria hospital cannot be compared to those at Gleneagles. There is a serious effort to be made in Mauritius to improve cancer treatment.
During our recent trip to Mauritius and New York, we met with so many persons - relatives and friends - who have been and continue to pray for us. It was so gratifying for Nicole to be able to thank these persons face to face. We met Mario in Mauritius . He is in Canada and we met him at the wedding of Vincent. We met the meditation group at St Luke parish in Roxboxo. I was so touched by the reception they gave to Nicole.
We continue to be united with all of you in prayers.
We are now looking forward to the wedding of Pascal, the son of my sister, Florise. This is going to take place in Mauritius on October 11. Pascal leaves in Singapore. He started this blog when we first returned to Singapore after Nicole was found with cancer. He has been a most valuable support to us.
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