Cancer treatment is a waiting game. We go to chemo and then wait anxiously for the next chemo treatment. We were mentally preparing for round two all week. Ken wanted today to arrive quickly because at least on chemo days we’re actively fighting the cancer. We know the chemicals are working long after the treatment day ends, but we both feel powerless, except when he actually has chemicals dripping into his body.

This week, we were supposed to have Avastin added to his drug cocktail, but one of Ken’s tumors is still bleeding a little. Since Avastin causes bleeding, it’s out of the line up.

There’s good news, though. According to the doctor, Ken’s got “good cancer,” which made us both laugh (the medical staff didn’t really get why that’s funny). Apparently, good cancer is non-mutated and responds well to Erbitux. So, instead of Avastin, they are giving him Erbitux (weekly). Like all cancer drugs, Erbitux comes with a frightening list of possible reactions and side-effects. He received a big IV bag of Benadryl just in case he is allergic. I’m watching for hives and difficulty breathing but he’s happily snoozing right now, totally knocked out by the medication.

The Oncology Pharmacologist thinks the doctor will want Ken to be on Erbitux for 2 months before the next PET/CT to check the tumor progress. Ken has the benefit/curse of being able to see some of his tumors so we’ll be watching them as well. The largest tumor is still growing, which is stressful, but it’s early days in terms of treatment.