Good news

Last Tuesday July 19 Kris had a blood test and on Thursday July 21 a PET scan. A PET scan is like a CAT scan only with a small amount of radioactive material (tracer). We saw her wonderful oncologist Dr. Blank on Tuesday July 26 when Kris and I went for her monthly infusion. Kris had a positive report. Her tumors are shrinking about 30% and one is gone. (Usually the doctors are happy if they don't grow) Her CPA 125 blood level was also lower. She may have to stay on the regimen of the PARP pills and monthly chemo indefinitely though. Discounting her side effects (heat rashes, headaches, low energy, nausea, arthritis inflammation) this is good news. 

Medical Marijuana - this week!

Kris became the first NYU Women's Oncology patient to get a prescription to medical marijuana. She was prescribed marijuana to combat nausea, vomiting, headaches, anxiety and depression; as an anti-inflammatory (for arthritis swelling and pain); and for its anti-cancer/anti-tumor properties. Medical Marijuana was approved by New York State in 2013 and the first dispensaries opened up in January 2016. (See http://www.compassionatecareny.org/medical-marijuana/ and https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/faq.htm). There are only TWO dispensaries in NYC. One is on 14th Street in Manhattan and the other is in Elmhurst, Queens. Our visit to the slick 14th Street dispensary was a bit strange and somewhat disappointing.

First off, New York State does not allow edibles or buds. Under the law, smoking is not permitted. The only approved types are liquids (a greenish tincture with a dropper for sublingual administration) as an oil for vaporization via a special inhaler, and as capsules to take orally. They sell it in three strength formulations: 1 part THC & 1 part CBD: 1 part THC and 2 parts CBD; and 1 part THC and 20 parts CBD. CBD is the ingredient that has the most medicinal properties and cannot get one high.  (For more about CBDs see http://www.leafscience.com/2014/02/23/5-must-know-facts-cannabidiol-cbd/).

After making an appointment and consulting with a woman in a white lab coat, Kris started with the liquid (shown in photo). The cost was $53 for a 14 dose bottle of tincture. At only two doses a day, one could easily spend over $200 a month - none of which is not covered by medical insurance. Hopefully it will help Kris. 

One good thing is: A family member or friend (me) can sign up as a Caregiver, who with their own MM ID card can go to the dispensary and pick up prescriptions for Kris. But remember, it does not get one high.

Sunday Outing to the Ramones exhibit at Queens Museum 6/5/16

Life can't be all chemo. On Sunday we went on a fun impromptu trip with old friends to see the Ramones exhibit at the Queens Museum, which included a visit to the NYC Diorama from the 1964-65 World's Fair (which is in need of updating). From left to right are: Wendy Brawer, Ray Sage, Kris and Abby. Photo by Andru Eron. For anyone interested in the birth of Punk Rock and the early CBGBs & Max's Kansas City scene, the exhibit is a must see. Brought back a lot of memories for all. Afterwards we went to lunch at a bonafide Mexican Taqueria in Jackson Heights. (Yes, Abby eats some Tex Mex.)

Kris is on her second week of taking the PARP Inhibitor, with another 8-hour + day of blood tests. She is tolerating the regimen in good spirits despite being tired and nauseous - and feeling like a pin cushion.

Kris started the Trial Drug yesterday

In over an 8-hour time period, Kris took her first dose of the PARP inhibitor trial drug ABT-888 after a dose of chemo. She had to have numerous blood tests in 1-hour and 2-hour increments to test the levels of the drug in her system and was supervised to check for side effects. So far she has had only minor issues with ABT-888. The chemo drug Doxil (nicknamed "red devil" by patients because of its red color and side effects) is another story. She will take the experimental ABT-888 pill twice daily from now on.

Kris has a recurrence

After almost a year in remission, in late March Kris had a routine blood test which indicated an increase in her CA 125 levels. Her recurrence was confirmed with a PET scan. A few weeks ago she started chemo again, this time using Doxil (Doxorubicin). Fortunately, she was accepted in a trial sponsored by NYU Langone of a new cancer drug called a PARP inhibitor. PARP inhibitors appear to improve progression-free survival in women with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (as described by Wikipedia). She starts the PARP inhibitor next week in combination with Doxil. Unfortunately there can be numerous side effects to the new regimen including nausea, vomitting, rashes and heart and liver issues. Because of this she has to get blood tests twice a week to start. During chemo her hands and feet are kept cold with ice. Will keep you posted.

Kris and her Happy Face balloon

We went to see Alice Cooper and Motley Crüe at the Barclays Center last night with some good friends, neighbors and family members. (Alice Cooper was fantastic!)

On the arena floor the crowd was batting around large balloons (as they annoyingly tend to do at large concerts). The yellow ones had a Happy Face, which were probably left over from the previous night's YES concert. Kris really wanted one and said "I'm going down there to get a balloon." I replied with characteristic optimism: "you'll never get one." See the priceless photo.

To prevent drunk heavy metal concertgoers from popping it, or sending it sailing back to the arena floor, she opened the knot, took the air out, flattened it and took it home. Now she wants me to do internet research on the best way to store a used balloon.

Meet Billy the Kitten, 8 weeks old

A few weeks ago, Kris' sister's husband Steve found a new litter of five tiny kittens in an abandoned truck and took them home. Karin and Steve were fostering them until they could be adopted. Last Sunday we went to a family barbecue at their house. I should have known something was up when Kris packed an empty cat carrier in the car. I assumed she was planning to donate our extra carrier to BARKS, an animal rescue organization which Aunt Carol works with.

Soon after arriving Kris introduced me to a tiny, grey & white, 8-week-old kitten named Billy. If you know mid-1960s rock group trivia, and that our two black cats at home are named Dino and Desi, you already know the end of the story. We are currently slowly introducing the increasingly rambunctious Billy into the menagerie. We are all adjusting to the tiny, hyperactive family addition. Murray the dog, who has been somewhat standoffish is very patient when Billy plays with and nips his ears; while Dino and Desi are still undecided but curious, expressing their feelings with an occasional hiss or growl. In the end, Karin kept two of the kittens and Aunt Carol took the remaining two for future adoption. Karin now has 6 cats, a dog Madeline, and a parrot. On Friday, Billy had his first trip to our Brooklyn vet for treatment for an eye infection.