The tumors are continuing to respond and they have continued to get smaller, but there is still a good sized central one (1x3x8 cm). Dr. Chawla wants us to find a suregon to remove it so that he does not have to give Mama Pham as much chemo and so that she has a chance at a better long term outcome. His biggest concern is that Mama Pham is going to develop resistance to the currently very strong medicines she is on or worse no longer be able to tollerate chemo at all. The issue is, Mama Pham's cancer is so rare that the doctors don't know what to do next. There has been very little research because the survival rate for this kind of cancer is so low. She is beating all of the odds and surprising the doctors that we have encountered. We are not even close to being out of the woods yet, but we are so thankful for this borrowed time.
Last week, we had a surgical consult at the UCLA Sarcoma Center with Dr. Fitz Eilder and he said that at this point he would not be willing to operate, since Mama Pham is metastatic (multiple cancer spots). So back to square one we go searching for surgeons. We are on a mad dash to find a gynecological oncologist surgeon who has been successful with sarcoma removals/treatment or an oncology surgeon who has experience with pelvic sarcomas who is willing to operate on this complicated case. With the holidays approaching it is a challenge to get an appointment, but in true Phighting Phamily fashion we have hit the ground running contacting doctors all over North America.
So, prayer warriors this is what we are praying for:
1. That we can find the right surgeon to work along side Dr. Chawla to figure out a successful course of treatment for Mama Pham.
2. Give her the strength and health to continue chemo
3. That this 3rd Round of Chemo continues to be effective and shrinks the remaining tumors.
We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Weekend with your families. We were fortunate to enjoy a few days of great food and fellowship with friends and family.
Back to chemo we go tomorrow. With much love and blessings from our Phamily to yours!
