More difficulties

Relaxing together by Lake Washington. Unsolicited photo taken
and shared by kindly fellow sunbather

Following Dr. Jost's April 25th wound revision, Meg seemed to be healing well, and Dr. Gottlieb (plastic surgeon) was very pleased with the initial results when they saw her on April 28th. However an MRI taken that day showed significant tumor growth and Meg was put back on the Temodar chemotherapy: most of the specialists we have consulted give that a good chance of still working.

 The repaired wound, however, subsequently started to open up and ooze, as the original one had, and May 10th saw Meg returning to the operating room, fully anesthetized, for Dr. Gottlieb to perform a much more extensive wound revision. The hope was that the wound would heal rapidly and allow the Avastin antibody therapy  to be restarted. (Avastin acts by preventing blood vessel formation and hence inhibits both tumor growth and wound healing). The various experts are, to be honest, divided as to whether Avastin will continue to work for her. Recall that she was in a clinical trial and received Avastin from the start  -  doctors have seen few such patients, so there's very little track record to guide them.

Morning after 2nd wound
revision: time to go home!

The wound, although well sewed up, continues to ooze and not heal, and Meg's energy level and mental state (memory, mostly) continued to decline, giving concern that the tumor was continuing to grow. The doctors reasoned that the threat of tumor growth was greater than that of wound failure (which they can do something about) and sent her for another MRI this morning. The results show further tumor growth and she will restart her (every 2 week) Avastin infusions on Thursday. An MRI in a couple of weeks should show whether the Avastin is indeed still able to contain the tumor.

Fellow sleepers. Meg's dressing
keeps reminding me of this.

Meg has very little energy, and naps a great deal during the day, but is alert and happy to see visitors between naps. Our children and Meg's mother will be visiting (separately) over the next few weeks. Her brother from Olympia visited us last weekend: he'll be traveling to Santa Barbara to look after Meg's father while her mother is with us. He's had extensive experience helping with chronically ill people and is eager to do whatever he can to help out here.