the game plan . . .

We're back from our latest jaunt across the state. We went to visit Dr. Kudchadkar, our second favorite oncologist . . . sorry, Dr. K, but no one tops the Amazing Dr. Z.

First the good news. We got the results of the MRI done in mid February. The 9TS has a brain!!! and Mel and Anoma are not in residence. YAY!!!

And then the conversation turned to "The Plan".

There are four options:

Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Ipilimumab and PD-1.

Greek? I think so. So let's break it down shall we?

Chemotherapy is the treatment of melanoma by means of chemicals which are supposed to have a toxic effect on the deadly duo. But here's the thing. Chemotherapy just plain doesn't work against Mel and Anoma. The two put on their invincibility cloaks and are impervious.

Immunotherapy attempts to energize the 9TS's own system to push M&A out of Dodge. Take that you beasts!!!

Ipilimumab, which is nicknamed IPI for obvious reasons, is the brand new therapy against the wily cousins. While it can extend the average lifespan by 10 months, it does not cure the disease.

PD1 is still Greek to me. This is as close a description as I can find. "PD-1 blockade expands infiltrating T cells and reduces regulatory T and myeloid cells within B16 melanoma tumors." See what I mean? A foreign language.

Obviously, we are skipping chemo. I mean seriously, why would we get in the ring with the big bad wolf and come out gnawed upon for nothing? We wanted to jump to IPI since it has the best results but then of course, it gets complicated. If we do IPI first, then we can't try PD1 later and Dr. K wants a plan B. Also, before you can do DP1, you have to have gone through some other form of treatment first. Who makes up these rules anyway???????

So we are looking at immunotherapy, specifically IL2 (Interlukin 2), as our first stop. While IL2 is highly toxic, it actually has a 6 - 10% cure rate. CURE rate. C.U.R.E! How incredible is that? But, if you've ever read the horror stories of cancer treatments, there's a good chance they were talking about IL2. It is so toxic, it is done in the hospital. One week in, one week home, one week back in the hospital. Normally, it is not even considered an option for someone with a history of heart disease or, to be honest, someone as . . . um . . . old as the 9TS. But, we're talking about my sloth. My gym rat sloth. Super sloth. He's in great shape. As long as he passes a stress test, we are good to go. Target date mid April.

So the game plan is immunotherapy followed by PD1 if required and then IPI.

GAME ON!!