Carin' for Karen

Karen tells us how crappy chemo is, and we tell her how uncrappy she is.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Microsphere Therapy

Tomorrow, May 17th, I am scheduled for the microsphere infusion. The procedure should begin about 8 o'clock. It is an outpatient procedure lasting most of the day.

I cut and pasted the following information from the wakeoncology web site. It is a brief explanation what I will have done.

SIR-Spheres microspheres are radioactive polymer spheres that emit beta radiation. Physicians insert a catheter through the groin into the hepatic artery and deliver millions of microspheres directly to the tumor site. The SIR-Spheres microspheres target the liver tumors sparing healthy liver tissue. Approximately 55 physicians in the United States use Sirtex’s SIR-Spheres microspheres in more than 60 medical centers.

You can go to the following web sites for more information if you are interested:

http://www.sirtex.com/?p=57

http://www.wakeoncology.com/Default.aspx?tabid=4179

Last week Abby graduated from college with a B.A. in music. She had her senior recital on Tuesday and graduation on Saturday. I had the angiogram in preparation for tomorrow's procedure on Wednesday and the PET scan on Friday. The PET scan did not show any spread of cancer to any other organ other than my liver. That was a great relief!

It was a very busy week, but it was a good week. I continue to thank God for the blessings He abundantly has poured out on me and my family. What a joy it was to be able to feel good enough to attend Abby's big events. He continues to give me daily strength and hope. What an adventure life is!