Good Evening to all of our prayer supporters!

Mark had his preliminary screening for the TAK-186 clinical trial yesterday at the U of M.  We have had about 5 hours of discussion about this with many medical professionals.  At this point, all the questions we have that can be answered considering this is a clinical trial have been answered thoroughly by multiple people.  We are so thankful for the medical community of both the U of M and Mayo--literally at our doorstep.


We met another oncologist who will be very involved with Mark's care during the trial.  On a personal note, it was wonderful to see she and Mark connect with their love of classical music.  Rapport was established immediately.  She took a long look at him and said, "If I wasn't looking at your recent scans and the growth of the lung nodules, I would not know that you were so sick."  Bittersweet of course-but after the exam she gave us the green light to visit our OK family for a few days.  (Shhhh....this will be a surprise for our grandkiddos).

To review-TAK 186 is not another chemo drug.  It is a kind of antibody (special type of protein) that is being developed in the fight against cancer.  It is thought to work by attaching to both cancer cells and types of immune cells- our T-cells at the same time.  Hopefully it will activate T-cells to work against his cancer and help his own immune system fight off the growing cancer cells. Our understanding is that it will not affect healthy tissue.

Mark's next screening exam will be around May 6th, as more labs will be drawn as well as an EKG, CT, etc...  .  If he passes that screening, another biopsy will be done-on one of his cancerous lung nodules.  If he is still determined medically fit to move forward, he will have his first immunotherapy infusion around May 13th or 14th.

He will be administered 1/6 of the dose of TAK-186 to see how his body responds.  He will be observed for 24-48 hours in the hospital.  Without noting all the possible side effects; we would be most concerned about what is called Cytokine Release Syndrome.  Not to sound scary-but it is basically when the body releases too many cytokines due to the immunotherapy and can cause high fevers, inflammation and toxicity in the body.  That is why the first 24-48 hours are necessary for observation.  Subsequent doses are administered weekly.  The 2nd dose would be 1/2 the dose, and the 3rd dose would be the full dose.  He then would continue at this level. 

Mark is at peace about this unknown path; I vacillate, but want to honor his wishes since he has this "however long God gives him wellness window."

If Mark's body cooperates with the infusions; this will be very time intensive as far as the amount of time spent in the hospital and in the clinic. 

I have had the question, "Can he be cured?"  Well, God can certainly choose to do so if that is His plan--but medically speaking, there is not a cure for pancreatic cancer yet.  In fact, the mortality rate for pancreatic cancer has not changed in 40 years!  Other cancers have made great strides-but this cancer is in my word cunning-in that it sure knows how to evade chemo.  Medical professionals have used words like "beast" and "insidious," and "it always comes back."

God's creation continues to lift us up!
As always...thanks for praying- and sending your tangible gestures of love! 
Darc