Hello all,

Its been a long time since our last update, and I wish there was no need to continue this journal, but here we are again, back in the fight.

Last year, Wendi had her left upper lung removed to gid rid of the mass that kept recurring there, through radiation and targeted chemotherapy.  She underwent post-surgery adjuvant chemo followed by a regimen of immunotherapy that continued up until April of this year, when a scan showed, amongst general inflammation, a new suspicious growth between her uterus and colon.  A biopsy proved this mass to be a recurrence of her original non-small cell lung cancer, and genetic testing identified the same RET biomarker as before.

The Mayo team is very proactive and aggressive in their approach, as we are now officially classified as Stage 4 metastatic, due to the fact that the cancer cells are relocated.  Comprehensive scans have shown no metastases in her brain or elsewhere, which is encouraging.  There was inflammation in her right lung and spleen as well as mysterious subcutaneous lumps, which are assumed to be an autoimmune reaction to the immunotherapy infusions.  She was started on a prednisone regimen, and that has had an immediate effect on her superficial symptoms.  We are optimistic that this will clear up the lymph reaction in her right lung as well, but a forthcoming scan will verify as well as isolate the area(s) of concern.

Today she completed the first of two cycles of carboplatin/pemetrexed chemo, which will hopefully shrink the tumor and retreat it from her colon wall.  She will resume her RET-inhibitor drug regimen in August, and will be undergoing regular scans to monitor progress.

We thank you all for your well-wishes and continued support as we resume the battler and forge ahead, one day at a time.

Love to all, 

Corey and Wendi J