Theratechnologies Inc T.TH

OT -- Update on my wife

[juniper88]

This post is kind of of topic but still somewhat relevant if you want to know more about late or end stage cancer and how it relates to clinical trials.

As many of you know my wife is battling Ovarian cancer.  She has High Grade ovarian cancer and is negative for all genetic abnormalities that she has been test for. The last time I updated you all was when she was on a Phase I immunotherapy medicine.  Unfortunately that medicine did not help her at all and after the first CT Scan she was taken off the trial.  That is pretty much how all trials work.

While she was on the trial she was hospitalized at Toronto General Hospital because her left lung had collapsed because a tumor had occluded her left main bronchus.  After 7 days of NPO (no food or drink) a bronchoscopy was done to clear out the tumor.  This gave her relieve of about 1.5 weeks until it was occluded again.  She went for another 5 days of NPO and another bronchoscopy to clear it out. She then received 5 days of local radio therapy which seems to have been effective at stopping the growth in this area.

After my wife was taken of the immunotherapy trial we where presented with 3 phase I trials at Karmanos (Detroit),where she is being treated.  However, she would have to wait a month before being able to get on any trial because of the radiotherapy.  We agreed on a trial with the oncologist at Karmanos and returned there at the end of May.

For this or any other trial there is pre-trial screening.  One of the bloodtest that need to be passed was that for bilirubin, and my wife failed that test.  We were back in Windsor already when we got the phone call.  We were told that my wife's bilirubin had come back high and that one of the nurses had noticed that my wife looked jaundiced.  We were told that either we cross the border again and go to the ER or go back to Toronto and go to the ER.  They suspected a bile duct blockage as on a previous CT Scan there were tumors pressing on the bile ducts.  The solution would be to place a stent to keep the bile ducts open. We chose to go back over the border because in Toronto they had not even been willing to place a stent to keep the left main bronchus open, which would be a much easier procedure.

In the ER the appropriate imaging and from there she was admitted to the main hospital  It was confirmed by MRI that her bile ducts where occluded and that a stent would have to be place.  It was the long weekend in the U.S. and the hospital was short staffed.  Our oncologist when way above his duties to make it happen that the stent placement got done.  I have nothing but praise for all involved with my wife's care at Karmanos.  The procedure was very complicated and difficult to do but the surgeon did not give up and he got 2 stents placed.

On June 2nd my wife bloodwork was redone and the bilirubin was back to normal and she received the first cycle of treatment of this new trial. We returned 1 week later in Detroit to do follow up bloodwork and physical assessment (remember these trials are foremost about safety) From the symptoms my wife was now having and the increasing size of her abdomen the oncologist recomended t have an X-Ray done.  From that it was determinded that my wife had a small bowel obstruction which is quite common in late stage ovarian cancer.This had already started before the first cycle treatment.  They wanted to admit her again to the hospital but we have no insurance in the U.S and the stent placement a week and a half before was likely going to be very expensive.  So, I drove her back to the ER at Toronto General that day, and we got her admitted there.  She was there for 12 day hospitalization.  They did something called a NG tube and put her again on NPO. for several days.  Then introduced clear liquids and then full liquids.  Against the doctors medical advice I took her back to Detroit on June 23rd.  She passed all the blood work despite not have eaten much of anything for almost a month (at this point I really want to thank Rusty for all his prayers throughout all of this!!) and she received her 2nd cycle of treatment.

One of the blood test that is done for this particular trial is the CA-125 test.  With some Ovarian cancer patients, like my wife,  it very accucurately predicts how much cancer there is in her body.  That tumor marker had gone down by about 40% after just 1 cycle!!  My wife had tumors had are clear visible and we had noticed that they had become smaller.  I kept saying that it was just our wishful thinking.  But with the CA-125 going down so much, I believe we have some real hope.

[stockman75]

awesome news! I have been praying for you and your wife.     

[juniper88]

Thank you. We appreciate all prayers and good thoughts!!

[Wino115]

Juniper, you are a saint and your wife and the strength between you is amazing to see in action through this trying time.  I hope the sign you both  have received continues to show nothing but positive progress as she continues the new therapy you have found. Miracles do happen and she is due one. Prayers to you both. Thank you for the education on the realities of a trial. It sounds

[juniper88]

I believe the staff at Karmanos really care about their patients. To show official efficacy there is a minimum of 3 months. But doctors and patients can often see things in blood work and even physical exams. For example, my wife has liver mestasis which can cause the ALP to go higher. Hers was over 1100 before treatment and just over 200 now. I forgot to mention side effects. For the

[Lee430]

My wife and I had and a pact that after we retired to make sure we were always grateful for each and every day we had left together, we have had our health scares but we are still here and still reaffirming each morning our gratitude for another day together over morning tea/coffee. Good luck Juniper88

[LouisW]

Thanks for the encouraging information and best wishes to your wife.

[palinc2000]

This is an extraordinary example of what the Will to live can produce fantastic results...Your wife certainly has the Will but also her Will is compounded by your great support...Good luck to both of you

[juniper88]

In October 2017 she was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer.  To make it five years she was given a 5 to 10% chance.  In 2019 she was told she would have 1 year left to live. We have kept fighting, but believe me it is not easy.  We are exhausted.   We are very grateful for my wife to be able to receive this experimental medication, but this sponsor is super

[qwerty22]

If your wife becomes a responder and it looks like she is on this trial long term then hopefully they are amenable to reducing this burden on you folks. There must be plenty of places in Toronto to get bloods taken and processed and have the results sent to Detroit?

[juniper88]

This is something we are trying to work out. But the oncologist at Princess Margaret and the sponsor both have to agree. Hopefully we can get that all settled in the next few weeks.

[Momo25]

I wish you all the best. I know it's tough !  Very tough, not only for the sick person but for all the familiy around. I went throug this misery 3 years ago when my wife was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately she couldn't make it . 

[SPCEO1]

So sorry to hear that. I trust you have many fond memories of the time you had togther and that life is already making up for what it has taken from you. As you know, life and investing share a common thread of surpising us with unexpected developments, both good and bad. May the Lord grant you an excess supply of unexpected good tidings to help you overcome your loss.

[Momo25]

Thank you for being so kind while I was so harsh on you sometimes due to this catastrophic investment in TH. 

[juniper88]

I am sorry for you loss.  I wish I had words to console you but words will never be enough.

[SPCEO1]

Juniper88 and his wife are indeed a great team and are an inspiration to any of us who may face enormous challenges, health or otherwise, in the future. I suspect Juniper88 would be quick to tell us how they could not have pulled off what they have already without their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. As Juniper noted, my wife and I, along with our whole team at Stewardship Partners, have

[juniper88]

We really appreciate everyone's prayers and good thoughts. But ultimately we appreciate most our Lord Jesus Christ answering those prayers!!

[realitycheck4u]

This post has been removed in accordance with Community Policy

[qwerty22]

Your wife's resilience is extraordinary. Inspirational.

[scarlet1967]

All the best wishes to you and your wife.

[qwerty22]

If asking questions is too intrusive then please don't answer. So your wife hasn't yet had a scan to confirm any tumour shrinkage? That happens at the end of the 2nd cycle?  

[juniper88]

The scan has to happen before the 3rd cycle.  It is used for a go/nogo decision, whether or not to continue. Next treatment day would be July 13, but they will do the scan on the 7th of July.  To complicate things my wife's first scan was on May 15 while her 1st treatment was on June 2nd.  So, that means there would have been 2.5 weeks of growth between 1st scan and 1st

[qwerty22]

You think these trials are complicated and then you get your eyes opened to whole new layers of complication.  Well hopefully the CA125 and improvements in her liver are an indication things are moving in the right direction.