The Stage IV Life

10/18/21

Suspected hernia – PCP ordered ultrasound – could not see anything – instructed to “keep an eye on it”. (Yes, you read that right.)

11/10/21

ER visit for pain, still suspecting hernia.  CT SCAN reveals 23.5 cm (size of a football) tumor on left kidney.  Referred to Urologist for removal.

11/15/21

Met with urologist/surgeon – referred to specialist due to massive size of tumor. 

11/24/21

(Day before Thanksgiving) Surgery @ St. Mary’s – Radical open left nephrectomy. 9 nights in hospital. 52 staples across abdomen.

12/30/21

Baseline MRI – Clear!

1/4/22

PET SCAN – Clear!

1/10/22

Meet with oncologist – immunotherapy only ‘option.’

2/1/22

1st immunotherapy infusion – Opdivo & Yervoy

2/12/22

ER visit for severe gastrointestinal pain.  CT reveals a new ~9cm tumor in small intestine. Inoperable, radiation not an option.
**Oncologist gives prognosis that Brian has 12-18 months to live.

 2/17/22

Consult with Integrative Medicine Doctor.

Read ‘How to Starve Cancer….’ book.

2/22/22

2nd immunotherapy infusion – Opdivo & Yervoy

2/28/22

“Bootcamp” gegins w/ Integrative doctor (program lasted 4 weeks, 5 days a week)

3/01/22

PICC line inserted

3/12/22

Admitted to hospital for bowel obstruction

3/15/22

3rd immunotherapy infusion – Opdivo & Yervoy

3/31/22

Admitted to Renown for bowel obstruction

4/13/22

4th immunotherapy infusion – Opdivo & Yervoy

4/17/22

Admitted to Renown for bowel obstruction

4/26/22 – 4/28/22

Integrative Treatment – 3 day follow up therapy 

5/3/22

1st solo Opdivo immunotherapy 

5/16/22 – 5/18/22

Integrative Treatmant – 3 day follow up therapy 

5/31/22

2nd solo Opdivo immunotherapy 

6/6/22 – 6/8/22

Integrative Treatment – 3 day follow up therapy 

7/26/22

4th solo Opdivo immunotherapy (FINAL one – side effects were too harsh.)

August and September

No therapies, no scans.  Home regimen from Integrative doctor.

10/18/22

PET SCAN – Clear!

1/31/23

PET SCAN – Clear!

5/31/23

PET SCAN – Clear!

9/22/23

Insurance denies PET SCAN – CT SCAN done – Clear!

10/5/23

Follow up consult with Integrative doctor – All good. 

12/2/23

NEW pain in lower back – couldn’t sleep from the discomfort – RED FLAG.

12/28/23

Insurance denies PET SCAN – CT SCAN done – new findings

1/3/24

Consult with oncologist, orders MRI

1/6/24

MRI – Impression is no sign of metastatic disease
**Oncologist orders radiologist to compare/review CT SCAN w/ MRI 

1/18/24

Addendum to MRI:

There is a 1.6 x 3.5 cm elliptical left paraspinous prevertebral enhancing mass adjacent to the diaphragmatic crus which corresponds to the abnormality identified on the outside CT abdomen and pelvis dated 12/28/2023. Differential considerations would include a benign nerve sheath tumor such as schwannoma and given history of renal cell carcinoma in this patient, metastatic disease.

Oncologist orders biopsy.

1/29/24

Biopsy @ St. Mary’s

1/31/24

Consult with new Integrative Team

2/1/24

Biopsy results confirm tumor to be metastatic cancer on spine.

2/5/24

Greek Test Blood Draw