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Help Suzanne Aucoin
Update Feb. 20, 2007
Hello!!!! Well I have some good news and some “investigational news”!!!
First of all, my cea (blood tumour marker) has dramatically decreased since returning
to erbitux!! Yahoo…. Obviously the ct scan (march 6) will be the more definitive
answer but I will accept this step in the right direction!!!!
However, Dr. Major (my oncologist at the Juravinski in Hamilton) is concerned about
the size of the liver tumour and would like to check out some radiation techniques
and procedures. I am convinced that SIRT spheres (www.sirtex.com) is the way to go
but it is quite costly (apx. $100,000). However, from my research SIRT spheres seems
to be the least invasiveness with the most efficacy. I await assessment to ensure
eligibility for SIRT spheres and will probably go to Wake Radiology Oncology in North
Carolina as Dr. Kennedy is well respected for this procedure. I hope to know by next
week if this is going to happen.
Another area of investigation seems to be the circulation in my toes. Dr. Major thinks
the avastin is creating blood clots interfering with my ability to heal in the toe area. I
have to go for a test sometime soon to check this out. I won’t be disappointed if I
have to drop Avastin because I think it is the Erbitux doing the magic.
Due to the snow storm last week, I was unable to have meet with the Ombudsman,
Andre Marin. We are planning to meet next week. I look forward to this occasion.
In the meantime, I am focusing energies on advocacy. Although I have had a victory
with OHIP there IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE!!!! Ontario ranks the lowest in Cancer
Care funding in Canada tied with Nova Scotia (view graph in attachment). Ontario is
acting like a have not province. As well, the Ministry of Health has created 31
limitations to cancer patients causing barriers to treatment. Coupled with Cancer
Care Ontario’s proposal to have patients pay for unfunded drugs, we are NOT happy
with the way cancer patients are being treated in Ontario. We are hoping to have a
press conference next Tuesday at Queen’s Park to highlight these issues. Stay tuned
to the newspapers and media.
Please check out the website for the Colorectal Cancer Resource and Awareness
Network, www.ccran.ca and pass it on to others.
Thanks for checking in….
Suzanne Aucoin
Hello!!!! Well I have some good news and some “investigational news”!!!
First of all, my cea (blood tumour marker) has dramatically decreased since returning
to erbitux!! Yahoo…. Obviously the ct scan (march 6) will be the more definitive
answer but I will accept this step in the right direction!!!!
However, Dr. Major (my oncologist at the Juravinski in Hamilton) is concerned about
the size of the liver tumour and would like to check out some radiation techniques
and procedures. I am convinced that SIRT spheres (www.sirtex.com) is the way to go
but it is quite costly (apx. $100,000). However, from my research SIRT spheres seems
to be the least invasiveness with the most efficacy. I await assessment to ensure
eligibility for SIRT spheres and will probably go to Wake Radiology Oncology in North
Carolina as Dr. Kennedy is well respected for this procedure. I hope to know by next
week if this is going to happen.
Another area of investigation seems to be the circulation in my toes. Dr. Major thinks
the avastin is creating blood clots interfering with my ability to heal in the toe area. I
have to go for a test sometime soon to check this out. I won’t be disappointed if I
have to drop Avastin because I think it is the Erbitux doing the magic.
Due to the snow storm last week, I was unable to have meet with the Ombudsman,
Andre Marin. We are planning to meet next week. I look forward to this occasion.
In the meantime, I am focusing energies on advocacy. Although I have had a victory
with OHIP there IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE!!!! Ontario ranks the lowest in Cancer
Care funding in Canada tied with Nova Scotia (view graph in attachment). Ontario is
acting like a have not province. As well, the Ministry of Health has created 31
limitations to cancer patients causing barriers to treatment. Coupled with Cancer
Care Ontario’s proposal to have patients pay for unfunded drugs, we are NOT happy
with the way cancer patients are being treated in Ontario. We are hoping to have a
press conference next Tuesday at Queen’s Park to highlight these issues. Stay tuned
to the newspapers and media.
Please check out the website for the Colorectal Cancer Resource and Awareness
Network, www.ccran.ca and pass it on to others.
Thanks for checking in….
Suzanne Aucoin
