Treatment Starting
I'm through staging. And while I wish I knew more, my career team is prepared to move forward with treatment on Thursday.
What I know is that I have stage IV cancer that has spread into nearby lymph nodes and one lymph node near my trachea. All other areas show clear. There wasn't enough viable material (most was necrotic) from the lymph node biopsy to sub-type, but Hopkins believes it is clear cell and they stated it does not present with sarcomatoid features...which is something we were initially told it did.
I am slated for dual-immunotherapy treatments once every three weeks for four cycles with Opdivo and Yervoy (Nivo-Ipi?). Then scans again. Then once every 28 days with just Opdivo.
At this point, they are going to leave my kidney in place, but have 'warned' me that they will potentially come back at some point to remove it. When...they don't know.
They told me to be prepared for AT LEAST a year of treatments...more probably two.
So, off on this journey I go. Hoping for a positive outcome. They said cured isn't a word I can expect to hear...but killed what you had and we don't see any new stuff sure sounds good right about now!