Report from doctor

R saw the Oncologist yesterday in preparation for his treatments.

He had a good couple of hours yesterday. He has nausea and fever most of the time which makes him weak. The last two days he has been able to eat a little more. Last night he wasn't able to keep food down.

Was given a little more specific cancer diagnosis: Germ Cell, nonseminoma choriocarcinoma.

According to the American Cancer Society website:
"Choriocarcinomas: This is a very rare and aggressive type of testicular cancer that occurs in adults. These cancers are likely to spread rapidly to distant organs of the body, including the lungs, bone, and brain. Pure choriocarcinoma does not often occur in the testicles. More often, choriocarcinoma cells are present with other types of non-seminoma cells in a mixed germ cell tumor. This type of tumor increases blood levels of HCG."

The prognosis is 50%, 5 year survival rate with treatment. We continue to pray for a miracle.

R will have four rounds of chemotherapy starting Monday. Five days of treatment (staying in the hospital those five days). Then home for two weeks to recover. Then back for five days of treatment - repeated for the four rounds of chemotherapy. Afterwhich they will see if there is any tumor left or any scar tissue which will need to be removed with surgery.

We will maintain hope and a positive outlook that R. will recover and will be with us for a much longer time.