We Saw the Dr Today

Hi Y'all we saw Dr Akerley today. I told you before that he was going to speak to some of his colleagues about Bruce's weird case. He was able to talk to some of the most brilliant genetic and cancer minds in the world this past weekend at a conference he attended and they all concurred with the plan that he had in mind for Bruce. They are pretty bewildered as to why Bruce has 4 genetic mutations. This is the most mutations they have ever seen in a lung cancer patient, at least up at Huntsman. The good news is that one of the mutations, the one that seems to be the most prevalent, is called a BRAFF mutation and is most often seen in breast cancer patients. (Go figure) Only 4% of lung cancer patients have this mutation. It is a very targetable mutation. Targetable therapy drugs are taken in pill form to kill the cancer in patients with this mutation. You just take 2 pills every morning and ever night.  The pills kill only the cancer cells not all of the other cells in your body. Therefore, it is a ton milder on your system. Very few side effects, well it can have one weird side effect.  It makes some patients grow warts!# What? So they shave off the warts and lower the dose of the drug and that seems to take care of it. If that is the worst thing that happens we are all good! And it is very effective! Great news!
What do you think a pill like this costs? Can you say $7,000 - $12,000 a month? No I am not kidding. The good news is that there are foundations out there that will help with the cost and also Bruce has good insurance so at least for the first year we will not be paying for it. Phew! You have to take the drug the entire time it is keeping the cancer at bay so it could get a little pricey but you can reapply every year for assistance from these foundations. People who make it their business to help others are awesome!!

Also, you have probably heard all of the buzz about immunotherapy. This is an incredible new breakthrough in cancer treatment. They are even talking cure. Seriously! The new immunotherapy drug that was approved for squamous cell cancer works really well. It actually helps the body to see cancer cells as diseased cells (our bodies don't normally view cancer cells as disease) and the patients own immune system kills the cancer. It's is a literal miracle!  The nurse that we talked to said that they are thinking there is going to be a time in the not too distant future that you go to the Doc and he will say," Oh you have cancer. Take this pill." We are so, so grateful for the true miracle of modern science!!