Health Update #29: Third Line Therapy with Pemetrexed
Needlepoint by Cornelia. Quote from The Sopranos It's been two months since my last post. Everything is pretty much humming along as best as can be expected. After I was sent packing by the University of Michigan in February, we returned to Chicago to meet with Dr. G. at Northwestern on March 8th for a consultation. Instead of Gemcitibine, which Dr. Q had recommended at UofM, Dr. G. recommended Pemetrexed, a class of medications called antifolate antineoplastic agents. It works by blocking the action of a certain substance in the body that may help cancer cells multiply. The side effects are supposed to be milder than the other chemotherapies I've been on (First Line treatment with Carboplatin and Paclotaxel; Second Line treatment with Docetaxel and Ramucirumab). I'm hoping for a somewhat improved quality of life with this regimen. To help with the side effects that I do expect, they've prescribed a steroid (dexamethasone), folic acid, and B12. There's a pretty st...