CBC normal, more supplements

Presley had another CBC today at OVRS and everything is within the normal limits. She weighs 81.2 pounds (gained a couple pounds since last week). Scott and I spoke with Dr. Bannink about moving forward with the following alternative treatments:

• Vitamin A 4000IU daily
• We can get this at the drugstore
  
• Vitamin D3 1000IU daily
• OVRS ordered this for us; should have it within the week
  
• CAS Options 2 tablets twice daily
• Presley is on this now and should continue indefinitely
  
• Fish Oil 1200mg daily
• Presley is on Super EPA but we need to increase her dosage to 3 gelcaps twice daily
• When bottle runs out, we'll switch to DHA 2 gelcaps twice daily
• Maitake PET fraction 41 drops (2.5ml) daily
  
• Glucosamine/Chondroitin 3 tablets daily (human dosage)
  
• L-Glutamine Powder
• Presley is taking 2 scoops twice daily
• She can stay on this indefinitely but we can discontinue after this bottle is finished if all of this is too much. We'll see.
  
• Chemo Blood Support 2 tablets three times daily
  
• Finish the bottle we currently have

I decided not to do the Hoxsey Formula. From what I read online, I feel like there's too much controversy surrounding it and I don't want to give anything to Presley that is going to taste bad because she is eating really well right now.

Presley will need a recheck chemistry panel in one month, especially to check that these supplement levels (especially calcium) are not affecting her kidneys or other organs. Her next appointment is December 14 at 3PM.

Further chest x-rays are also an option. If lung metastases are found, chemo or surgery to remove the tumors are the recommend treatments. To remove the tumors would require major surgery to remove an entire lung lobe, which in general is not a great option for a girl of Presley's age. And we already know how Presley reacts to chemo. So I don't really see a need to do any more chest x-rays.

Based on the majority of Osteosarcoma cases, we can expect the cancer to eventually spread to her lungs. If we don't do x-rays to catch the tumors early, then by the time she starts showing symptoms, such as trouble breathing and coughing, the tumors will have grown so large that there will be no more treatment options.

There is also a possibility that the cancer can spread to other bones. If she starts showing signs of pain or discomfort, especially in her limbs, then we can do x-rays to see if there is a tumor. If the tumor appears to be non-progressive (slow growing) or small, then radiation may be an option to shrink the tumor or stop the tumor from growing further. There are usually no side effects to radiation.

We'll have to cross these bridges if and when they come. For now, I just want to concentrate on having fun and feeling good.

This afternoon, we took some video of the girls playing in the backyard and chasing after the rake. I hope to have a new video posted on YouTube in the next day or so. Maybe tonight.

I've been having a lot of fun cutting videos of the girls and their new cousin, Sophie. Check them out at:
youtube.com/justmichelle13