Some good news and some bad news.

Bad news - tumor isn't responding to treatment as well as we hoped it would. From 6.7x6.3x6.1 it is currently at 5x7x7. Rad and surg onco both said there is inflammation to be considered but I'd like to take these numbers as they are. I don't want to assume that it's smaller than what the tests say. Cezar is also back to using a wheelchair. Doctor said the fluid responsible for his balance (inside the ear) is drying up because of radiation. It's an inevitable side effect we have to deal with. He can walk but gets nauseous at the slightest movements. MRI confirmed he has sinusitis in his left sinuses which prevents him from breathing through the left nostril. He now breathes exclusively through the mouth. Blood count has gone crazy because of chemo and radiation. We'll have to repeat the tests next week to make sure that he is recovering from the chemo meds. He has lost a lot of weight so we've scheduled an appointment with his gastro on Monday. It's difficult for him to eat since he can only breathe through the mouth and the PEG tube can only take so much feeding.

Good news - MRI results seem to show no damage to his brain. The tumor protruding from his gums and right nostril has shrunk noticeably allowing more drainage of dead blood from both nostrils (more from the right). Withdrawal symptoms have gotten better despite the sudden reduction of pain meds (Pregabalin now taken one tab/day from 3tabs/day, Carbamazepine now taken one tab/day from 3tabs/day, Morphine slow release now taken 3tabs/day from 12tabs/day). He has also stopped taking plain rescue morphine tabs. Somehow, his mouth sores have stopped bothering him and it's been days since he last used his lidocaine mouthwash. He has always been bothered by the fact that scans showed a cyst on the left side of his nose inside his sinus but MRI confirmed today that the cyst is benign. We have an appointment with our IM onco on Tuesday and hopefully we'll get a referral to an ENT to have his left sinusitis sorted out.

With only 13 more days left of his radiotherapy treatment we can't help but feel disappointed that the tumor has not shrunk enough. But we are not losing hope. We pray day and night for healing and for strength to continue this fight with our spirits intact. I believe God has His reasons for giving us this test and I know that Cezar and I will triumph over this challenge together, hand in hand. Please pray for Cezar to survive this and have the chance to live his life to the fullest. I am not giving up on him and I believe him when he says that he will live for me.

Sorry for the long post. Please have a great weekend full of love and happiness. May God bless us all.