This is Sci-Fi Level Stuff We're Talking About!!!! - Update 3 of 3

So after some ups and downs over the past few weeks my treatment team and I have finally determined the next step and settled on a clinical trial that involves some cutting edge technology.  So sit down, grab a drink of your choice, and get ready to have your mind blown!!

What in the World is TILs??

I am currently in screening for a clinical trial that involves the use of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs).  For those of you interesting in reading more about this technology please click the link to be taken to an article that explains this technology by the MD Anderson Cancer Center.  Make sure to click on the video to see how this technology works!!

In a super simplified nut shell, this trial is evaluating the technology of using T cells from the patient's tumor itself to fight their cancer.  

On Monday (11/23) I will have surgery in which a section of the tumor will be removed and sent to the biotech company.  Over several weeks they will use TILs from the tumor and multiply them in a lab until they have billions of TILs that they will use to produce an infusion - my own army of TILs!!  Once we receive the thumbs up that the cells are growing appropriately, we will move forward with the steps necessary to prepare my body for the infusion of the TILs.  

I will be admitted to the hospital for a minimum of 2 weeks (tentatively scheduled for middle of December).  For the first several days I will receive 2 chemo agents (Cyclophosphamide and Fludarabine) to wipe out my immune system.  This is necessary to enable the TILs infusion to work best.  At some point during this time the company will send the TILs product to the hospital and I will receive the infusion during the second week of my admission.  Later that evening I will receive the first of 6 possible IL-2 infusions, which will ramp up the TILs so they can really wage a war on the tumor cells! 

While this technology is super exciting, there are significant risks.  There are lots of potential side effects from the chemo, the TILs infusion, and the IL-2 infusions.  And the recovery time to get my immune system back will take months.

Jumping Through Hoops, Hoops, and More Hoops

In order to make sure I meet all the eligibility criteria they have been putting me through the ringer with tests.  They've taken lots of tubes of blood to look at my labs (electrolytes, kidney function, liver function, blood clotting, past exposures to viruses.... you name it - they are drawing a lab for it!!).  I've had testing done to make sure my heart is healthy (and it is💗) and had some testing to check my lung function (and they are strong💪).

Last week I meet with the transplant team, who will be taking care of me while I am admitted, to make sure we are all on the same page.  They gave me more information about how things will go during the two weeks that I am admitted.

This past Thursday I had my pre-procedure COVID test and it came back negative - YAY!!  

So for now I am just staying home and celebrating Thanksgiving a little early - Nathan made me turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and my mom did a drive by porch drop off with some deviled eggs and my all time favorite - vegetable medley - YUM!!

I will post blog updates when I have them!!

Ta ta for now... unTILs I blog again :)