April 1st, 2009

On March 30th, brother Dave concluded his second round in the clinical drug trial (which includes chemotherapy and two other anti-cancer drugs) at Cedar Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles. Each round consists of three cycles of therapy, and each cycle is three weeks long. This makes a total of six cycles administered in two rounds. A body scan and a CT scan were conducted to review the results of these last three cycles.

On March 31st, Dr. Gross, brother Dave's doctor and the Principal Investigator of the trial, informed us that the tumor and metastatic growths were the same size as they were following the first round of treatment, and that the cancer was both contained and stable. In terms of cancer and this study, this is considered a very good outcome. The doctor was very pleased with the results.

For those who do not know, the cancer volume reduced in size 55% following the first round of therapy. Since then, as the results of this past Tuesday confirm, the cancer has ceased to grow and spread and is stabilizing. It is likely that after another three to six cycles (one to two rounds), brother Dave can come off the chemotherapy portion of the trial.

It is also of note that while at the appointment on Tuesday, the research coordinator told us that of all the patients undergoing this treatment, our brother has had the least side-effects. We attribute this to the prayer of all you dear saints.

Please continue, if the Lord so leads you, to pray for:

1) The continued lack of side-effects over the next nine weeks. Round three will consist, like the other rounds, of three infusions - one every three weeks, the first of which was March 31st. Each infusion carries with it the risk of side-effects as well as a compromised immune system.
2) The continued suppression and regression of the cancer in our brother's lungs and elsewhere.
3) The wisdom of Dr. Gross and his associates in dealing with our brother's condition post-chemotherapy, and for the proper treatment to be carried out thereafter.