Essentially news is all good. He said that the median time of survival for people who have brain metastases at diagnosis is 6-9 months. As Helen has already lived longer than that she is outside the typical. It is a good sign that the brain mets are no longer visible on imaging (although doesn't guarantee they are gone for good). The main cancer in the lung is still there and that part of the lung is still collapsed. The amount of fluid around it is a bit less than previously and does not require any action. The size of the main cancer is the same or a little smaller. The clots in the pulmonary vessels are no longer evident.
So - his follow up plan is to keep going on the Iressa indefinitely, repeat chest Xray and blood tests in 2 months and repeat CT scan in 4-5 months. The implication being she may well live that long or longer. Apparently he has had one patient on Iressa who lived for 5 years after starting treatment - although I don't suppose a case study of one should be that impressive.
Anyway - our big news is this all means we can go ahead with plan A in which Louis and Helen fly down to Victoria together on Monday the 6th December (next Monday!) for a holiday and a catchup with Victorian family and friends. I plan to stay up here initially (with the dogs) and have a break from caring - probably come down and join them for Louis' birthday on the 12th.
Any Victorian friends reading this who'd like to see her they plan to stay in Mont Albert in a rented flat and visitors and outings will be very welcome - Louis is the best point of contact for this time.
Any Darwin friends who'd like to say hello and goodbye before she heads off please drop in! We are home a lot and visitors are a delight.
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