karenulijohn

This afternoon, we met with Harvey’s new oncologist, Dr. Vijay Suhag.  We were very impressed.  He is 35 years old and received his medical training at the University College of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India.  He took his Residency at Drexel University College of Medicine and Fellowships at Georgetown University Hospital.  He is very friendly, kind and caring and took a great deal of time talking to us about Yervoy, its makeup, and how it works.  He said that he had been reviewing Harvey’s file and felt like he knew him, and was glad to finally meet him in person.

Essentially, Harvey is having a classical reaction to Yervoy.  The autoimmune process can cause inflammation anywhere in the body, but in his case, it is affecting his colon.  Collitis is the number one serious side effect of Yervoy and a condition which almost certainly will mean the cessation of further infusions.  Since the drug can remain in the body for up to 18 months and has a cumulative effect, the next infusion would probably cause even more damage.  Some patients have experienced a perforated bowel and even death.  The decision was taken, therefore, to end the active part of the study.  I was relieved, but my relief was nothing compared to how the tension in Harvey’s face and body just seemed to ease away.  He had been dreading facing another infusion with the accompanying side effects if they were to be this debilitating.  Dr. Suhag prescribed a stronger anti-diarrheal medication and said that he would need to “eat like a baby,” meaning small meals more often made up of soft and easily digestible foods.  Other than that, he really does have to tough it out.  Honestly, I think he can do that now, knowing that he need not go through it again.

As part of the consultation today, Dr. Suhag said that Harvey had come very close to being admitted to the hospital on Memorial Day because of his condition.  He also gave us the results of the recent CAT scan, which for the most part, were very positive.  He said the collitis showed up very clearly, as did some gallstones, but, on the positive side, no change in the circumference of the ascending aortic aneurysm and no sign of cancer.

Even though he will no longer be having infusions, he will continue to be monitored by the study.  He will have blood draws and scans at periodic intervals.  One of his first questions of the study coordinator was “when can I have the port removed?” For him, that will be a milestone marking the end of a painful and frightening period in his life.