Returning to CTCA for Tomo Radiation

In early November 2009, after a nearly 9 month break from chemotherapy and almost 17 months from the date of my original diagnosis, we discovered during a routine checkup at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Oklahoma that my blood tumor marker (CA 19-9) was beginning to rise once again above a normal level. Over the past few months the tumor marker has risen from 50 to over 2584. I have not been able to proceed with any chemotherapy treatments due to exceptionally low platelet & white blood cell counts, which have not recovered from the extensive treatment I previously received at CTCA.

A PET scan in mid December identified an active area in the pancreas at the original tumor site. I spent the next few months pursuing multiple naturopathic remedies in an effort to improve my blood counts, so that I could proceed with traditional treatments. However, the blood counts have remained low and the only treatment option available was a second round of tomo radiation, which is scheduled to begin on May 5, 2010.