July 20, 2007

For all of you who haven't heard, Bryce's cancer has returned after being in remission for 7 years. We found out Tuesday and have been in a shocked, panicked terrified whirlwind ever since.
The first few days included chest x-rays, MRIs, a bronchoscopy, and numerous medical appointments.
Bryce had another MRI this afternoon to verify that the brain tumor is metastatic melanoma. It is. The pathology on the lungs is 100% melanoma. There are several hundred tumors. He will have a PET scan Monday morning to find out what else has melanoma, followed by radiation to his brain. They will screw a cage onto his head for 5 hours and zap him.
Rather than start chemo yesterday, we had some specialists look into the BEST facilities for treatment for Stage IV metastatic melanoma, and one is University of Colorado Cancer Center in Aurora, CO. We will fly to Denver on Wednesday and he will start treatments Thursday. Treatment is 5 days of inpatient biochemotherapy, every 3 weeks. He will be given 5 very toxic chemotherapeutic drugs, which will WASTE him, but he has no choice. He will be on morphine, Zofran and dopamine also. His treatment will end the following Monday, but we will stick around for a few days until he is well enough to travel. Then we'll be back 2 weeks later.
I have an uncle and aunt in Aurora who have offered their home and a car. I don't think we'll bring Dani for the first round, but Bryce may need to see her for hope's sake. My mom may fly out a few days later with Dani.
Thanks for all the support and prayers. We'll need them!
If you call me and get no answer, it's not because I don't like you-I am pretty swamped right now! Don't hesitate to call, though.