Back to the drawing board

Today was supposed to be the day we got started on a new chemo treatment.
Didn't happen.

Instead, we're back where we started. No one knows what this cancer is or how to treat it.

Dr. Neel presented Mike's case to the "tumor board" (nice name, huh?) which is essentially the other oncologists in the practice, as well as the pathologists and some others. They reviewed the new test that indicated small-cell lung cancer. The pathologists, who study the cells under a microscope, say no way is this lung cancer. They think it started in the head and neck. But Mike's had cameras up his nose and down his throat and all over his head. They can't find a thing. One thing they did all agree on was that the chemo drugs Mike had been getting should have been working. They are for head, neck AND lung cancer. Didn't really want to hear that...

It's so frustrating. Neel says there are a number of different drugs we can try, but none stand out to him as the "best" option. So we're going back to the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa on the 21st to meet with Dr. Simon again. Neel wants to sort of pick his brain, let him review the new tests, etc. and see if he might have some ideas. Moffitt is a research hospital and Simon specializes in lung and unknown primary cancers, so we figure we may as well hear what he has to say.

So, Mike's been off chemo now for two weeks. By the time we get to Moffitt and get back with Neel, it will likely be an entire month of no chemo. We were concerned about this since the cancer has grown. But Neel says it's not at a life-threatening stage and Mike's body needs the break. So I guess we'll enjoy it while we can, but Mike is ready to get back to fighting this stupid thing. I'm praying so hard every moment of the day that someone can figure out what we need to do.