In late January, Thierry was experiencing abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss and blood in his stool. Thinking we were dealing with diverticulitis and after completing a series of scans that came back with abnormalities all throughout the liver and colon. Thierry was expedited with the procedures of endoscopy and colonoscopy. The results showed that he has a large mass at the end of his colon which they took a biopsy of and several other chest and stomach biopsy’s confirming that it was cancerous. Thierry was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Cancer which started in the colon and metastasized to his liver ultimated hitting his brain and spinal fluid. Thierry at the time was 48, friend and family assumed in great health, playing basketball almost every day for the last 30 years. Thierry spent the initial 6 days Hoag Hospital and met several different oncologists. The medical team advised Thierry of a treatment plan consisting of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The chemotherapy treatment plan is an intense 3 day IV infusion every 3 weeks consisting of 3-4 cycles with updated CT/PET scans every 2-3 cycles.
On February 14th and 15th, Thierry completed his first two days of chemo. On February 16th Thierry went in to complete his 3rd day of the first round of chemo but was unable to because of his blood and liver levels were not at safe levels to infuse chemo, and was admitted to the hospital again for another week.
On February 21st, Thierry’s birthday, he was advised of the main concern being the bilirubin liver number(s); this number is highly monitored and started to increase to a threatening level. On February 21st the doctor informed Thierry of two scenarios that may happen; that if his
numbers continue to climb he would only have a few weeks. If the chemo worked, the number would peak and then come back down which is currently the situation he is experiencing. Thierry was discharged on February 24th with a bilirubin number that peaked at 21.3.
On February 28th Thierry was re-admitted due to extreme pain he had not experienced before, he was told by a few different doctors is that this could be the cancer dying. His numbers were at 14.1. Thierry was discharged on March 5th, with a bilirubin number of 11.9 (before chemo his number was 13.1). Our doctor was very pleased to hear of this and gave us the green light to commence chemotherapy again for March 6th.
March 6th, Thierry started his second round. We are extremely positive of his fight. He is going to shatter all statistics and keep fight this battle!
Thierry was told that this cancer is extremely rare and needs extensive chemotherapy and innovative treatments that are not available through regular medical channels and not all covered under health insurance. We are exploring all options including clinical trials and other types of immunotherapy. This is a rare cancer but Thierry is a rare human being, he is going to beat this!
Thierry was unable to work about 45 days after diagnosis. Thierry supported two households; with 3 children at the time of his cancer and his wife was pregnant with his 4th child.
