I had another busy day this week…Thursday to be precise.
The Mr was busy working so I hopped in Figgy & drove up to John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford….a lovely hospital with horrendous parking issues – be warned!
I had an appointment with Dr Simon Leedham (aka the Bum Doc) who was the Gastroenterologist that performed the Colonoscopy that ended my hopes of going on the Vemurafenib Clinical trial. Trial criteria are strict & on this occasion the stipulations were no more than 3 polyps or lesions in the lining of the Colon because the drug Vemurafenib can cause similar lesions and basically if you have them it means you are genetically predisposed to having them….so chances are you would get more if you were given the drug.
The Colonoscopy found 1 Polyp (removed) and 5 flat lesions – of which 3 were removed. The appointment yesterday was to review that Colonoscopy & discuss what needed to be done to get the remaining suspects out & ongoing surveillance.
My Melanoma is BRAF +. This is quite a complicated concept to get ones head around. Approximately 50% of people with Melanoma are BRAF + and the rest are negative. It is called a gene mutation….let’s be honest – genetic mutations sound worrisome or of concern but we all have them – remember the school DNA images of old…our DNA changes…as we procreate the makeup of the cells for the next generation are genetically mutated – mixed – by the genetic makeup of the 2 factors…Mummy & Daddy!
So it matters not that I have the BRAF+ Gene….except that Drugs are designed to either work or not work depending upon specific genes. So I was eligible for the Vemurafenib trial because I was BRAF+.
Almost all drugs work in this way – especially drugs for Melanoma because it is so tricky to tackle.
The interesting thing that came out of my appointment yesterday was that my Flat Lesions also had the BRAF+ gene mutation – meaning I was genetically pre-disposed to get them.
It is uncertain whether the Colon issue came first – or the Melanoma. However the Bum Doc believes they are linked – one triggered the other. This is a new theory & hasn’t been researched in great depth yet but from our discussion it is a link that Dr Leedham thinks needs to be investigated further.
I quite like this element of being treated at Oxford. They are university hospitals. They spot a link & suggest it should be researched. And as you know I think that any and all research to do with Melanoma is important!
The appointment was a success and a subsequent Colonoscopy is required…a more complex Colonoscopy with a 3 point procedure. There is a greater risk involved in perforating the lining of the Colon whilst removing the polyps – but I will deal with the Colon worry’s at a later date…to be precise…my appointment has been scheduled for 1st April…I think the joke is on me!!!
The sun was out for my drive home & country roads with my Figgy + the sunshine = heaven.
I was a little windswept granted…but I had an appointment at the hairdressers to get back to so I wasn’t concerned with my hair being tangled by the wind – it felt great – almost carefree!
There that’s better!