Dr. Kaplan joins our forces

The force is with me. All guns are armed and we are ready for battle. Chemo is the next step and just around the corner.
Today the family met with Dr. Kaplan who was superbly kind to meet on his day off to answer some rather pressing questions that only an oncologist can answer for a newly diagnosed cancer patient. The plan hasn't changed much from the Virginia Mason program that was unfolding, but the confidence and understanding of what is ahead is calming and healing. Thanks you all you vigilent friends who referred me, informed me, fortified me, and ultimately affiliated me with Dr. Kaplan. Having complete confidence in your doctor is like having a personal coach who will not let you fail.
Somehow ressearching this disease while I have the time and energy gives me power and assurances that I will get through this without too much trouble, yet we are still headed into uncharted waters, so don't forget me in your prayers. In that vein, here is what the recommended treatment chemo treatment (for those of you have want all the details). Standard chemo for ovarian cancer consists of two drugs called carboplatin and paclitaxel, which are given every 3 weeks for a total of 6 treatments. This controls the cancer and lowers the chance of it coming back, but long-term cure is uncommon. A newer drug called Bevacizumab (currently marketed under the name Avastin) has recently been approved by the FDA for colon cancer patients and is available in a clinical study for ovarian cancer now. I am working on details of joining the study, or getting into my own trial with this drug as well but will have to heal a bit longer from my current surgery before I am a candidate for the Avastin. Avastin is a supposed to both inhibit the growth of tumor cells, but heed the progress of the healing from the surgery. (Interupted by another call, and yet another endorsement for Dr. Kaplan-thanks Janet Stafford). More later...