Thanks, @slgaza, for the positive words.

Hi Lisa @lls8000, I like my Radiologist, who works closely with my Oncologist. After telling me about the plan for Dexamethasone and Avastin, he said, "And if you were to ask me if there was another option," and told me we could bring the neurosurgeon back in, have her reopen my head, remove the necrosis, AND positively identify whether we see recurrent or mutation by taking a biopsy. Of course, there is the risk and recovery time from surgery. And then he repeated, "If you were then to ask me if there was another option, I would mention Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy which no one wants to say, so it's called LITT." He explained that's a more experimental plan with a limited track record. He also said there isn't anyone in our area who performs that procedure, though he knows of someone in Nashville (TN). After that, I asked the question, and he said those were the options. 🙂

I then asked him to weigh the risks and benefits of each procedure, which he did. He concluded that the Dex/Avastin approach is the most likely to succeed with the least risk. It is currently the typical approach with an established record of success. And that may all be in the context of what he knows about my body and background.

I had my first infusion on Tuesday with no noticeable side effects. The next is scheduled in two weeks, modified by the holiday, on December 30th, and I have a third planned for January 13 and a fourth for January 27. He had mentioned he would order another MRI, and I called his office yesterday to see when that would be scheduled. He plans to do that after the second infusion in early January.

There are no side effects from the infusion, but the daily Dex has had a small effect on my GI tract (mostly more gas), and I have to consciously relax more to get to sleep. In the past, I formerly studied Zen meditation under a master on top of a mountain so I'm able to watch my breathing until I fall asleep. But I now have to do that regularly to get to sleep. Most importantly, I'm still having trouble picking up my right leg, moving my right foot, dealing with occasional foot drop, and not walking on the outside of that foot, so the symptoms are still active. I should have asked how soon I can expect to see results. For now, I'll stay observant!