Our fist infusion & a bit about the series

It is Wednesday evening and we have completed the first infusion and the protocol that is required during the first 24 hours after receiving the Liposomal Muramyl Tripeptide Phosphatidyl Ethanolamine.

In response to the many questions that I have received regarding this new series, here is what we have learned about this new research drug. L-MTP-PE is not a chemo. Amanda has just completed a long chemo series and any future chemo decisions will be made on a "as needed" decision based on her scan results.

L-MTP-PE is described this way in our paper work. "L-MTP-PE is a solution of very small fat particles designed to activate or boost the body's white blood cells to fight tumors." It is, in a sense, one of the first drugs to help teach white cells how to recognize what a cancer cell looks like. While still awaiting FDA approval here in the USA, it has been used in Europe for about 10 years now and positive results have been documented. At this time,L-MTP-PE recipients have been shown to have at least a 15% (or more)decrease in the number of re-occurrences of new osteo tumors.

Amanda received her first infusion on Tuesday morning. The entire procedure took just under two hours. Each subsequent infusion should be shorter yet, there was a lot of additional protocol that had to be documented for the study with the first infusion. Because it is a white blood cell "boost" there were no negative side effects for Amanda. We were required to give blood draws at the 1 hour, 2 hour, 4 & 6 hour mark following the first infusion and so it did make for a long day at the hospital. There is medical diary that must be kept for 24 hours following each infusion as well and so the diary, Amanda and I returned to the hospital this morning to give a 24 hour blood draw and have our first day documented. Our second infusion is on Friday morning and then, baring any unforeseen complications, we will be able to head home.

Infusion #3 (and subsequent infusions) will be given in Columbia. Beginning on Monday the 9th, Amanda will continue to receive these infusions twice a week for 12 weeks. Then she will change to receiving it at a dose of 1(one) infusion a week for another 24 weeks. The series is long, but we are thankful that Amanda qualifies for this study and pray that God will honor our participation in it.

We have a free day tomorrow while waiting for Friday's infusion. We are heading out in the morning to investigate one of Houston's "best kept secrets", Bayou Bend. There is never a day to waste and we love finding new, fun places to experience and memories to make.

Hope your day is filled with a memory to keep as well,

me 'n manda joy in houston