Dr. Salloum (Oncologist)

Gigi, Susan and Jeff met with Dr. Salloum - the oncologist today. He was amazed at how great she looked...even though she has some decreased lung function along with some shortness of breath, he said she looked amazing and beautiful (he said that he sees some 65 yr. old patients who look much older than she does). Gigi's other organs are functioning just as they should and that he strongly recommends a combination of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Gigi was concerned if it was really worth it to her to go through all the chemo and radiation and Dr. Salloum said "absolutely-especially because overall she is in good health." She is holding up so well and showing little signs or symptoms of the cancer and this therapy would only benefit her. He also wants to do a MRI of the brain just to make sure there is no cancer there, mainly because PET scans don't show the brain well. Her next appointment will be set up to discuss her therapy with the physician for the radiation therapy. Gigi also discussed about doing her therapy at MD Anderson. Dr. Salloum said that if that is what she wanted then he would be happy to accommodate her, however, she would have to make arrangements to stay in Houston for 7-8 weeks at a time...and that the therapy would be the same here as at MD Anderson. (If surgery was an option, then he would absolutely recommend that she go to Houston, however, because of her lung function-surgery is not an option--this is the third confirmation from different doctors about the surgery not being an option). Jeff said that Gigi was doing great after the appointment, she is scared of the side effects of this option of therapy, but her spirits remain high.