1/ RBG's current status update *******
They orchestrated this well. Their purpose is to convey the message that she is healthy enough to stay on until at least 2020. So, they waited until her radiation therapy is completed, ...
They orchestrated this well. Their purpose is to convey the message that she is healthy enough to stay on until at least 2020. So, they waited until her radiation therapy is completed, ...
2/ while she went to broadway shows, etc and then today's public appearance at UB. The fact of the matter is that radiation therapy alone was most likely intended as tumor debulking as this is unlikely to be curative. They put in a biliary stent which bought her some time and---
/ she probably felt better as a result because the symptoms caused by the biliary obstruction are now releived. The fact that she didn't have chemo or surgery means she will likely enjoy relatively stable health similar to her current condition for the next 3 months or so. ---
4/ Unfortunately for her, the tumor will likely continue to grow at the margins (remember, she only has the head of her pancreas; the rest was resected in 2009). It's unlikely that they removed all of the tumor. ----
5/ Even with surgery, wide margins are needed to make sure the tumor is removed. With radiation alone, albeit the streotactic type, margins were unlikely to be clean. The tumor regrowing from the margins is what will likely cause her demise. -----
6/ Given the typical course of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, it would take 3 to 6 months before the tumor recurs at the margin and usually with a vengeance. (Why don't I think she has a more slow growing islet cell tumors? -----
7/ The way they try to sugarcoat her status, wouldn't you think they would already mention that if she got a "better" type of cancer? I think so) Wish her the best. Hope she retires soon so that she can enjoy her remaining short time with family.
