The anticancer response to Atavistic Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy can be monitored in different ways, and over various time periods, depending upon the malignancy and its location. We will need to obtain baseline studies to determine the extent of your disease and size of tumors prior to initiation of therapy. Some of these studies will be repeated on a monthly basis and will be compared with baseline evaluations to ensure that you are responding to treatment.

The most common studies or examinations we need are listed below. Some of these studies can be requested by your family doctor or your oncologist.

(1) Changes in your signs and symptoms: Changes in your patterns of cough, pain, swelling, strength, alertness and body weight can all help us to determine if your treatment is working.

(2) Visual inspection of tumors: We would like to evaluate tumors which are visible to the naked eye using weekly photographs, as well as measurements, whenever possible. 

(3) Chest X-rays: CT-scans are indisputably one of the best tools to evaluate lung disease. However, a CT-scan of the chest delivers radiation equivalent to 70–442 chest x-rays, depending upon the radiation used. For this reason, chest CT-scans are spread out as much as possible (for example, every four months or more). We will monitor lung tumors, lung metastases and/or fluid in the chest with monthly chest X-rays. 

(4) Ultrasound: Again, although CT scans of the abdomen and mammography are reliable ways to evaluate abdomen and breast disease, we prefer to monitor responses to treatment of abdominal tumors (e.g., liver metastases) and breast and armpit lymph nodes using ultrasound. We never want to unnecessarily bombard patients with radiation.

(5) CT, MRI and PET scans: Although these are the state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging tools, they have the disadvantage of delivering excessive radiation.  Nevertheless, when used appropriately, the benefits of CT, MRI and PET scans outweigh the risks. We will use them from time to time and will request that your family doctor or oncologist collaborate in obtaining these studies for you. 

(6) Other studies: Tumor markers in blood such as Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), CA-15.3, CA-19-9, etc. and other laboratory studies may also be used to monitor response.