Armen Iskenderian

Wake and Funeral

armenblog — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 20:20:21 +0000

Saro — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 03:37:16 +0000

It is with great sadness that I have to inform everyone that on January 12th at 12:21pm Armen lost his long battle with lung cancer. The cancer had spread from his lungs to his adrenal glands, and after so many rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, his body failed even though his will remained strong. Up to his last day he was determined to get strong enough to go after his cancer again.

Our family is extremely grateful for all of the kind wishes and support that Armen received from all of you over the years. I hope each of you will remember your favorite Armen story (or painfully bad joke) and laugh, because that is the way my father would have wanted it.

Once we make final arrangements for the funeral I will post that information here.

Saro — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 23:52:07 +0000

Armen spent Christmas and New Year’s back and forth between home and Brigham and Women’s Hospital because of problems with low blood pressure.

He has had to stay in the hospital for the past several days as doctors figure our how to regulate his blood pressure. He is also dealing with some pain in his back, and regulating that pain has been a bit of a trial and error exercise.

In terms of his cancer, he recently had a CAT scan and PET scan. The CAT scan shows that the cancer in his adrenal glands has grown from 1.5 cm to about 3 cm since October. As a result, the doctors have decided that Tarciva is not working for Armen, so his oncologist will be selecting an alternate treatment. The PET scan results are not back yet.

We’re hoping he’ll be home from the hospital by January 3rd or 4th, at which time I’m sure he’ll post an update of his own.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Armen — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 14:00:05 +0000

Dear Family and Friends,

Unfortunately for me, the year ends with a down note. My cancer, after staying in remission for over two years, has recurred in my left lung, as well as spread to my left hip, right shoulder, a couple of ribs, and adrenal glands. After going through another series of chemo and radiation treatments in November, I am now fighting the disease with all my strength using a new “miracle” drug, Tarceva. While, due to the tumors in my adrenal glands, they are not producing the necessary steroids and leaving me somewhat weak, I am now taking steroids orally and hope to get my strength back shortly.

With the great support from my wife, children, family and friends, and the superb team of health providers, I intend to beat this thing a second time. Meanwhile, I hope you will accept this in lieu of a Christmas card.

With best wishes,

Armen & Coya Iskenderian

Final Results Are In

Armen — Thu, 11 Dec 2003 03:09:56 +0000

I have great news about my health. In a nutshell (pun intended), the tumor has shrunk to about one cm. diameter and is completely arrested within the scar tissue, which developed as a result of radiation (the tumor looks like a nut in a shell now). While chemo shrunk the tumor, radiation killed the surrounding cells.
For all practical purposes, I am free of any danger or illness. My physicians will continue to monitor the remaining tumor by quarterly CT scans to make sure the size and shape hasn’t changed, and they don’t expect it to.

I am so grateful for everyone’s support and prayers. I don’t intend to continue with any updates, as hopefully this difficult chapter in my life is now at an end.

Thank you again and hope to see each and every one of you in due course and personally enjoy your company.

Armenag

Armen — Thu, 16 Oct 2003 14:00:09 +0000

Having had my last radiation treatment yesterday, I feel like a “free” man. There are no more treatments, chemo sessions, doctors’ exams, blood tests, etc. etc. until Dec. 11. Hopefully, the CT scan results that day will declare me the “winner”. I know all my family, friends, co-workers, are pulling for me and I have no intention of disappointing them.
Granted, I developed a cold/infection about a week ago and it has been tough to get rid of it. I am on antibiotics (as a precaution), had high fever early in the week, but feeling much better today. I guess I was pushing myself a bit too hard.
I don’t intend to update this site until after Dec. 11, as I don’t expect anything other than a “routine” lifestyle.
My sincere thanks for your continuing support and sharing your love, I am forever grateful.

Armen — Mon, 29 Sep 2003 22:37:56 +0000

Sorry, I haven’t updated this for a while…
I had my last chemo session today, have another two weeks of radiation. Then we wait until early December for rad to complete its work and get CT scanned on Dec. 11 for the final results.
So far, rad has been not a problem, a bit of sore throat and problem swalllowing some foods! That’s about it folks.
The doctors continue to be very optimistic about the final results. We’ll find out for sure before the end of the year.

Armen — Tue, 09 Sep 2003 14:40:07 +0000

A quick update:
Same old, same old…(it’s amazing how quickly things become “old”)
3rd round of chemo and daily rad sessions continue, no major side effects… a bit of fatigue, a few of sleepless nights here and there, numb finger tips and toes, that’s about it…no sore throat yet, but I am promised that it’s on its way!!!

Of course, we won’t know how effective all of this is until mid-October, but the doctors tell me that it is highly encouraging and we’ll keep doing what we are doing… it’s gotta work, it has no choice anyway.

Armen — Fri, 29 Aug 2003 18:53:58 +0000

One week of radiation and chemo is behind me now. The effect of chemo has been negligible and radiation so far is a breeze. I feel a bit tired, that’s all.
I am told that the effect is cumulative and I may feel more tired as the weeks go by. Well, I’ll take a day at a time and hope for the best.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend, everyone…

Armen — Fri, 15 Aug 2003 11:30:20 +0000

CT Scan results yesterday indicate that the tumor has shrunk by a little!
This is considered “good news”, as it indicates that the tumor is responding to the chemo (at least, the tumor is not the same or larger than before).
Surgery option has been ruled out. The next course of action is radiation therapy every weekday plus chemo once a week, starting on 8/25 for six+ weeks. We are attacking with all our weapons, let’s see how quickly we’ll win.