And Now, What You've All Been Waiting For...

We have news! And though it's not staggeringly good news, it isn't bad either. So, here it is:
Basically, little has changed since we began treatments. Which means the regimen I'm using has stopped the cancer from progressing. It just hasn't done too much to turn it around in the other direction. So, it's just like I said. Not the best news, but not bad. The doctors would have liked to see more progress, but the lack of forward progress is not disturbing.

Actually, what happened yesterday when I saw the doctor was this: He said, "So, how have you been feeling since you were here last time?" and I told him what I've told many of you who have asked, "I haven't felt much of a difference at all. I feel a little stronger, maybe, but not much change at all." and the doctor chuckled and said, "Well, that's pretty much what your CT scan shows. Compared to your last visit, we see very little change." Which isn't all bad, he went on to explain. Nothing is any larger or more pronounced. Nothing new has appeared either. What this means, however, is a change in my treatment plan is necessary.

Apparently this is not going to be a big change at this point. The doctor mentioned that (as I have probably brought up at some point before) there is a regimen that includes chemo, but we are not going to go that route yet. Instead we will add some other "oral elements" or basically a few more supplements to what we are already doing. These elements, the doctor said, are what they use with their "tougher" or "more resistant" cases, though he said he would not at this point classify me as a "tough case". Anyhow, we will put in these new medications and give it a few weeks to see how it goes. At that point we will again make a decision about raising things a level again. We still haven't used every approach we have, and we don't want to. We want to keep something on the back burner to pull out as a last resort. Let's just pray we never have to use it.

Considering my lack of progress, it's easy to see why I really couldn't tell a difference in the way I feel. I had expected the news to be something like this; again it's that intuition thing. I just knew we hadn't blown it away. I can't say I was terribly disappointed, given that I had expected this result. I'm just thrilled that things aren't moving in the wrong direction. That alone, is a blessing to me! Some of you undoubtedly wonder how Mike and my mom and sister feel about the lack of progress, and though I haven't heard them say much, I get the feeling they all had really hoped for more, but are happy with the fact that we have at leased stopped the cancer for now. I'll probably hear more about that today.

I feel pretty good since I have been here. Tuesday was a long day of treatments. I had just about everything they offer. Some things had to be given very slowly over several hours because of a reaction I had at one time before. That made it seem like a very long day. Today they are about ready to get started again. I have all my treatments again today too, starting in about 30 minutes. I guess that means I'd better go get dressed. This is not like a hospital at home where you check in and get in bed. We are all up and around and dressed each day until bedtime, and we come and go as we please. I can go to the beach or the store if I want, as long as I've had my treatments and no one is looking for me. It's all very realxed. Yesterday the doctors even came looking for me in the cafeteria during lunch. Then they waited for me to finish. Whole different world!

Well, I'll let you all know if there's anything worth telling you about today. Until then, goodbye, and Happy Valentines Day!