Hi ya'll ... hope all is well with you and yours. HOT and humid down here in South Carolina with temps consistently in the mid to upper 90s. Heat advisories are in effect. Our version of upstate NY's winter but at least "we don't have to shovel it" ... we stay mostly inside and enjoy the air conditioning or venture out in our air conditioned vehicles to air conditioned stores and shops.
We completed Round 6 of chemotherapy yesterday at the Charleston Hematology Oncology Center following a week's delay to get my blood platelet counts to rebound. Per my oncologist (Dr. David Ellison) we're doing well so far with the 3-chemo drug (Carboplatin, Alimta and Avastin) treatment plan. I'm experiencing the usual manageable side effects from yesterday's chemotherapy (hiccups, fatigue and loss of appetite) ... but no big deal. I actually gained a pound since my last check-in which is good. My next CT scan is scheduled for August 10th to assess progress. Assuming no growth in my cancer, Dr. Ellison has indicated we'll likely continue chemotherapy by dropping the Carboplatin and continuing with Alimta and Avastin as "maintenance drugs". Carboplatin is the toughest of the three drugs prescribed for non-small cell, non-smokers lung cancer in terms of harsh side effects and potential organ damage. Research has indicated after six treatments the risks outweigh the potential benefits. Chemotherapy using Alimta and Avastin will be administered every 3 weeks "for the duration" ... until we hopefully go into remission or future scans reveal my tumors are growing again. Given I was coincidentally diagnosed with this "bad luck" Stage IV cancer on March 7, 2011 with an estimated 12 weeks to live (assuming no treatment), we thank the good Lord we've responded relatively well to date! Keep those positive thoughts and prayers coming our way ... we can certainly feel them way down here!
It was great to return to good old Rochester the first week in July to visit with family and friends and also to celebrate my 62nd birthday. Eligible for social security ... yeah ... and I'm told my checks are in the electronic mail
system! What a special treat to spend time with Grandson "Jack" at the Seneca Park Zoo ... it's been a quite a
while since I pushed a stroller around ... made me proud! Thanks to Derek and Carrie for putting us up during our brief visit. Special thanks to Carrie's parents David and Susan for sharing their pool and a fine dinner on their patio as well. The kids presented me with a new Apple iPod Touch player for my birthday loaded with lots of great family pics. Upon our return to Charleston I successfully synced my iTunes music library in time to enjoy some
relaxing music during this week's 4-hour chemo treatment. Thanks Derek, Carrie, Lindsay and Jobe!
The new house is progressing well. Builder "Greg" has made tons of progress with the trim and cabinetry
work. Finish selections are nearly complete now ... which has been essentially a full time job for us but well
worth the effort. Looking forward to assuming occupancy sometime in early fall we hope.
Come on down! Looking forward to your future visits to our new residence at 612 King Cotton Road! Address not valid yet ... will advise when it is.
All our best .... Dan and Martha
We completed Round 6 of chemotherapy yesterday at the Charleston Hematology Oncology Center following a week's delay to get my blood platelet counts to rebound. Per my oncologist (Dr. David Ellison) we're doing well so far with the 3-chemo drug (Carboplatin, Alimta and Avastin) treatment plan. I'm experiencing the usual manageable side effects from yesterday's chemotherapy (hiccups, fatigue and loss of appetite) ... but no big deal. I actually gained a pound since my last check-in which is good. My next CT scan is scheduled for August 10th to assess progress. Assuming no growth in my cancer, Dr. Ellison has indicated we'll likely continue chemotherapy by dropping the Carboplatin and continuing with Alimta and Avastin as "maintenance drugs". Carboplatin is the toughest of the three drugs prescribed for non-small cell, non-smokers lung cancer in terms of harsh side effects and potential organ damage. Research has indicated after six treatments the risks outweigh the potential benefits. Chemotherapy using Alimta and Avastin will be administered every 3 weeks "for the duration" ... until we hopefully go into remission or future scans reveal my tumors are growing again. Given I was coincidentally diagnosed with this "bad luck" Stage IV cancer on March 7, 2011 with an estimated 12 weeks to live (assuming no treatment), we thank the good Lord we've responded relatively well to date! Keep those positive thoughts and prayers coming our way ... we can certainly feel them way down here!
It was great to return to good old Rochester the first week in July to visit with family and friends and also to celebrate my 62nd birthday. Eligible for social security ... yeah ... and I'm told my checks are in the electronic mail
system! What a special treat to spend time with Grandson "Jack" at the Seneca Park Zoo ... it's been a quite a
while since I pushed a stroller around ... made me proud! Thanks to Derek and Carrie for putting us up during our brief visit. Special thanks to Carrie's parents David and Susan for sharing their pool and a fine dinner on their patio as well. The kids presented me with a new Apple iPod Touch player for my birthday loaded with lots of great family pics. Upon our return to Charleston I successfully synced my iTunes music library in time to enjoy some
relaxing music during this week's 4-hour chemo treatment. Thanks Derek, Carrie, Lindsay and Jobe!
The new house is progressing well. Builder "Greg" has made tons of progress with the trim and cabinetry
work. Finish selections are nearly complete now ... which has been essentially a full time job for us but well
worth the effort. Looking forward to assuming occupancy sometime in early fall we hope.
Come on down! Looking forward to your future visits to our new residence at 612 King Cotton Road! Address not valid yet ... will advise when it is.
All our best .... Dan and Martha