Round 5 – Everything 50% Off

Yesterday was Round 5. But more importantly, I got the results of my first official MSK CT Scan to see how treatment is going. The scan was on the 7th. I am absolutely ecstatic to report that I had a really good scan. Dr. S says I have about a 50% shrinkage in tumor volume! My own personal post-holiday 50% off sale! This is about as good as it gets! So naturally, I asked him if this great response means that my treatment plan can be adjusted. He had to bring me down from the ceiling and remind me that we are only in the “early innings” and while this progress is very encouraging, I should still expect an “open ended commitment to chemo”. More specifically, I asked how long in 2009 I will need to keep up the chemo – he said expect to go through the summer and then we’ll see if I can have a “chemo holiday”. So, although Dr. S is certainly more cautious in his optimism than I am, I’m going with the good news. He’s gotta be careful not to over promise, I can go with the lift that comes with feeling like I’m going to see the other side of this thing. Positive attitude counts!

And thanks to you all, for all your great support – it’s working!

So here are some other tidbits….the cold sensitivity side effects from Oxaliplatin are really bad this time – as expected. But luckily, I will only have one more dose of Oxi and then he’s taking me off. Then, I think I’ll go back to Florida and try to warm up!

I had a second round with the acupuncturist to see if that can help with the side effects (I’d like to use less chemicals). He used 32 pins this time – I was quite the human pin cushion! I doesn’t really hurt though – not even the one right between the eyes! We’ll see how well it works.

OK, so that’s all the news that’s fit to print. I’m so glad to share the news….take care, BB