Second Holiday Scan Results

I had my second scan last week (since going on chemo break) and met with Dr. S a few days ago to get the results. As expected, I had some more growth but not an outrageous amount. The larger lesions are a little bigger than a nickel. That’s slightly larger than when I started way back when. At their minimum, about 9 months ago, they were about the size of a dime. So the end result is that I have been given another two months off!

I had some time to discuss future treatment with the doctor and I am quite encouraged. He indicated that I will probably go back on treatment after my next scan but it’s possible that I could hold out until after Thanksgiving. And, although he never makes predictions about future treatments, he did imply that we might get into a pattern where I would be in treatment for six months or so and then get another break for a few months and then back in treatment again, etc. This is exceptionally good news as I am coming to realize that, perhaps, we are turning this thing into a slow moving, chronic condition. While that certainly has a downside, it is a huge positive in my mind and, frankly, changes my perspective quite a bit.

I have been concerned since the start that I was on shaky ground and that, without treatment (or even with treatment), my condition would rapidly deteriorate. And the statistics on my prognosis bear that out – at diagnosis, the averages for guys like me were: an average lifespan of 21 months and a 5 year survival rate of 8%. But as I see it now, after 22 months, I am barely worse off than when I started. My goal had been to reach 21 months and I have done that without giving much ground at all. I think the chances are good that I can continue in a cycle of treatment and rest periods for several years. And this realization has broadened my view a lot. I no longer feel that gnawing anxiety of wondering if I’m about to step off a cliff. It’ll be a grind during treatment but I will have the break periods to look forward to. I can also think more long term and feel more confident that I will be here for the kids in something like a useful way. This makes me incredibly happy and hopeful! My new goal is to be an 8%er!

So HOORAY and THANK YOU all for your tremendous support!!

Of course, this means that you will have to put up with my blogging for the foreseeable future…