Good News Day

The end is nowhere is site, but we have had a couple of days of very encouraging news.

Yesterday (Tuesday) we visited with the radiologist (Dr. Jacob). He wants to start radiation as soon as Round 5 of chemo is done (3-4 weeks). The radiation will be 5 days a week for a total of 21-25 treaments. A weekly infusion of chemo (much lower dose) will accompany the radiation. Once radiation is done, I will go back and finish the last Round of full blown chemo. Dr. Jacob indicated both the CT Scan and MRI did not show anything out of the ordinary. Great news #1.

This morning we visited with the oncologist (Dr. D'Andre) for our monthly check up. Again the scan and MRI news was excellent. Dr. D'Andre also indicated my blood counts for cancer markers are very very low. I asked her to explain her comments from 6 months ago that I had only 9-12 months. She corrected me and indicated those numbers were for someone who had no had surgery. She indicated I could possibly expect 2-3 years before something re-appeared which she still felt it would. Future treatments are dependent upon where the cancer appears. Hopefully, I'll be one of the very very lucky ones that only has to worry about checkups in the future. We'll see, but this was certainly Great news #2 (actually, this may be #1).

Since I slept through the chemo treatment this afternoon, I had to ask the nurse to give me my weekly procrit injection. She said I did not need an injection as my hemoglobin number had finally reached the "normal" zone. F I N A L L Y. My anemia is pretty much gone and my energy/stamina have returned. Great news #4.

One of the guys at CDA had a pre-marriage 2-man best ball tournament on Friday and I was asked to join. It felt great to play all 18 holes......that hadn't happened in months. We didn't finish very well (85), but I had a ball. I felt so good that later that night, Amy, Kaye, and I went to watch Nevada Union (3-1) kick some Granite Bay Grizzlie ass. Another year for me of wearing all of my NU stuff all over Granite Bay just to piss off the locals. The picture above is Brad coaching one of his defensive backs last Friday night.

Please keep the thoughts and prayers coming. Even with all this good news, we've got a long long way to go.

Jim