UPDATE

We are almost five weeks past the last treatment and on balance I am feeling much better. However, I still have some stomach and intestinal discomfort. But the shortness of breath has abated and I think the breathlessness I now experience is just the result of being weak and out of shape. I am exercising again which is good, doing some walking and light weight work. So, we’ll just have to see how all of this works out, but at least I am happy to be feeling better. We will be looking forward to the next CT Scan scheduled for Feb. 13, the results of which will determine our future course of action.

UPDATE

Today’s CT scan showed very little change from the last one. The last three weeks have been very difficult. Given that the goal of this exercise is to prolong life while maintaining an ability to enjoy life, we have decided to take a one month break from treatment, take another CT scan at that time and see if there has been any change. Based on those result we will make additional decisions. We will be doing a fluid tap here in the next few days as there has been some minimal, though noticeable, return of fluid around the lung. So my anticipation is that I should have a month to feel relatively good and hopefully begin to get some of my strength back. The shortness of breath that I have been experiencing has made it impossible to exercise. This break in treatment will also give us a chance to evaluate how much of my discomforts have been attributable to the treatment, and how much is attributable to the cancer or to something else. In an arena where decisions are difficult to make, outcomes are difficult to predict, one to one relationships are difficult to identify, this one month break seems extremely sensible to me. Treatment to date appears to be successful but quality of life has been less than desirable. This evaluation period will we hope help us bring some of this into balance.

On to the Future

Well now that 200,000 people in middle America, according to the media, have decided who our presidential candidates are going to be, to be followed by maybe 1.5 million more in New Hampshire, who will or won't put their stamp of approval on the winners, I guess the rest of us can just forget about the next 10 months. Unfortunately history is on the side of the media. Wins in Iowa and New Hampshire usually predict the winner. Does this seem ludicrous to anyone but me?

I had blood draw today and will have my next treatment next Monday. The treatment will be preceded by a CT scan so we will get another reading on progress. My side effects haven't changed much. Shortness of breath has been pretty bad yesterday and today, but I am eating a little better. So each day should improve as we get closer to the next treatment.

Football, Football, Football

I normally don't watch must football, but with nothing much else to do I watched a lot of football the last couple of days. The best game of the day yesterday was Missouri pasting Arkansas. For those of you who don't know I am a Tiger. They made a great statement that they should have been in the BCS. The next best game will be if West Virginia can dismantle Oklahoma this afternoon. Watching Hawaii get beat up and beaten badly was disappointing. I had hoped they would prove they belong in the big time. Nothing much has changed in my physical life. The stomach aches persist as does the lack of appetite. Still have some shortness of breath. My blood pressure is somewhat erratic and I have had some rapid heart beats. But all in all it's not too bad.