Update February 2014

The latest news from the world of oncologists is that I went to see the cancer doc on Tuesday to discuss results of blood sample drawn on Friday, 2/21. The M-spike (measure of cancer) actually appears to have decreased a little bit over the past two months, from 1.2 down to 1.1. This is likely just due to variations of it being difficult to read the test, but it also means that it is increasing at a very slow rate. Although the numbers differ, the rate of increase between tests taken at Mayo is exactly the same as the rate of increase for tests taken here in Texas.

 

At this rate of increase, my personal calculation is that it would likely be 3 to 5 years before I resume chemotherapy According to esteemed medical minds, my course of action for now is to go off and live my life as though I don't have cancer, come in and get it checked on every couple of months, and they will let me know when to be sick again.

 

I'm feeling good most of the time, just a little fatigue and a little pain (from past treatments, not the cancer) to deal with from time to time. Thanks to all for the love, prayers, and support.

Back to Mayo

On January 25, Carol and I made our way back to the frozen north for my one year check up at the World Famous Mayo Brothers Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  It was on January 25, 2013, that I received my autologous transplant of stem cells. The good folks at Mayo had intentionally killed my bone marrow in an attempt to kill the cancer, then replenished it with my own stem cells on 1/25/13 to grow the marrow back before it finished dying. So many of you have come up to ask me how the trip went that I am humbled, and apologize for not posting sooner.

Medically: There were no surprises, good or bad. The cancer is right where we thought it was from tests done here in Texas, and increasing at about the same rate as we measured here, and there still remains no damage to the skeleton. I will remain off of chemotherapy for now, and continue checking it every couple of months here in Texas, and go back to Mayo for a check up in early 2015. Unless there is a drastic turn of events, I should remain off of chemo for 2014. We have today, and will not borrow any possible troubles from tomorrow.

Climatologically: It was COLD. Monday morning, Carol and I walked the 4 blocks to the clinic just for old times' sake. It was 18 degrees BELOW zero on the Farenhieght scale. Monday afternoon, we decided to take the shuttle back. When we tried to come home on Tuesday morning, we sat on the runway at Minneapolis-St. Paul for 3 hours while they got the plane thawed out enough to fly.

Socially: On Saturday afternoon/evening, we went to see the live broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion" at the historic Fitzgerald Theater in beautiful downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. Here is a picture of me and my "good buddy" Garrison Kielor on the sidewalk outside the Fitzgerald after the show.

Perspective:  We once again stayed at the Gift of Life Transplant House, near the clinic. Since our stay there last year, we know of four patients who were residents alongside of us, who have died, including one in our closest circle of friends. This year, we encountered many in very dire circumstances. It is good for one's perspective on things.

Once again, I thank everyone for their love, prayers, encouragement, and support. I am blessed far more than I deserve.

Opening

Now interviewing to hire experienced construction materials testing technicians, in Arlington.

December 2013 Update

I went to see the cancer doc today. The M-spike increased to 1.2, up by 0.2 over the past two months. The good and the bad news is that it is increasing at its same, normal rate as before, no faster, no slower. Although the doc will not make any predictions, I can do the math and see that at this rate, it will probably be sometime in mid 2015 before I resume chemotherapy, if I were to use the same trigger points as before. The better news though, is that the cancer doc is talking like it would be kind of nuts to resume at those levels, and might be wiser to let the cancer go higher before resuming chemo. That could push it back another full year before resuming, to mid-2016.

 

Carol and I will go see the good folks at Mayo in late January, and see what they have to say. Meanwhile, thanks for all the prayers, and happy new year to all!

Happy (early) New Year!

On New Years Day 2013, I swam one mile and was so excited about it that I set a goal of swimming two miles on New Years Day 2014, and foolishly made the mistake of publicly stating my goal on a forum such as facebook. Then along came a stem cell transplant at the Mayo Clinic Rochester for the months of January and February, and I was out of the pool as a precautionary measure against infections for months.

On June 24, I was able to resume swimming, and was pleased to get in a one-mile swim 10 days later on Independence Day. I have been trying to keep the routine up, and got in another one-mile swim last week.

Today, I went to the pool, planning to do a 1200 meter swim, but after I got into the swim, I decided, "Hey, I'm here at the pool, the swimming is going pretty good, I'm going to have 1200 meters (about 6 furlongs or 3/4 of a mile) in anyway, I've got an available time slot and the pool isn't busy on a weekday (could be busy on a holiday) - why not go ahead and get in my two mile swim a few weeks early?" So I did.

As the title declares, "Happy Early New Years!"

October's Test Results

I am continually humbled by the number of people who ask how things are going on the cancer front, or otherwise check up on me, and pray for me. I gave a blood sample a couple of weeks ago, and got the results and saw the cancer doc last week. The M-spike (measure of the cancer) has remained stable at 1.0 over the past two months, and has increased by only 0.3 from the reading 6 months ago in April. This means that the cancer is increasing at a much slower rate that it appeared to be over the summer. I will go back for another local test and data point in late December, then go back to see the friendly folks at Mayo in late January. Although the cancer doc will never make such predictions, I could see this going another couple of years before resuming chemo if all continues to go on the current course, although I am hoping and praying for much more time than that.

 

Bottom line is that for now I am feeling good, off chemo, and not scheduled to go back onto chemo anytime soon. Further, the cancer does not appear to have done any damage to the body (bones, organs, etc.). As my pastor's recent sermons from the Sermon on the Mount have reminded us, anything beyond these things is not something to worry about today. We have done all we can, and trust the rest to God.

 

Thank you all for the love, care and prayers.

Steady as she goes, Captain.

On July 8, I had a blood sample taken and shipped to Mayo Clinic for analysis. It showed no increase in the M-spike, which is the measure of the cancer. This level, no-increase is the new "hoped for", and is good news. More updates in about a month.