A Quick Cancer Update

Just a quick update on my visit to the cancer doc a couple of days ago. I had already received tests results from blood samples taken last week, so knew that the cancer was continuing to increase, but I did not believe it was to the point where chemotherapy needed to be resumed. Thankfully, he concurred. He described the cancer as "smoldering." It is there, increasing, and will need to be addressed someday, but not necessarily right now. Let's give my body a chance to build up some more strength before attacking it and the cancer again, and especially not have my immune system compromised for a trip I am planning overseas for this June. Unless there is a radical change, the earliest I would resume chemotherapy will be July 1. As always, thanks for your prayers, love and concern.

A Truly Courageous Individul

I mourn the passing of Geraldine Ferraro, 1935 - 2011, and pay tribute to her as a truly courageous individual. Ms. Ferraro battled multiple myeloma (cancer in the bone marrow) for more than 12 years.

She also participated in a clinical trial for a new drug called Revlimid. Typically, people in clinical trials don't know if they are part of the group being given some new drug that may fight the cancer or may give them some horrible side effects, or if they are a part of the "control group," being given a blank pill with no medical properties whatsoever. These are truly courageous individuals on the front edge of fighting cancer.

Spring Pics

On a couple of recent Saturday mornings, we got to have our local granddaughters over to the house for a while. They enjoyed the sheer delights of chasing bubbles, running around and around a tree, and playing in spring flowers. We enjoyed the sheer delights of grandchildren.

(Oh, and by the way, the last of the winter leaves in the front yard got raked up right after the girls left).

Bowie

On March 1 and 2, I had to perform some 24-hour composite sampling and monitoring of the effluent from a client's plant near Bowie, Texas. Since all of my technicians were busy with other assignments, I took the job myself. Here's me on the west Texas prairie, near the end of the 24-hour shift (altogether, more like 36 hours because I had to get there, get set up, then rush the samples to a lab on the northeast side of Dallas). And here is the receiving creek downstream of my client's plant. The plant discharge proved to be clean, and the ducks (in flight) sure don't seem to mind it.

Cancer Update 2/15/11

Just a quick update, because many of you are so faithful to ask about how things are going with me. Last week I had a blood sample taken, then went to see the cancer doc yesterday. In the 2 and 1/2 months since my last check-up, the cancer has increased slightly, but is still low enough to not warrant resuming the chemo therapy. In fact, if I were to go in for a routine physical exam today, there would not be sufficient cancer to show up and send me on for further examination.

Overall, I feel fine most days, and just have to call it quits on some evening activities and get some rest. Every week that goes by off of the chemo, I am feeling better and stronger. I have been swimming 4 km (2.5 miles) per week, and hope to swim 5 km (3 miles) this week. I am also trying some new things to deal with lingering pain in the feet from past chemo treatments, and it seems to be going well.

Thanks for caring and praying. I am grateful to God for the 8.5 months I have been off of chemo, and am also grateful that I do not have to resume it for at least a while.

Winter Pics

Here are some winter pictures of some grandkids that my daughters-in-law have posted recently.


In Texas, she says "COLD!"


Illinois Bennetts on skis.






Auggie the Eagle!


Safe and warm, mostly.

This year for our anniversary (#35) Carol bought me a pole mounted chain saw. It is cool, and getting some dead branches down from the front yard is an added benefit. Here's me with my truck parked in my neighbor's yard to reach and cut down one of her dead branches.