Two thumbs up!!!!

Well after two very very long days at MD Anderson we got good news. The latest MRI shows "no" new tumor growth! The Dr. said that he was petty sure what they saw with the last MRI was caused by the inflammation from the radiation and that the area of concern is smaller. So --- if it is tumor, it is shrinking and the chemo is working; if it is not tumor, the inflammation is improving. Either way it is good news. So the plan is to continue the chemotherapy just as we are, one week on and one week off and get another MRI in 2 months. Marc gets really tired during the week of chemo but perks up the week he is off . His blood work results have been good so far and as long as the blood tests come back good the chemo will remain the same.

The Dr. told us today that Marc had a long road ahead of him and there may be a lot of ups and downs. He also said that he felt good that the test results looked so good. We know it will be tough but we are in it for the long haul. With your prayers and support we know that Marc will ultimately have a good outcome and will "beat the beast".

Marc has plans to replace all of the windows in the house and at the same time put up hardy plank siding on all of the areas on the house that are not brick. He has big plans and I have no doubt that he will 'Git er done!' as he never leaves a project unfinished.

Not good news but not bad either

In other words we still don't know much. Ugh!! We finally got the results of last Friday's MRI and they are basically inconclusive. The MRI showed some inflammation in the area where the tumor was but the radiologist said "the enhancement pattern is nonspecific, aspects of which appear to represent radiation necrosis; however, tumor progression may coexist" and "this will serve as the baseline examination at MD Anderson, and close followup is recommended." The Dr. wants to repeat the MRI again in 1 month as he feels that if the inflammation is from the radiation, it should improve by then.

Meanwhile, Marc has started the high dose chemotherapy regimen which is the same medication that he was on during radiation therapy but in a much higher dose. The chemotherapy is really making him tired and he has not felt like doing anything. Needless to say he has not been back on the roof! His appetite is non-existent. But he gets a break every other week as he takes the medication for 7 days then off for 7 days. Hopefully that will help.

He had a small setback the day of the MRI. Just before the MRI was to start he had a seizure. He hadn't had one since he was hospitalized in November. Fortunately the anesthetist was right there and gave him IV medication to stop the seizure. Just like each seizure before his speech is effected and he has some weakness in his right side. He is walking with a cane most of the time now but is getting stronger, a little more each day. I have seen a lot of improvement since the weekend. I have been staying home with him this week. I was afraid he would fall and with his speech issues he would have difficulty calling anyone to help and I just felt I needed to be with him.

All that said, Marc still has a great attitude. He says he'll "beat the beast" but right now he's not sure what he's fighting. God has dealt him some horrific challenges but with faith, prayers and a positive outlook I know he will meet the challenge.

Still no news

Marc and I went to MD Anderson yesterday for lab and MRI; the MRI didn't get done. Marc has become very claustrophobic after having numerous MRI's and was not able to tolerate it this time. We saw the Dr. today and opted out of the clinical trial as the side effects of the drugs posed too much risk at this point. Marc can opt back in at any time but right now he just is not feeling well enough to participate. We are afraid the side effects might outweigh the benefits of the treatment. At this point we had 3 choices: 1 - continue the chemotherapy at the
standard dose, taking it 7 days a month; 2 - taking an increased dose of the standard chemotherapy and taking it 7 days on and 7 days off (this is the drug that he has previously taken but at a higher dose); or 3 - participating in the clinical trial. We chose to enter the treatment with the increased chemotherapy dose and may decide to enter a clinical trial at a later date.

Marc is scheduled to go back Thursday of this week for an anesthesia consult and will have the MRI on Friday using sedation so that he can get through the entire procedure. We are praying that the tumor hasn't come back. He seems to be having more problems with his speech of late but we are hoping that is because he is off the steroids and not from tumor growth. Friday's test will tell.

I will post again after we have the results of the MRI. Marc and I want to thank you for your continued prayers and support.