Good report from MD Anderson today

Marc and I drove to Houston today to follow-up at MD Anderson after his hospitalization. Dr. Jung, Marc's neuro-oncologist, told us he was pleased with Marc's progress since his discharge last week. He said that he had reviewed the MRI and agreed with Dr. McDonald that the mass was smaller. He told us that the shrinkage would continue but would be slow and would be gauged over many months (not weeks) and would be measured by successive MRIs. He also said that he was very impressed with Dr. McDonald, our local neurologist and Dr. Jain, the hospitalist who has cared for Marc each hospitalization. He said that either he or his nurse practitioner spoke to Dr. McDonald and Dr. Jain frequently while Marc was hospitalized and after discharge. It is really wonderful to have such good collaboration between the caregivers. It sure makes us feel a lot better about everything.

Marc has started to have swelling in his lower legs and feet from taking the steroids again; although it is not nearly as bad as it has been in the past. Dr. Jung has started to slowly reduce the steroid dosage over the next 4 weeks to a more tolerable level. Hopefully that will make a difference and reduce the severe side effects of the high doses of the drugs.

Marc has regained nearly all of the strength back in his right hand. He is still having a great deal of difficulty with speech but it has improved some in the last week. We still have many fustrating moments when no matter how hard Marc tries, he cannot make me understand what he is trying to say. He can write now but the letters are often jumbled and don't make since (to me). Between the talking and writing I am understanding more but we still have a long way to go. We are back in speech therapy twice a week now and will continue until his speech improves to where it was before this last episode.

Marc's next followup with Dr. Jung is May 26th. He will have another MRI on May 22nd. We are praying that the results will again show shrinkage of the mass.