10.31.12

All treats, no tricks!

I received the results from my CT scan this past Monday (yes, I had it during the storm)- in medicalese: Interval decrease in the size of hepatic metastases. There is no evidence of new metastatic disease. Translated: no spread, no new growths, and the existing tumors have all shrunk in size. Appreciably so, by half or more since my last scan the end of August. My oncologist was truly pleased; she said this was one of the best responses she has seen with this regimen, in terms of the amount of shrinkage as well as how quickly. My oncology nurse was similarly pleased. As was/am I.

Relentless Optimism!

10.14.12

Fall has always been my favorite season of the year. It has always seemed a time of renewed purpose, new beginnings- new school year, new football season, and more- shaking off the slumber of summer and reawakening, newly energized. Perhaps the Jewish people have it right, their New Year seeming to coincide with the advent of fall. And there truly is something special, something wondrous, about autumn in New England- the deep blue of the sky, the crisp mornings, the leaves turning color, their scent as they've fallen, the sound of their crunching underfoot, wood smoke, apple cider, pumpkin bread, harvest fairs, and so much more. Fall in New England makes the long, dreary winters bearable. And it often seems as if the best of fall, the distillation of it's very essence, comes within the span of a precious few weeks in October, a short span when fall and all that is most wonderful about it is at it's peak. Whether in the city, the suburbs, or the country, those few weeks capture all that is best about fall, about New England, perhaps about life.

It is a wondrous time.
(I wish I could say the same about the Patriots game today, dammit!)

10.03.12

I received my first lab results after a month on my latest chemo regimen (Cetuximab)- my CEA level (that blood marker I've referred to before, which the medicos use as an indicator as to the efficacy of a given treatment without having to resort to a CT scan each time) has decreased 401 points since the beginning of September! It is currently at the lowest it has been since early spring. To say that my doc and nurse- as well as I- were/am pleased is an understatement. I do have a CT scan scheduled for later this month, to see if the decrease in CEA in fact does correlate with a reduction in the size, extent, etc... of the tumors, but this was and is pretty welcomed news; apparently this regimen is having the desired effect thus far.

One thing I've found to be a bit awkward is, when I talk with people that I haven't in awhile- since before all of this- and the inevitable "So Vito, how're you doing? What's been going on?"questions come up, how to appropriately, yet adequately, respond. Often it begins with "Well... " I mean, let's face it; no one likes to hear- or share- bad news. Certainly if people care enough to make contact, to ask and enquire about things, they deserve an honest response. But no one likes to come off as whining or self-pitying or complaining, either. It can be a dilemma at times...

Anyway... a great come-from-behind win by the Patriots last Sunday! Always great to beat the Bills- my two least favorite teams in the NFL are the Jets and the Bills, always great to beat up on them especially. It should be interesting to see the return of Peyton Manning now in a Broncos uniform. I have to admit, despite his playing for the Colts all those years, I always liked Peyton, always thought he was phenomenal QB and just one of those opponents you always respect.

Go Pats!