Thankful

I've been between treatments for almost 3 weeks, and am getting ready to start radiation and chemo early next week.

We're VERY happy to have the kids home this week for Thanksgiving break. Amanda has been accepted to all the schools she's applied to, and has now toured Northeastern and Clark. Soon she'll choose between the two.

Feeling strong and happy these weeks, I've been reflecting on all the blessings in my life. I'm thankful for family, friends and colleagues who have been so central to my life, and have recently risen up to help me in these darker times. I have very few regrets and am grateful and happy in spite of the curveball I've been given...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

- d

Good News

The biopsy of my liver was negative, so the door stays open to further treatments!

On December 2nd I begin 28 days of radiation and chemo (pills), 5 days a week.

Friday I will get scanned and be tattooed with several small dots to align the machines to. Medical physicists will then calculate a computer model for numerous paths to the tumor which present the most direct route with the least chance of damaging surrounding organs. Very high tech, computer guided and accurate... I hope it does the job.

Now I have a couple of treatment free weeks to enjoy before it gets rough...

Change

Well, at my oncologists' insistence, the biopsy has now been changed to this Thursday ...
I'll get the results on Tuesday...Much better than the end of next week.

Thursday's not a good day, but I have no choice...we need to move along with the treatments.

It's been a pleasure to be off chemo these past couple of weeks... I feel almost like my old self.
This has given my immune system a chance to regroup, let the cracks on my hands and feet begin to heal, but most importantly, I have LOTS more energy and with that comes raised spirits...

Waiting...

They were unable to schedule me for the biopsy on Wednesday... So I have to wait until Monday, unless my doctor is able to jamb me into an earlier appointment...

Very frustrating.

One more time...

I have to go in to MGH on Wednesday and re-do the biopsy...

Although I'm not happy to have to go through it all over again, I am still somewhat optimistic that my liver will be clear...But I might not get the results till early next week.

This ends a week that was pretty rough; an old friend from art school died in his sleep last Wednesday. Robert Ricciardelli was my age, 48, and was in his prime... It's pretty hard to wrap my head around the fickle nature of existence...

Mishap

So on Tuesday, I had a biopsy of the spot on my liver, which was needed to rule out cancer before I could start radiation. It was a long day, including the four hours I waited before getting in for the procedure.

Today we were supposed to get the results, but it turns out that the main core sample was send to the wrong lab, and was tested for lymphoma. Only a tiny bit of the sample is left, and they are trying to get a definitive result from it. If it's too small, then I'll need to have another biopsy next Wednesday. The second sample (fine needle sample) was processed properly and showed normal liver cells, so we are hoping that will be the case for the core as well... fingers crossed.

We''l find out Monday if the test worked...

The only bright spot in the biopsy adventure was that the nurse who was getting me prepped for the test, was a painter who shows with the Barbara Krakow Gallery, and she knew my work and we had a lively discussion before I drifted off into the ether... that night she sent me a nice e-mail...

I'll post the results as soon I know something definitive...

Otherwise I've been off chemo for 2 weeks and I feel great...