Maggie started her new job as a real live* lawyer yesterday.  She’s working for a small firm here in town called The Wenholz Law Firm.  She really likes the people and had a great first day. She was all big, big smiles when she came home. Continue reading Her New Job as a Real Lawyer →

Two events are coming up soon that are worth learning about and, if it’s right for you, participating in.  One will just take your vote.  Another, a small donation.  One will go a long way toward helping people suffering right now.  One may help prevent the people you know and love from having to take the same journey we’re on right now. Continue reading Worthy Causes For Cancer →

We’ve come to a fork in the road on our Great Cancer Adventure.  We have the opportunity to make a high-stakes bet.  Bet one way and we may win the jackpot.  Bet the other way and, while we’ll probably loose it all, we’ll get to stay at the table to play the game for a longer time. Continue reading A Tough Decision →

So apparently I’ve misunderstood.  Somewhere between studing and going to class I missed a key bit of information.  Maggie’s CEA of 3.7 is the “down” number (the number I thought we were waiting on!)  It was 4.8 last time.  So, we are definitely on for CPT-11 on Wednesday.  Oxaliplatin is off the table, for now.  Good stuff.  🙂

No treatment today at The Spa.  Yeah, surprised us, too!  Maggie’s CEA has dropped!  Down to 3.7.  What the heck?  It’s up, it’s down…  no logic, it seems to follow but Dr. Loukas wants to re-test on Wednesday and if it’s up, change to the new chemo, but if it’s down or the same, stick with the old chemo.  So, treatment Wednesday one way or another. Happily, we’ve got yet another unexpected and good situation.  Let me explain…. Continue reading Unexpected Curve Ball →

Tomorrow we start down a new path and, frankly, it’s a little scary.  But, remembering the lesson I learned while reflecting on that one late night in a hospital, I am refusing to entertain fears about what might happen.  We’ll deal with any real problems as they occur – not imaginary ones. Continue reading A New Chemo Cometh →

Dr. Curly seemed to be pretty positive about the potential future possibility of maybe having a chance at thinking about performing a potentially curative operating procedure called a liver resection.  That’s such great news.  We’ve been told for so long that because Maggie’s liver was so consumed with tumors and because of where these tumors were that she’d never have this option. Continue reading More Details from The Wizard’s Visit →

(I’ve got to be brief but will expand on this later today with more details.)

Maggie’s liver, while still filled with tumors, is in great shape and very healthy.  The doctor said that while she’s definitely not eligible right now for surgery to remove the tumors, with chemo continuing through January, she very well may be eligible.  This is fantastic news.  We have moved from the “no surgery ever” category to the “maybe surgery in January” category – a HUGE improvement!  And with the surgery we move from “no chance to survive” to “a very real but small chance for a cure.”  Wow!  So, she and I are quite happy right now just to be back in the game.

Today’s visit with MD Anderson’s CT machine went as unpleasant as the last. I’m certain that if the machine were alive it would recognize Maggie now and insist that other options for scanning be considered. Continue reading Yet Another Barium-Flavored CT Scan →

Maggie has headed off for Houston for her MD Anderson visit (yes, without me.)  Tomorrow she gets blood tests, Tuesday CT scans and Wednesday morning is her meeting with Dr. Curley, a world-renown surgeon who specializes in liver resections. Continue reading Off to See the Wizard →