Hi, my PSA has gone down to 30 from 47. Nice. And thank you
for all the good thoughts and prayers sent my way. As usual it is a relief to
have the number go down, and a disappointment not to have it down to 2 or so.
But so it goes.
The doctor is satisfied with my progress. I will have my 4th
chemo tomorrow and then two more, one late in August and another near the end
of September. It is possible that I will have more treatments but that decision
will be made in September. The doctor is also interested (I think that is the
best term) in my entering a clinical trial for “ippy” (Ipilimumab).
His view is that I should wait until the chemo fails, as it inevitably will. In
other words chemo will only reduce my PSA so far and after that it is
classified as failed. This sequence happened with my last program of chemo
where the PSA reduced to 14 then went no farther. It is a harsh term, but the
term is failed. Anyway, after that chemo event, he feels that would be the time
to enter the clinical trial. Currently that sequence is not clear and I urge
you not to worry about it. I am simply trying to report to you what I heard
today.
This last chemo session three weeks ago left me with more
stomach lower GI issues for longer. Ugh. Or Puha. I will use some different
strategies to combat those side effects after tomorrow. Among other things I
will, at the Dr’s suggestion, stop taking aspirin and niacin every day.
Hopefully this change will help with the stomach issues. We’ll see. The other
side effect is tiredness. I am more tired this time and so, to my annoyance, I
am not working out or climbing. The best I do is get in as many two-mile walks
as I can.
So enough of the doctor report. We leave for West Glacier,
Montana, next week to attend the wedding of my brother-in-law Steve’s son’s
Jackson to Claire. I can’t wait. I get to visit with many of the relatives and
also spend time in our beloved mountains. We met in Glacier Park in 1964 and
have returned to hike many times over the years. The kids and grandkids want to
see the room where I first laid eyes on Mary and in that instant became the
proverbial ‘goner.’ Hopefully I will feel well enough in the fall to travel. I
have no shortage of destinations—New York, DC, Seattle, Germany, and today I
added Ecuador after talking with a good friend just returned from there. We have a new apartment in Minneapolis. We
moved from the 5th to the 1st floor and have a place with high ceilings, lots
of interesting angles, our own front door and a patio. Lately, as seems
befitting for someone in my position, I have started reading about
spirituality. If you have a suggestion, I would be delighted to hear it. So far
I have read James, Robinson, Merton and Chopra.
Once again, I thank you for your support. I could not do
this without you. I love you so. While there are clearly clouds on my horizon I
am not worried and not afraid. You be the same.
-August 9, 2016
Hug the ones you love,
Dan
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment