Ehhh, What's Up Doc?

I have made a commitment to update my blog every 3 weeks or so. The update part is easy, however it is always a challenge what will be the main theme (to spice it up) and more important the title. This time I hit the jackpot - What's up doc? by Bugs Bunny!

Bugs Bunny is me - I love carrots (I drink a lot of carrot juice) and I always ask the doctors a lot of questions. I am sure I'll be lucky like Bugs Bunny, who escapes every possible situation. I am as optimistic as him - look at his smile.

Where does the expression "What's up doc?" come from? There really isn't much story behind the phrase "what's up, doc?" besides that it was simply an invented catch phrase to add to the characterization.

The real reason why I picked Bugs Bunny for this update is because I am going to be one very soon!

In the past 2.5 months I have had 3 chemotherapy cycles. While the progression of the disease has stopped, we had limited sucess in getting the number of bad cells down. The doctors were able to have a lot of progress on many other blood parameters. As a result, I feel really good, no more (almost) bone pain, I move freely, go to work here and there, eat well and try to live normal life. Last Friday I drove with a colleague to see a major customer in CT.

After consulting with the doctors, they suggested me to join the clinical trials - hence the Rabbit!

Last Thursday I went through a screening process to determine if I am a candidate for the trials. For the doctors among you, this is not a double-blind. I will be getting the real experimantal medications.

I will start taking the these medications on this coming Monday and will continue to do so in the next 2.5 months. Similar to what I had so far, the experimental drugs are also non-Toxic and I do not expect an side effects. Based on the results, the doctors wil decide on the next step: continue or change protocol one more time.

All that is left for me to do is be patient and hope for the best. The goal is to get the bad cells to a very low number where the stem cell transplant can be persormed.

As I mentioned in my last update, it is wonderful, helpful and pleasant to have all the family with me.

And so, I optimistically look forward for a successful treatment and to my humble contribution to the medical reasearch process for finding a cure.

Yours, always optimistic

Guy

Patience is the name of the game

I write this update not because of some exciting news, but because there is a little change and I don't want to keep the silence for too long.In the medical business doctors don't like to rush and change course. I have recently learned this as a result of my slow progress.The medical team told me to be patient and I have no choice. The explanation is simple. In the arsenal against the disease, there are several bullets. Using the advanced and more powerful ones at the beginning may not be a good idea. If they don't work, there isn't much left to do. The approach is to start with the conventional treatment, run a few cycles, then decide on the next step.Lucky for me, both the conventional and the clinical trials use non-toxic chemotherapy which explains my overall good shape and good appetite. The only limitation is the bone pain which has some impact on my mobility. When I can, I drive to work, drive for treatments and try not to be limited with the bone pain. I move slower than all of you know me.So, the next step is to complete the last treatment of cycle-3 coming on this Thursday, then next week run a few more tests and if the predictions are right, change a protoc

ol and move to new medications (clinical trials). I will be on vacation from all medications for 2 weeks and will start the new treatment probably on 28 Jan.Another month means a lot of patience. As long as I can eat well and the pain isn't too bad, I'll be OK. January is a busy month at work and I have plenty in my work to do list to keep me busy.

Shoshy's cooking:

On the family side, it is getting very exciting for me. Slowly but surely my girls are converging on home. In 24 hours all three girls will be at home and this is really a rare event. Having a family of 5 under the same roof is something we should celebrate.The weather is also very cooperative.

In a glass gallery . . . . . . . . . . Last week's snow storm (our back yard) . . Holiday spirit...

December in New England was very cold and snowy. I had to be extra careful. Breaking a bone is not an options. Last week temperatures dipped to -18 c. However, this week it is amazing +17 c to the amazement of all.So, with good weather, all the family with me, a change of course in treatment and overall feeling OK, it is a good start of 2008.

Yours,

Guy