Recent Recheck

Season's greetings everyone!  It's been a long time since I posted an entry, which is mainly because it has taken since the beginning of August to get another 5 chemo treatments into David before a recheck CT.  His chemo intervals are suppose to be every 3 weeks, but he has been delayed by a week   because of low neutrophils (one of the white blood cells) a couple of times since August.  This past week David had a recheck CT study.  Thankfully, things look pretty stable -- no signs of metastases to his liver or lung with the previously identified, significant narrowing to his superior mesenteric artery by soft tissue compression from his cancer recurrence & some enlarged, but relatively stable since his last CT on August 1st, lymph nodes around the site of his previous surgery.  So, that's all pretty good news.  Unfortunately, on blood work, David's tumor markers have been gradually climbing since the end of August.  We met with Dr. Fanta, David's oncologist, after the CT study & he believes that the reason for this increase is because David is getting bumped from chemo treatment by the neutropenia.  So, his plan is to decrease the dose of irinotecan (one of David's three chemo drugs) in hopes that this will make his white blood cells happier & keep David on track for getting chemo every three weeks.  He also plans to present David's medical case at the next tumor board (a group made up of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, oncologic surgeons, pathologists, & others) to get the group's input.  Overall, David is doing fairly well -- he is able to keep his weight pretty stable, walks 3 miles almost every day, keeps up with his photography work, & stays in touch with friends via phone.  Of course, he has the ongoing issues with his bowel (which he has been dealing with ever since surgery four years ago) & he has to cycle through a myriad of side effects from the chemo, but, he doesn't let any of those nuisances keep him down for long.  So, that brings you up to date on where we are at in this battle.

We have been enjoying the holiday season to the fullest -- the house is decorated, there is ongoing baking of some of the holiday goodies that David can eat, we are playing Christmas music & watching Christmas movies, our holiday cards have been mailed, & we have done most of our shopping.  Now we just sit back, enjoy it all, & await the arrival of Nelson & Sharree Hager along with two of their three daughters, Lauren & Mackenzie, & Lauren's new husband, Nate, who are going to join us for a long Christmas weekend (they will be staying at a military retreat area on the beach in Coronado).  If David is able to stay on schedule, he is due to have his next round of chemo on the 19th to 21st, so he may not be feeling his best over the Christmas weekend, but we will sure try to maximize our time with family while they are in our neck of the woods.

Wishing you all a joyous Christmas & a 2018 filled with good health & fun times.  Much love, Janet