To: Family & Friends
Date: August 24, 2015
Subject: Cycle 1 of New Trial
Hi Everyone, I’m nearly through my first cycle of the new clinical trial and overall I think it’s gone pretty well. I was able to get the 6 pills/day (3 in the morning, 3 in the evening) without too much concern. That said, by the end of the 5 days taking the pills I would…
To: Family & Friends
Date: July 30, 2015
Subject: An Eventful Friday Night + New Trial
Hi Everyone, On Friday afternoon I had my initial interview for the TAS-102 trial. As is standard with these appointments, we reviewed my history, the treatment schedule, side effects (they sound relatively mild), and I signed the consent form to volunteer for the study. From there I needed to get blood work and a CT…
To: Family & Friends
Date: July 14, 2015
Subject: New trial in 2 weeks?
Hi Everyone, As expected, when I had my latest CT scan about 6 weeks ago it showed that the clinical trial I had been on since the beginning of the year was no longer being effective for me. We were expecting this based on some other symptoms, and my doctor and I had already targeted…
To: Family & Friends
Date: May 25, 2015
Subject: Treatment Update
Hi Everyone, I know it’s been a little while since I’ve sent an update, but happily that is because there hasn’t been much to report. I am still on the same clinical trial, and had a scan a month back that showed some tumor growth and some tumor shrinkage – this is what they refer…
To: Family & Friends
Date: February 13, 2015
Hi Everyone, I got some good news yesterday when I went in for treatment. The results from my CT scan earlier this week show a significant reduction in size of my abdominal lymph nodes and with the nodules in/around my liver. There is some minor growth in the nodules in my lungs, but these are…
To: Family & Friends
Date: January 23, 2015
Subject: Continuing with Clinical Trial
Hi Everyone, I’m pleased to report that the liver markers in my blood work have improved as hoped after the insertion of the stent and I’ve been able to get back on the clinical trial. I had an infusion on the 15th and another yesterday (the 22nd). Based on the last two weeks it looks…
To: Family & Friends
Date: January 4, 2015
Subject: Clinical trial delayed. :(
Hi Everyone, After a long battle to get into the clinical trial, I finally got my first infusion on Dec 19th. The treatment cycle is a little different than originally planned. I will have an infusion once a week for 2 weeks, then take the 3rd week off. This is preferable to the twice-a-week infusion…
To: Family & Friends
Date: November 26, 2014
Hi Everyone, Our schedule for meeting with MD Anderson actually got moved up a bit; we met with them in Houston a week ago rather than at the beginning of this week (as originally planned). They had an interesting phase 1 trial in the “expansion stage” (it’s showing good results so they make it available…
To: Family & Friends
Date: November 16, 2014
Subject: Next Steps for Me
Hi Everyone, I’m doing pretty well. My weight and strength are still down from where I’d like them, but I’m enjoying being home with Caitlin. I’m getting in a good nap or two a day as needed with the “may cause drowsiness” label on just about everything I take these days. Sometimes I doze off…
To: Family & Friends
Date: October 27, 2014
Subject: Back pain returned and now receding
3 weeks ago things were going so well with my back pain that I was backing off my meds and thinking about how best to up my physical activity. Last week I got hit by the proverbial truck. Thankfully, I’m already making progress managing coming out the other side. My current cancer treatment (Regorafenib) has…
To: Family & Friends
Date: October 13, 2014
Subject: Not much to report
Hi Everyone, There isn’t *too* much to report since my last email, but it’s generally good news. I’ve made consistent progress in rebounding from the debilitating back pain I was experiencing. I’m still down about 15 pounds (and struggling to put that back on), but my back pain is largely gone. I’ve got to credit…
To: Family & Friends
Date: September 10, 2014
Hi Everyone, We got some bad news about a week ago. I had a CT scan and discovered that the clinical trial I was on was not yielding the results were were hoping for. The scan showed some new growth during the time I was I was on the trial drug and my doctor determined…
To: Family & Friends
Date: August 25, 2014
Subject: Clinical trial update
Hi Everyone, It’s starting to feel like the end of summer here and the beginning of the beautiful fall season here in Colorado. Caitlin has a week of kindergarten under her belt and seems to be doing great. Heather and I walk her the few blocks up to school every day, which is really nice.…
To: Family & Friends
Date: August 4, 2014
Subject: Clinical trial, day one
Hi Everyone, I’m getting started on my clinical trial today. It’s a combination of an infusion (every 2 weeks, like before) and a pill that I take twice a week. The trial drugs are attempting to block the cancer cells from continuing to grow by signal blocking at two different levels. They refer to this…
To: Family & Friends
Date: July 2, 2014
Subject: Hey, an update!
Hi Everyone, I’ve been doing well. I’m currently halfway through a week in Minnesota with Caitlin, Heather, Heather’s parents, and her brother’s family (our annual MN trip). I’ve done a little work travel as well, and have been getting out to the golf course regularly. We are planning to visit Seattle later in the month,…