Latest News on the Treatment…

I thought it was about time for an update on the latest and greatest news in our life. Dave is doing splendidly. He is “molting” a bit…but nothing too bad. Just a bit around the ears. He’s getting a bit red around the temples as well. Which is nothing considering he’s been in radiation for 5 1/2 weeks now. Actually we’re down to 1 day left!

Only 1 day…Can you believe it? I can’t. It’s gone so fast and he’s done so well with the treatments. Onto other big news with the treatment. The handy dandy computer worked its magic and Dave was put into Group A for the Trial. The trial is completely randomized and the computer picks which group you end up on. Group A or B. Group A is the standard treatment of 5 days on Chemo and then 20 days off. Group B is a much more aggressive course of treatment that they are currently testing where you’re 20 days on Chemo and 5 days off. When we originally signed up for this trial, we felt like the universe had opened up this opportunity for us so that Dave could be on Group B since he had such an aggressive tumor. But as time went on, and the waiting continued as we waited to find out which group he was on, we decided that he would end up on whatever Group he want meant to be on. We were, and still are, confident that whichever group he ended up with in the end would be the one to help him become cancer free. And when it came back that he was on Group A, we weren’t upset at all. He’s going to be fine…and this course of treatment won’t be quite so devastating. I believe we ended up on this trial not for the more aggressive course of treatment…but for the perks of being on the trial. Mainly, that the Chemo drugs are completely paid for as being part of the trial. Seeing as Chemo can cost upwards to $8,000 a month…this is a very good thing.

Dave will be off chemo this month starting September 6th and won’t start up the next phase until the first of October. This is because the radiation and chemo drugs he’s been taking daily for 6 weeks will continue to be in his system in high doses for the next month. Beginning in October he will begin his 5 days on and 20 days off cycle. He will be on this phase of the treatment for a year.

Since David is doing so well and getting a bit stir crazy as well. He plans to start back at work on September 25th. Wow! It’s been nice having him around on my days off and we’ve had the chance to play a lot and enjoy the gorgeous summer weather. But I also know that both financially and for his mental well being…it’s time for him to get back to the daily grind.

Well, that’s all for now folks…but I’ll try to blog again later this weekend to catch everyone up on the more fun stuff going on in our life…Like the kiln!
Until then…

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