Today’s top story

Today I had my first M.R.I. scan in three months, and got some very good news: No recurring tumor. The radiation and chemo drugs have done their job splendidly thus far, and the brain cancer that was diagnosed in late July is being held in check. My neuro-oncologist, Dr. Bobustuc, said he was “very happy” with the results of the scan not only because it shows no recurring tumor but because it shows no lesions or tumors popping up anywhere else in my brain.

So all of this is as good a report that someone with my condition could have hoped to get. About the only thing better would have been if the M.R.I. had detected that I was about to give birth to a cancer-free, identical twin of myself. But when I aggressively cross-examined Dr. Bobustuc about that scenario, he insisted that it was medically impossible despite the reams of documentation I brought with me from my own research into the matter. (Damn you forever, Internet!)

Now I shift gears to the standard follow-up chemo regimen, which is five doses of pills on consecutive days on 28-day cycles. That means five days on, 23 days off, five days on, 23 days off, etc. Each daily chemo dose will be double the strength of the daily doses I took for 42 days straight during radiation, but because it’s going to be in short cycles I’m expecting the cumulative effect (fatigue, etc.) to be much more manageable.  I’ll be getting additional M.R.I.s every two months to check on progress. So my next M.R.I. will be in early January.

This maintenance regimen should give me plenty of hope to go on for at least six months to a year, the doc said. After that, if my body starts to build up resistance to the Temodar chemo drug and it loses its effectiveness there are other options for other chemo agents that each have the potential of adding months at a time, consecutively, to my life expectancy. And all of that is GREAT news, considering that most people unable to get treatment in my situation would already be dead by now.

Meanwhile, I’m feeling better and stronger each day. Rode 10 miles on my bike on Saturday. Doc says I can even play golf soon — which would be a true miracle, since I never could play before.

I’ll keep everyone posted on future developments. Thanks.

(Production note: Golf joke courtesy of Patty Huff from a phone conversation several weeks ago. I’ve been saving it up for just the right time.)