Sixth Email: Health Update 6

October 17th, 2013

Hi All,

Just another health update for your reading pleasure!



Yesterday marked the four week point from the surgery on my right knee. I have been healing very well, my ~30 stitches came out last week, and I have been walking uninhibited for about a week now. I am working on setting up some outpatient physical therapy to improve my mobility, which, fortunately, I can do in Marlborough which is only 10 minutes away, rather than driving all the way to Boston. Ultimately, I am steadily working my way up to longer walks with the dog, much to her delight, and of course mine as well.

Tom and I also met with my medical oncologist yesterday, and we've scheduled the next course of treatment. I'll be doing more chemo, but this time upping the ante by getting both ifosfomide and doxorubicin; as Dr. B says, to give the cancer spots in my lungs the "one-two punch". I'll have potentially six rounds of this, depending on how I respond to everything, so I'll be having scans fairly regularly as well. As it has been all along, there's still a fair amount of "we'll see what happens" in order to figure out what to do next. Fortunately, Dr. B supports my decision to be as aggressive as possible with treatment while I'm feeling healthy and strong, in addition to the flexibility of being on medical leave from work. The first round of chemo will be on Nov 8th, 9th, and 10th (I'll update the Google Doc soon). The following rounds are not scheduled yet, though fortunately Dr. B said scheduling can be flexible around the holidays, so I can eat plenty of turkey, and Santa won't have to bring me chemo drugs for Christmas.

In the meantime, I have to admit, I am enjoying being home during this time of year. How lucky am I to hang out with my pets outside all day and watch the leaves change, especially in the great, sunny weather we've been having here recently? And while I'm still not allowed to drive, I haven't been on any medications for the past week, and have again been able to enjoy a glass or two (or more) of wine. Sometimes, it really is those little things :)

And, as always, thanks for all the support that's been flowing our way! Hope all is well with all of you.

-T&A