Friends -
Thank you for all your emails and calls the past two weeks. It has
been a very trying physical and emotional time. The support from all of you
has really been wonderful!
It has been a long road but after another good MRI last Thursday we decided
Friday that 8 rounds of Temodar was enough. As I probably indicated earlier
there is no set protocol for my type of tumor and most doctors have been
doing 6 to 12 rounds and stopping when there is no change in an MRI or your
body becomes toxic. My MRI did show a slight improvement between July and
September but my body definitely cried uncle in August. I am very relieved
to be done! It is now rebuild and recovery time. We celebrated last night
with an incredible Spanish red called Numanthia. If you are into big reds it
is wonderful.
Barb, Max & I were up in Ely, MN on the Canadian border over Labor Day
weekend and it did wonders to rejuvenate my mind, body and soul. I even got
in a 20-mile ride, a few beautiful walks in the wilderness and a paddle in a
canoe. Wild rice was at its peak and grains would fall into the boat as we
paddled through the stalks. As for cycling, I am taking Jon Workman's advice
and spinning in lower gears for a while as my muscles get accustomed to
working again. After fabulous rides, swims and runs for months, August was
almost totally sedentary.
My sister's mother-in-law is down at the Mayo today and they may enter a
clinical trial for her pancreatic cancer. We continue to hope and pray for
the best.
Jim |