Late night update...

It's almost three in the morning and one of those nights when I can't sleep, so I thought I would go ahead and update about our visit on Thursday. Our appointment wasn't until mid-afternoon, so we left the house at about noon to allow plenty of time to find a place to eat near the medical center and also maybe stop by a Wal-mart for a couple of things. The weather was rainy all day on and off, and we try not to even cut it close when it might be wet. We did see a bad-looking accident on the way back at the I-35/Loop 410 interchange, where a car was upside down and they were trying to get someone out. Any time we drive up on something like that, Helen always remembers to pray for them right then and there. We pray they are OK.

After my stitches were removed, Dr. DeArmond came in to look me over and to discuss the path reports on the tumors that he had excised (cut out). The first two, which were larger, had been easy to get to and remove. These were indeed sarcomas, the same cancer we have been fighting for more than seven years. The third was deeper and harder to get to. He had seemed a little unsure about whether or not he had been able to get all of it, even though it was quite small. This tumor turned out to be non-malignant, with no traces of cancer. He said he was happy with the surgery and that he hoped I would not have to be back for any more. We discussed the fact that I am scheduled for CT scans on Monday. He thinks it is too early after surgery to have scans, because there will probably be some "foreign matter" that might show up and confuse the radiologists, like gas pockets, staples, etc. We stated that we believe that the reason they want the scans is because the pharmaceutical company that makes my clinical trial drug most likely is requiring it.

It wouldn't hurt our feelings if we didn't have to show up Monday. But we ran into our research nurse before we left CTRC and talked with her about it. She seemed pretty certain that the pharma would not postpone the scans. At this point, for the purposes of this clinical trial, they are not looking for anything new. They only want to see what is happening, if anything, at the sites in both lungs where all of the tumors have been. It's one of those peculiarities one has to deal with when participating in a clinical trial. Since the company is paying for the drug, they call most of the shots as far as protocol is concerned. This is not to say that no one cares if something else shows up. My cancer doctor, Dr. Mita, will continue to monitor me for anything new in the future.

We will find out more as we see Dr. Mita on Monday. I am scheduled for scans at 8:00. We will wait around until she has seen the scans and gotten the report, and then we will visit with her. We will probably learn at that time whether or not I will be back on LED225, as well as what we will be doing in the near future.

I have been off of the drug for about two and a half weeks. My taste seems to be slowly improving, which we are thankful for. I have been able to keep my weight pretty much stable for the past two months. I have had to shave only twice in eleven weeks. However, in the past week, I have noticed a pretty healthy number of whiskers appearing. They are not thick and hard, but more like Junior High whiskers -- soft and scattered. While you have to get up close to see them, they are there. :)

I have felt a little better each day for the past two days. The pain has eased quite a bit, my breathing is improving as well. Extreme fatigue, almost exhaustion, seems to be the biggest issue right now. I get tired very quickly doing anything. It will take a while, but it will get better.

Again, I have to say it: thanks so much for everything. We don't know where we would be without you. We love you all so much. We miss being home so much. We look forward to being able to get home on Monday, the Lord willing.

Love you guys!

Kenny