My dream team and I were in NYC yesterday to meet with the doctors at Sloan to review the results of the full body scan from last week. We had already been able to view results of the extensive blood work , and it was all positive. Back when this journey started in September, my Carcinoembryonic Anitgen count, which measures specific proteins in the blood count was 205.3ng/ml. That number, unfortunately, was dangerously high and indicative of a patient with stage 4 metastasized cancer. I have since had 4 brain tumors copiously extinguished via Gamma Knife radiation surgery at NYU, and am through over 11 High Dose chemo treatments at Sloan. I feel exceedingly fortunate that these procedures and treatments have my Carcinoembryonic plummeting. In November, blood work revealed that my new number was 68.8 ng/mL , and the test last week brought it down even further - all the way down to 15.7 ng/ml. We need to get this number down to the normal range of 0-0.5ng, but we are trending south, and swiftly.
The results of the body scan showed continued progress as well - ALL the tumors are continuing to shrink. Just typing this chokes me up. We are going in the right direction.
My doctor stressed that the single most important indicator for him is how healthy and strong I look. Im getting hit with heavy duty doses, and my body is tolerating. Im not losing weight -Im gaining and getting stronger.. I'm heavier than I've been in almost 7 years. Im tolerating so well, that they want to introduce another high-octane drug to my chemo cocktail, to help speed up tumor shrinkage. Im game.
The tricky issue with this new drug is that once they start me on it, if I ever needed surgery, they would have to wait 6 weeks to ween me off. Because of this, they want me to meet with one of the surgeons on the team for a more extensive exam. In the scan, there is one area in particular that they want to get a better look at to see if would be a candidate for surgery in next 6 weeks.. If it is, we will deal with it and move on.. I was a little down over this yesterday, but have come around to realize that minor inconveniences like scans, exams, blood work, possible surgeries, and all the rest are just challenges that I have to embrace. I am fortunate to be in the hands of the most respected and talented doctors in their fields.. I am forever grateful to be in the hearts and thoughts of so many cherished family and friends who send me positive energy and vibes that Im thriving on. I get daily doses of the most cathartic hugs from Jimmy and Gigi that keep me wanting to fight like hell. I have a wife who is stronger than anyone I know - she is keeping me focused , positive, and motivated to turn this all into a distant memory down the line..
Hunter Thompson once said " Good news is rare these days, and every glittering ounce of it should be cherished and hoarded and worshipped and fondled like a priceless diamond."
This is all good news..
I'll eat coal and spit fire into the furnace to keep this train moving forward..
Nothing but Love -
JF