You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
52<br />
and then radiation.<br />
http://docshu-mybattle<strong>with</strong>merkelcellcancer.blogspot.com/2010/07/merkel-work-up.html<br />
July 24,2010 <strong>My</strong> son Gary finds the <strong>Merkel</strong> support group on the internet, and I am in<br />
contact <strong>with</strong> Dr Nghiem. I cancel surgery and plan on radiation treatment alone.<br />
http://docshu-mybattle<strong>with</strong>merkelcellcancer.blogspot.com/2010/07/gary-finds-mcc-groupand-dr-nghiem.html<br />
June 23, 2010. I visit Dr Nghiem in Seattle.<br />
http://docshu-mybattle<strong>with</strong>merkelcellcancer.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-visit-<strong>with</strong>-drnghiem.html<br />
Aug 3, 2010 Radiation treatment continues. Here is a sample post.<br />
http://docshu-mybattle<strong>with</strong>merkelcellcancer.blogspot.com/2010/08/update-after-20-of-30radiation.html<br />
Aug 17, 2010. One day before my 70th birthday, I complete radiation treatments.<br />
http://docshu-mybattle<strong>with</strong>merkelcellcancer.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-know-what-michaeldouglas-has-coming.html<br />
<strong>My</strong> circulating <strong>Merkel</strong> count was ZERO and I am optimistic that the disease has been<br />
vanquished. Life returns more or less to normal and I continue to heal from the radiation<br />
treatments. We plan a cruise to hawaii for December, 2010, but on November 24, 2010, I<br />
have a follow-up PET/CT. Disaster! There is a large mass in my chest near my heart and<br />
esophagus, but not in the lung.<br />
http://docshu-mybattle<strong>with</strong>merkelcellcancer.blogspot.com/2010/11/bad-news-on-mypetct.html<br />
Here are images from the scans.<br />
http://docshu-mybattle<strong>with</strong>merkelcellcancer.blogspot.com/2010/12/petct-imagesannotated-musings.html<br />
I visit Dr Nghiem again. <strong>My</strong> circulating <strong>Merkel</strong> cell count has risen to 13 cells per 10 cc of<br />
blood.<br />
He proposes a unique treatment. A small dose of radiation to the tumor, about 10% of the<br />
usual treatment, all in one session. The object is to unmask the antigens associated <strong>with</strong><br />
this tumor and allow my immune system to combat the tumor.<br />
I have the treatment. <strong>My</strong> <strong>Merkel</strong> <strong>Cell</strong> count is down to 1.<br />
http://docshu-mybattle<strong>with</strong>merkelcellcancer.blogspot.com/2011/01/there-is-suicidebomber-living-in-my.html<br />
We took a cruise to Mexico. <strong>My</strong> count dropped to ZERO again. We now plan a cruise to<br />
Hawaii, the one we had to cancel. This time I have learned my lesson. I will have a followup<br />
CT scan AFTER we get back from the cruise.<br />
So, how do things stand now?<br />
<strong>My</strong> weight is stable. I feel OK but not great. I have been having some vague discomfort in<br />
the abdomen, not enough to slow me down, but enough to make me worry. Of course<br />
<strong>with</strong> this disease, you have to worry. <strong>My</strong> best guess as to my prognosis is 20% chance of<br />
surviving 2 years from some date. I don't know if it is measured from the first appearance<br />
of symptoms, first diagnosis or the day I discovered I am stage IV. The statistics for stage<br />
IV are that. However if you make it through 2 years, the chance of long term survival is<br />
good.<br />
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Battle</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Merkel</strong> <strong>Cell</strong> <strong>Cancer</strong>
Change language