You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
=Bingo!=we were the next ones seated. Hmmm, I thought to myself. Magic. This isn't all<br />
bad."<br />
I don't plan on playing the card routinely, but will keep it in mind as my "ace in the hole".<br />
Posted by David Shuster at 02:11PM (-07:00)<br />
<strong>My</strong> Follow-up With Dr Flam<br />
Tuesday, May 31, 2011<br />
Judy went <strong>with</strong> me for this visit. The appointment was for 10:00 AM but we knew we were<br />
in for a long wait when we saw tho waiting room was almost standing room only. I guess<br />
when you have cancer, you better leave your type A personality at the door. In addition to<br />
being the first day of a short week because of Memorial Day, Dr Flam was just back from<br />
vacation.<br />
I had the usual labs, and was seen about 11:45 by the doctor.<br />
The labs were not bad. WBC back down to 10,000. Platelets 100,000 and hemoglobin<br />
down to 11.0.<br />
Overall, Dr Flam was pleased. I showed him some irritation in the back of my scalp which<br />
he called small pustules, likely staph infection, and suggested I wash the area 3X daily<br />
<strong>with</strong> pHisoderm soap. He also suggested I stop wearing my baseball cap, the band of<br />
which could be causing irritation. He was quite surprised that my hair was not falling out<br />
yet. Perhaps I shaved it off prematurely.<br />
We now have a plan of action. One more cycle of chemo followed by a PET/CT, most<br />
likely around June 24.<br />
On a sad note, my mother seems to be doing badly. She is down to 66 pounds. She is<br />
becoming more and more <strong>with</strong>drawn and depressed.<br />
On a happy note, Saturday we went to the wedding of our ex-daughter-in-law, Margaret.<br />
It was very nice. We have some photos.<br />
Rather than post the photos in this blog, I include a link to the<br />
photos.<br />
The photos include Gary, Dana who was a bridesmaid at her husband's ex wife's<br />
wedding, Eva a Jr. bridesmaid, Sara, age 4, Bel, age 2, Judy, me, and one which<br />
includes the bride.<br />
Families are so much more complicated than they were when I was growing up.<br />
Posted by David Shuster at 01:39PM (-07:00)<br />
Round 3, day 1<br />
Tuesday, June 07, 2011<br />
We have a plan. It is obviously not set in stone.<br />
Six rounds of chemotherapy. PET/CT before the 4th round. Assuming I have improved,<br />
that is the posterior mediastinal mass is smaller and there are no new lesions, Imaging<br />
again after the 6th round. Then additional radiation to the site of the posterior mediastinal<br />
mass. After chemo and before radiation, a visit to Dr Nghiem and a cruise. I hope I can<br />
work out the schedule to take the cruise out of Seattle.<br />
Our 49th Anniversary was June 3. We went to red Lobster to celebrate although Judy has<br />
misgivings about the date since my first surgery was done on June 3, one year ago. I<br />
must say I was not impressed by the food although I am sure it was in part due to my<br />
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Battle</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Merkel</strong> <strong>Cell</strong> <strong>Cancer</strong><br />
75
Change language