Re: Oh well...

["Robert L Bass" <Sales@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Frank Olson" wrote:
>
> This is terrible news, Robert.  What with the "see-saw" diagnosis though,
> I'd suggest getting a second opinion though.  It looks to me like your
> present oncologist is a bit of an idiot.  With all the time that's elapsed,
> it's just given the cancer a better foot-hold.

Not really.  The guy is considered one of the top scientists in the field.
The previous test was a PET scan.  Those can and do sometimes render a "false
negative" so they always do serial CT scans to get the most accurate picture.
He placed the current and previous CTs side-by-side on his PC screen and
scrolled down through the thorax.  Even without training I could clearly see
the rapid spread of the tumors in the pleura.  If it wasn't so f*&@ing
devastating the whole thing would have been really interesting.

> Brazil would be good for you.  When you get back, my advice would be to get
> that second opinion before you start on another regemine of chemo that's
> bound to make you feel even more sick.

There's actually a team of physicians who work on my case.  Because I joined a
scientific study (that experimental DNA-based chemo thing), I get all kinds of
specialists involved.  Also, because I've already lived much longer than most
(possibly all) patients with this type of metastasis, there's a bunch of
people who are following my progress.  Unfortunately, what they call progress
isn't what I had in mind.  :(

Anyway, I have a few weeks to rest before my trip south and then a couple of
more weeks in my favorite paradise before they mess me up again.  Supposedly
this next chemo is much milder than what I had before.  It's palliative (not
curative) treatment, so there's no expectation of remission.  They only hope
to extend my life a few more months and to slow the onset of pain and
breathing difficulties.  That has already begun though not real bad yet.  I
cough so much that I don't get much sleep.  Also, there's a tumor growing next
to where my ribs are broken and it's pressing on the fracture area -- not
pleasant but not too bad yet.  I have a prescription (got it today) but I want
to hold off until I need it more.

--

Regards,
Robert