Today is the 15th of June, 2010. This day in 2009, my raging tumor in the left side of my brain was removed, and I was started toward recovery. I had been brought down on a medevac plane on the 10th, examined, and scheduled for surgery. I thought I had a pretty good idea what was required for repair and restoration, but I'm fairly sure now that I did not. Perhaps we never do... The doctors and nurses and the rest of the staff, along with my wife, children and many friends, have spent a tremendous amount of effort on my behalf, beginning on the 10th of June, 2009, and carrying through today -- and continuing into the future.
I've not been putting comments out the past three months, mostly because things are going very well. I don't much like talking about the issues I do have, which deal mostly with the inevitable results of continuing chemotherapy for the full regimen, while there appears to be no remaining cancer. The chemo does powerful work...more so with no cancer to attack. So the benefit is also a problem. But we've been dealing with the pains and the issues and I'm coming along pretty well. One whole bunch of better than I was just exactly a year ago, for sure!
So what's up in the future? I finish the Avastin on June 26 -- for the 26th set! The final set of Temodar starts on the 26th and goes through the 30th. Then I have MRI's every three months, with the first post-therapy one on August 23rd. All of the MRI's I've had since last September have shown no sign of cancer, so I have no reason to believe that will change. I expect it will take quite a while to fully recovery; perhaps in some respects I never will. In any event I have continued to improve in many ways; lose some ground in some others. One thing is for certain, though: I am far, far beyond my condition of a year ago. I owe much to many, and I have learned to be grateful and accept what I receive.
Thank you, all of you...those I know and those I don't.
Dennis, with Faith
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7 comments:
I'm so very grateful of the miracle of your life! Thank you so much for sharing your journey so far-- you've faced it with great courage, and I am certain, now, that Heather learned what brave is from you. I know every day is a choice, but for today-- Happy "I Kicked Cancer's Butt" day Dennis!
Dennis,
Thanks for sharing an update. Prayers have indeed, been answered and will continue to be offered up on your behalf. God speed for a complete recovery.
John Weems
aka Doubleagle
Dennis, Thank you for the continued honesty about the changes in your life in the last year. Your determination and joy of life bring optimism to many. Praise for prayers answered. You and Faith remain in my prayers for the light of healing to continue in your life.
It has been a long brave fight,and you have won! Love, Your sweetheart, F
Strong work Dennis ....
Dennis,
We met at the VM group meeting for brain cancerr patients last year. I'm still attending the monthly sessions. The good news is we haven't had many new members, the bad news is we've lost a few.
I am so happy to read your one reave review. As I've told you before, your like my big brother, leading the way. It sounds like you've been eting both avastin and emador side by side. Wow! I don't envy you the side effects. Just the avastin keeps me beat up. Although it did knock the cell growth down pretty much. I've gone from MRI's every 6-weeks to every 12-weeks. I'm hoping the cell growth stays in check. I don't look forward to more Avastin, but then again, it beats the alternative.
If you send me a private email I have some information I would like to pass on to you that is better discussed outside this forum. You can reach me at eridave@comcast.net.
I'm happy to hear about your great results. It keeps my hope alive.
Continued good luck,
Dave Patton
PS: My hair is almost completely grown back.
Dennis
It was so good to see you again and see that you are doing so well. Congrats on finishing your treatment and we hope you celebrate in style.
Good days to you and yours,
Joanne & Larry
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