Another good day!

Just back from another good Dr. visit.

No bad news from my 3rd scan (last scan was Friday) doctor said all is still going well. Nothing to be concerned about. Scan is still looking good, and nothing bad is showing up...now if only the chemo took less time...

Lou Prete

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I didn't mention this...

Two weeks ago I asked the doctor about how long the chemo would last.

He said "if all goes well we would be doing this treatment for the rest of the year."  (that would be @ around mid to late May)

Then he said "if I continue to improve, or remain the same,  we would probably drop the second chemo and continue the Avastin probably once a month."

He didn't really say, but I assume he was referring to like forever. 

I didn't ask him, at the time, it may have been more than I wanted to know.  I was not overly pleased with the answer, but is what it is. 

I guess whatever happens...

So that's whats going on down here.

Lou Prete

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One year ago...

...Sailing from Messina to Barcelona.

Today, another good scan.  Things just don't get much better than this.

Dr. said scan was just as good as before. Nothing to worry about. Just keep on keeping on. 

If things get any better I won't know what to do.

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The good news never stops...

So, this morning as the Dr. was getting ready to leave, Kathy asked him about driving, and he said if it had been 6 months since the seizure it would be OK to start driving again.

I about fell over because this was the guy who said that he'd never give me permission to drive again.

He said that I shouldn't be alone in the car for a while, but I'm pretty happy about that news. (especially since I wound up driving part of the way home yesterday)

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another good Dr. visit

I met with Dr. Asher (brain surgeon) today.

After looking at the scans he basically said, "Well, it looks like I'm done with you for a while."

He said that if Dr. Haggstrom finds anything new, or things start going bad he'll contact me but the scans look good and there is nothing more I can do for you at this time.

Basically, while not cured, there is nothing else that he can really do for me at this time and to have a nice day.

Lets just say it was a good day!

So after some waiting around it was finally time to visit the Dr

(11:00am sometimes seems late.)

So we finally get there and the Dr's all about "squeeze my fingers,  touch my nose, step down, step up...blah, blah..."

Finally he says "Have you seen the film yet?"

And I say "no, that's why we're here I thought."

So he pulls it up on the computer, side-by-side with the one taken right after the surgery and I won't say the tumor is gone,  but it sure looks different. The X shaped thing in the middle is nearly symmetric (way out before), and the area where the tumor was is filled back in with pretty normal colored looking stuff. The edge that was left over from before (the part of the tumor the surgeon couldn't get) is darker which makes it look more normal (kind of like brain stuff).

They say you can't win with this type of tumor, but I'm feeling pretty good about the way things went today in spite of all that...

Lou Prete

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MRI results

Friday I had my first "post-operation" MRI.

Tomorrow I will meet with Dr. Haggstrom (chemo dude) to discuss the results. 

I am, of course, hoping for good news.  There really hasn't been a lot of good news except that I have been feeling pretty good for a guy with a brain tumor...ok well I have been tired but that's just part of the game,  right. 

Hopefully there will be something good to say after all this.

I also have a meeting with Dr. Asher (surgeon) on Monday,  July 1.

Lou Prete

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in case you were wondering...

how that scar thing is shaping up, here's a photo.

As you can see it's coming along pretty well.  Mostly shrunk down to not much left.

2nd chemo treatment

Mike said he was disappointed that I hadn't been blogging about the chemo treatments.  Here's a shot of the port...unfortunately you really can't see it because of the gauze and all.  Maybe next time I'll be more ready and get a shot as she's hooking it up.

Lou Prete

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