The New Plan

Hello everyone,
The results are in and the new plan is made - not how I expected to be celebrating Christmas and the New Year awhile back, but happy it is as good as it is.

The PET scan from last week came back with very good news - even better results than in September. Dr. Calvo seemed quite pleased - said something like, "This is as good as it gets." There were some options, but what he strongly recommended since this is an incurable disease is that we try to keep it inactive by continuing to do chemo, but on a once every four week schedule and with just one chemo drug called Alimta plus the Avastin which is targeted therapy for cutting off the blood supply to the tumor. The impression I got is that Alimta has lighter side effects than the two I have been taking. He also said to wait until late January to begin the new treatment.

The MRI of the brain did show two and possibly three new "dots". The doctors all recommended whole brain radiation first, but said I may have another Gamma knife if that is my choice and it is. The Gamma knife is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 19. If more spots show up later, I will probably need to have the whole brain radiation.

We are planning to go to Montana in January to ski at Big Sky and may be able to go to Utah in February. Ryan Kaspitzke has called and said he will be home then and we are welcome. It would be good to see him and "Ski Utah!"

I hope all of you have a great holiday and thanks as always for the continuing prayers and positive thought. I really believe they help!

Margaret