tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34875380207609043962024-03-06T02:33:54.365-06:00The Peters FamilyCancer sucks. It sucked in 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015 and it really sucks in 2016!!
But we are thankful that we can travel this journey trusting God as He guides our steps.
Please keep checking back for updates on Mike: #1 fan of his daughter's volleyball teams, avid bow hunter with a zoo of stuffed trophies as irrefutable proof. Incredibly strong man with courage and determination and support to fight melanoma again!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-24277398258631917122017-12-13T14:43:00.000-06:002017-12-13T14:43:21.473-06:0010 years & 15 monthsTen years ago this week I received a call from Dr. Lund telling me "Your biopsy came back positive for melanoma and I have zero clear margins". I had no clue what melanoma was, and/or what was coming in the next week before Christmas. 5 days later I had met with Dr. B and had a fairly big surgery and was preparing to start interferon. <br />
<br />
Four recurrences and every treatment option that was available and I'm thrilled to say I'm 15 months cancer free! You see, the time between my recurrence was getting shorter (4 years, 2 years, 1 year and 10 months)........which I've been told is NOT good. But last August when the needle biopsy showed melanoma had returned, I started Nivo/Ipi. As Dr. Patel said last month at MD Anderson "this is a big thing, you need to take a minute and celebrate because your time frame has been reversed and you are clicking off months on the positive side". Yeah me!<br />
<br />
But not 'yeah me'...........'yeah Team Mike'. Dr. B said years ago 'kick the can down the road, something will come along that will work on you' and he was right. I'm thankful for the doctors at MD Anderson (Dr. Ross and Dr. Patel), for Dr. B and his amazing staff, for Dr. Frankel at UTSW and Dr. Perez who pulled me off interferon and cried when he saw me breaking down physically. I'm thankful for friends.......I couldn't begin to mention each one that has reached out to say they are praying for me and for the constant support the last 10 years. I'm thankful for my family......Dasha has been through more than I would wish on anyone, and I firmly believe it's harder on family than the person going through the fight. My girls have been amazing, Campbell and Avery haven't known me without cancer, and as sad as that makes me, they are awesome/brave kids. My parents and sisters have been a rock.......I talk to Mindy every morning and most conversations over the last 10 years have started with "how are you feeling?" and me responding "fine".......then Mindy saying "no, really......" To the Brownings, Koss and team C6, Scotty, Taylor, the Cains, Jacksons, Cantor, Splunk and countless friends and people I've never met that have said they are praying for me, I'm humbled and can't begin to say 'thanks'.<br />
<br />
And most importantly I'm blessed to have a Lord and Savior that loves me. My testimony is one of grace......and I'm blessed in more ways than I can count. <br />
<br />
15 months and counting cancer free..........here's to another 12 months until I write an "11 years" blog!<br />
<br />
To His glory -MikeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-40070166151325699652017-05-08T14:17:00.000-05:002017-05-08T14:17:33.660-05:00Troy Aikman Has Taken Me Hostage!!Saturday was one of those rewarding days that don't come along often enough. A year ago I was asked to be on a patient panel for a MD Anderson Melanoma Symposium in Houston. It went ok, nothing earth shattering came of it, and I was glad I participated. A few weeks ago I was back in Houston for my first round of PET scan and brain MRI (all clear!!!) and Dr. Patel mentioned that they were taking the Symposium on the road, to Austin. (Austin Tx...........God's country, where the smell of national championships hangs in the air like Aaron Hernandez..........too soon?) She asked if I would participate on the patient's panel again, and I said "sure". She said, "and by the way, Troy Aikman is moderating the panel." Mindy let out a squeal of excitement and wanted to cancel her partner meeting in San Antonio the same weekend to attend the symposium, and I said "oh great, I'm sure Troy will be excited to meet me." So I go to dinner in Austin last Friday with my nephew William (Mindy's son who is a freshman at Texas) which was a lot of fun, other than me saying that I'm eating Acai bowls every day for lunch, trying to eat really healthy, and William saying "oh, you eat like a sorority girl!" Thanks William.<br />
<br />
Saturday morning on the Texas campus was the symposium, with different doctors giving 30-45 min talks about surgical options, new drugs, the science behind them, ect... The 3 of us on the patient panel went outside 45 min before out part started to meet and chat with Troy. It was a lot of fun. Hard to tell by the picture which appears to be a very happy Troy Aikman, and me trying to blink SOS like I'm being held captive in a Japanese prisoner camp! I'll let you be the judge:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqi6IyMezL5VghGrr7GZHiwrRj6Oy8-oxyz7lm0NkTvA9C4E4rlD22lmBonZXhi2h9xTePBUwxSCIOiTgoEi15-KHIdLgnP9S1rsSjy8KClJtyAsw__oPJv-9HuSkszaCNwDIHSXEPe8/s1600/troy+aikman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqi6IyMezL5VghGrr7GZHiwrRj6Oy8-oxyz7lm0NkTvA9C4E4rlD22lmBonZXhi2h9xTePBUwxSCIOiTgoEi15-KHIdLgnP9S1rsSjy8KClJtyAsw__oPJv-9HuSkszaCNwDIHSXEPe8/s320/troy+aikman.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The talk went GREAT and the stories from the other two patients were amazing. I met a bunch of people afterwards and was really touched by their stories and the impact that the symposium had on them. I'm blessed to have been asked to participate! And Troy was really nice, and will bring a lot of awareness and attention to melanoma research and preventive options.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mike</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-21135657260879990212017-02-02T08:58:00.000-06:002017-02-02T09:11:56.416-06:00And the angels sang and the trumpets blared!!!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Psalm 69:30</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let me shout God's name with a praising song,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let me tell His greatness in a prayer of thanks.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm very thankful for many things in my life and I've done a poor job of expressing my thanks and appreciation over the years. I'll try to be succinct in this post, in order to hopefully let my prayful thanks be the lead.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dasha and I headed to MD Anderson Monday night for appointments Tuesday. I love getting to see Mindy, Dave and the kids and I'm blessed to have them in Houston for a place to stay! 9:30 am sonogram of my neck, and we headed upstairs to wait for Dr. Ross. His nurse came in and we chatted for a long time, and she gave us insight into how we should approach another team at MD that we can't get a quick answer when we need them. Dr. Ross and his PA came in and gave us the great news........<b>"the sonogram showed the tumors are basically gone, the nivo/ipi has done it's job, and there is nothing for me to go get, so surgery is not needed at this point". </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So here is what has happened, explained in "non doctor" language:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nivo/ipi is an immunotherapy treatment. It tries to train your T-cells to attack bad things in your body, like cancer. Think of chicken pox.......why do you only get them once? Because your body trains itself to remember the virus and doesn't let it rear it's chicken head again. The T-cells in me attacked the tumors, and wiped them out. Now we hope that they will "remember" what the melanoma looks like, and will keep it away in the future. Why did I have side effects? When it ramps up your immune system, it sometimes turns and attacks other things, two of it's favorite and easiest things to attack are lungs and colon......hence the cough and aardvark issues.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had another appointment with Dr. Lewis in the Head and Neck Surgical Center, and she agreed with Dr. Ross. No need to do surgery at this point, and she had another interesting thought on surgery in the future. Because I've had a ton of surgeries in the same location, she would avoid surgeries at all cost, instead she would tell Dr. Patel to reach into her 'bag of tricks' and throw something new at it because I had such a good reaction to the nivo/ipi. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I head back to MD in a month to do a PET/CT scan, brain MRI with contrast, and another sonogram. That will hopefully be uneventful, and they will continue to monitor me quarterly to make sure everything is going smoothly. If something changes, I'll deal with that and will take address it head on again!!!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So there you go. What an answer to prayer! I can't begin thank everyone that has prayed for me, brought meals to the house, called, emailed, and the Go Fund Me page, where do I begin to say 'thanks' for that......wow.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But none of this is possible without an amazing God, that cares about things like T-cells, and puts researchers in place years ago to start working on controversial drugs like Nivo/Ipi. HE knew the outcome of this journey and orchestrated it from the start.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AMEN!!!!!!!!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mike</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PS Please pray for my friend Tracy who has surgery with Dr. Ross next Monday! Thanks.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-74375968770530472772017-01-23T15:35:00.000-06:002017-01-23T15:35:37.721-06:00Counting Aardvarks<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a while since I posted so I wanted to give a quick update on everything.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people count sheep.......I count aardvarks. For the last 6-8 weeks I'm averaging 3-5 per day........every day. A couple of weeks ago that number got to 12, and Mindy and Dasha convinced me to go to Plano Presby ER. Six hours later I'm heading home not knowing much, other than "your blood work looks ok to head home". A week later my count is back above 9, and I'm heading to Legacy ER where they did an abdomen CT scan, IV for fluids, and ran tests. (thanks to Thumper and Dr. Woody who went over and beyond taking care of me) I dropped off an aardvark sample the next day, and hope to get news back on that early this week. (Getting the aardvark sample in two cups, then to Legacy ER could be a blog in itself)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here is what I'm dealing with......when you do immunotherapy, it takes a stick and puts it in your immune system and stirs it all up like a bee hive. Your own immune system looks around and wants to find things to "attack". Two of the favorite things for it to mistakenly attack are your lungs and colon. Both are easily irritated, and only snowball downhill from there. Being an overachiever, my immune system is attacking BOTH! Aardvarks have been WELL documented, and I have a cough that runs from annoying to choking and gagging myself........good times. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've also been trying to get back down to MD Anderson to meet with the surgical team. That is scheduled for Jan 31st. I'm meeting with Dr. Ross and a surgeon from the head and neck team. Basically the plan all along was to do the nivo/ipi double treatment, surgery, then go on the nivo long term regiment. With everything going so well, it will be interesting to see what they want to do. I'll update next week!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-30315259114814168532016-12-22T11:04:00.000-06:002016-12-22T11:04:05.702-06:00Aardvark Races!!!!!!!!!!!!!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After getting home to a big "Welcome Home Daddy" sign Saturday evening and seeing the Jackson's off to Lubbock Sunday morning I was exhausted by the time we got home from church. Hanging out on the couch most of the day, taking it easy was the plan. Unfortunately, I had taken the horse steroids for 4 days, then stopped while waiting for my script to be filled for 24 hours. NOW I know that aardvarks don't like that inconsistently, and most of my Sunday looked like this (imagine aardvarks running):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/USrm0SSPvQY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/USrm0SSPvQY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had already cancelled my flights to Houston for Monday, because there wasn't a chance I was going to go through with the 4th double treatment. By Sunday night I was miserable, and Dasha begged me to book flights to keep my appts at MD Anderson Monday morning. A late night call to Mindy to let her know, and 3X the cost to re-book the flights I had just cancelled 6 hours earlier, and I was watching a Supercross 2017 Preview show at midnight. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Made it to HOU easily, did blood work and waited to see Dr. Patel. Here is the recap.........</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm done with the double treatments. The nivo/ipi did it's job and jump started the Tcells.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I might NOT do the nivo 2 year regiment, depending on what Dr. Ross says</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Patel is thrilled with the reduction in tumor sizes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next step was to email Dr. Ross's team (surgeon) and get back down for scans in Jan</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then Dr. Ross will decide if he wants to do surgery or wait and watch</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the beginning I've placed my trust in the amazing teams at MD Anderson, and will lean on Dr. Ross's expertise on when to do surgery. Dr. Patel said my stomach issues Sunday were 100% from stopping such a heavy dose of steroids cold turkey for 24 hours. So she put me on a stair stepping down script for the next 3 1/2 weeks. My arms look like I'm a bad heroine addict. Completely bruised up with track marks from so many needles last week........it's a good look!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have something next week that I've never had in "work life"......time off! Splunk's office is closed from Dec 23rd through Jan 2nd! I'll still be "working", but time........wow. (sorry Damon.....high 4?)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas everyone.........thank you again for thoughts, prayers, meals, and more love and support than I can wrap my head around. I'll update as soon as I have a plan with Dr. Ross and his team.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike</span></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-90848480151432355882016-12-20T10:24:00.000-06:002016-12-20T15:24:17.433-06:00Escape From Plano Presby......Snake Plissken style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="Image result for snake plissken" src="http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/p__/images/6/68/2252541-snake_l.jpeg/revision/latest?cb=20140314003849&path-prefix=protagonist" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Escape From NY.........how it didn't win every award in 1981 is beyond me, great movie. Snake Plissken, played by Kurt Russell is offered complete immunity if he can get the President out of Manhattan, where his plane was hijacked and crashed. Oh, and Manhattan was made into a maximum security prison, walled, and abandoned to be run by the inmates and falls into anarchy. VERY much like the scene at Plano Presby last week!!!!!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of these scenarios is true.........you be the judge. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scenario 1: I've had enough of hospitals beds, and am ready to get out. I call my dear friend Dick Cheney and have a copter come in the cover of darkness and hover above the CareFlight landing pad right outside my 4th floor window. I barricade the door, to keep from having my blood pressure checked during the escape, and tie thread count 20 bed sheets together into a rope. Scale down the side of the building to the waiting rope ladder of the helicopter. Climb up and shake Mr. Cheney's hand as he says "let me get you home Snake.........."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scenario 2: Mon/Tue/Wed and Thurs morning SUCKED. I'm not saying I was in bad shape, but Tuesday night I played poker with Mickey Mantle, Bob Hope, and Arnold Palmer.......and they invited me to dinner the next night. Long story I'll get into later, but after getting on the steroids that have only been tested on horses, I'm feel 100% better by Thurs evening. Liver #s are slowly coming back to what they should be. Saturday I have blood taken at 6:00 am, and I'm waiting for a # below 160 to go home. Comes back at 203ish. Several "hospitalists" come in and I can EASILY talk them into sending me home, then the GI comes and says "I'll make you a deal".....and I like deals!! "Let's draw blood again (it's now about 4:00 pm), and if it's come down, you are trending in the right direction, I'll let you go home, if it's higher or the same, you can get comfortable again because you aren't going anywhere. 90 minutes later the numbers came back lower, and I'm being unhooked from IVs and heading out into 20 degrees with a 30 mph wind from the north. Hey, I was TOLD it was 70 earlier today????!!?!?! A big "Welcome Home Daddy" sign was waiting for me when I walked in the door, what a great feeling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A bunch of people helped Dasha last week and "thanks" doesn't begin to say how much it meant to us. I'm not even going to try and mention everyone here, but just know that I'm humbled and overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. Thank you very very much.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was home Sunday, had a rough day, and headed to MD Anderson for a face to face with Dr. Patel and her team Monday. I'll update that important meeting and the plan going forward in the next day. </span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Favorite Snake Plissken quotes:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bob Hauk: You going to kill me, Snake?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snake Plissken: Not now, I'm too tired.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(pause)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snake Plissken: Maybe later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bob Hauk: I'm not a fool, Plissken.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snake: Call me "Snake".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10 min later....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bob Hauk: We make one hell of a team, Snake!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snake: The name's Plissken!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-63192360987442254492016-12-15T22:24:00.001-06:002016-12-16T11:17:15.347-06:00Plano Presby Beds Suck!!!!I'm at the office on Monday, and I haven't been feeling great for the last week. I have a really bad aardvark (see previous blogs if you just joining us) then another. I call the boss (Mindy) and ask her if an aardvark is supposed to be red. We google, and only see an aardvark that was cruelly dyed red as a prank. Pool little guy. Mindy says that is one of the 2 things that you drive straight to the ER for. I call Dasha and hop in the car and drive to Plano Presby. Get here about 3:15 and check in, and waited 90 minutes to be called back. The ER doc was super nice, but even me writing on a post it note the correct spelling of nivo and ipi had him confused as the next steps. They did a scan of my stomach and the liver and colon we very inflamed. They checked me in and moved me upstairs to a room, started an IV and fluids. Tuesday they got aggressive with anti-biotics and started running more tests. My liver numbers were way off so they started to use that as the barometer for when I could leave. Dr. Choi here at PB called Dr. Patel at MD Anderson, and Dr. Patel relayed the seriousness of the situation.........."He's not going anywhere for multiple days, maybe Sunday at the earliest." UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
So I've been here since Monday, I didn't eat anything other than 2 crackers, 2 bites of chocolate pudding, and a sip of broth since Sunday evening. They have run a ton of tests and I'm constantly getting pricked for blood sugar test or blood drawn or moving an IV. My left arm looks like a pin cushion.........good times. And the beds......let's just say it's not the Ritz. They are about 5 inches thick, and trying to sleep is a distant thought being tied to an IV, and with nurses coming in every hour to do something. <br />
<br />
Today I've had two "meals" of spaghetti with butter and tomato soup and feel 100% better. The girls came to see me yesterday and I had to lie down most of the time they were here, so Dasha brought them back up today to see me doing so much better. I would LOVE to get out of here tomorrow, but I just talked to one of the AMAZING nurses and they said 'probably won't consider it until Sat at the earliest'. I've heard it's cold out, but from my view out the window it just 'looks cold'. I did see CareFlight land right outside my window, so that was cool! (small victories...like taking a lap around the 4th floor and calling that a walking victory......yeah Mike!) I did have an AMAZING "nurse" step to help this afternoon..........<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQDmhXEKfm6mIsMb66hqHsMShGEwvWVW_v3VXa7FwFUJpXAPI36OvGspE65U7xrFqRkldQ1_qmkNV8WFnnz79mugZtH6N-jeftytkxS9Uj-I8U78d00oq9KmB5wda6KXUDLlyr5sG0AE/s1600/CC+Hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQDmhXEKfm6mIsMb66hqHsMShGEwvWVW_v3VXa7FwFUJpXAPI36OvGspE65U7xrFqRkldQ1_qmkNV8WFnnz79mugZtH6N-jeftytkxS9Uj-I8U78d00oq9KmB5wda6KXUDLlyr5sG0AE/s320/CC+Hospital.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you to Dasha, my Mom and Dad, Gary and Sue, the Jacksons and everyone that has been helping Dasha with the girls. Neighbors this week have carpooled the girls to school, volleyball and Girl Scouts. They picked up Dasha's X-mas list for the girls and went shopping. They bought hundreds of dollars of groceries at Costco and dropped it all off on the kitchen counter. Kelly Head, Anissa McCurdy, Wendi Berge, Allison Noon, Chris Calandro and Leslie Wright......wow...thank you!!!!! To Luann Glatch, Wendi, Sherre Barton and Allison who carpooled the girls all over Friscco and McKinney. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
Also I've been simply overwhelmed with the amount of visitors. Sorry I've been a barrel of laughs as I've been sleeping for your entire visit! Also, Mindy the Wonder Twin made a surprise visit today as she walked through the door today. Flying up this morning from Houston to surprise me, then catching the 10 pm flight out of Love back to H-Town. <br />
<br />
I'm more blessed than I can tell you or put into words. Thank you everyone. I'll update tomorrow or Saturday if I get more details on going home.<br />
<br />
Mike and Dasha<br />
<br />
PS I was really saddened today to hear of the passing of Craig Sager. A champion and a fighter until the very end was also being treated at MD Anderson and graciously lent his voice and fame to the front page of the MD website to help spread the word and raise funds. RIP Mr. Sager.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-63196156121128874812016-12-06T15:26:00.000-06:002016-12-06T15:26:55.735-06:00"Don't make me call Mindy"Quick post to let everyone know that I'm not going to MD Anderson tomorrow (12/7) for treatment. Side effects have been acting up in the last week or so, and I've been acting like they are no big deal. But they have been getting worse, and bordering on what Dr. Patel would say is 'worrisome'. Dasha said "Don't make me call Mindy". That is the ultimate threat!!!!!!! It's like President Trump getting ready to hang up the phone with North Korea, and saying "where is that nuclear football??" just loud enough so Kim Jong-bad haircut can hear him. So I emailed Dr. Patel and her nurse, and they said to wait at least a week. I'm in Washington DC next week for 2 days on business, so this is a probably a good thing and a blessing. I gave the nurse the week of the 19th go get me back down to Houston, and I'll update when I have the appointments lined out.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Speaking of blessings..........I've tried to think of a way to express my gratitude for the Go Fund Me page, and after going through 10+ ideas, I decided to honestly tell a story......</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, I've had a stack of bills in my backpack for a while. (yes I'm too old for a backpack, but I work with 20-30 somethings, and they give everyone a Splunk backpack when we start) Some are from the surgery in November of 2015, some from MD Anderson, some from random treatment stuff. As anyone who has had a bunch of surgeries or treatments knows, you get all kinds of bills long after the surgery. (example......a company in Oklahoma that makes the surgical socks that compress and release on your feet during surgery) So that stack had grown to a solid inch and a half plus if I set it on my desk. I took that entire stack out and wrote checks to each and every one of them. I can't express the lingering stress that stuff like that creates, and the GFM allowed me to pull them out, and be 100% done with them. What a blessing......thank you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mike and Dasha</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-64295267116604095832016-11-17T15:21:00.000-06:002016-11-17T15:21:23.683-06:00A LONG Day<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last couple of weeks have been a blur. My beloved Chicago Cubs....wow. I woke the girls up to watch the last 3 outs, and they asked why Daddy had tears in his eyes. I smacked them both in the back of the head and sent them back to bed. (I kid) I could do 3 blogs on the Cubs, but I'll save that for another time. A beautiful wedding in Hilton Head for Samantha and Ryan could not have been more perfect! Then I drove to the North Central Missouri to the Kossmeyer farm......my happy place. This could be another 4 page blog, but with Chris over my shoulder filming for Buckmen TV, I shot a 154 1/2" buck with my bow and it will be a show next year sometime. Crazy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the 3rd of 4 nivo/ipi treatments was scheduled for 2 weeks ago and was pushed back because of some stomach issues and a bad cough. Dr. Patel said it's from a 'lung toxicity called pneumonitis' and she started me on a Medrol DosePak. That was finished last week, and the cough is better but still acting up. Yesterday I was back in Houston at MD Anderson for the 3rd infusion. Early flight out of Dallas and I did blood work at 9:00 am. Then waited 4 hours and 20 minutes to be called back to see a doctor in the melanoma clinic. (Dr. Patel was on vacation yesterday) 90 minutes in the little room in back and they sent me for a chest x-ray. Then an hour later we are waiting for the doctor again. She really left it up to me, asking about side effects, ect....and we (I say 'we' because Mindy really makes the final decision...........and no, I'm not kidding) decided we were good to go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another 2 hour plus wait at the infusion center and a surprise visit from Dave, and we were called back at 5:15. Luckily the nurse was on her A game when I explained we needed to go fast, but at the end of the day the nivo takes an hour, then 30 min observation, and the ipi takes 90 minutes. Also time for getting drugs from phamacy, ect... Finally finishing and running to the airport, I barely caught my 10:00 pm flight home. Getting to the house around midnight.........that is a long day. Thanks to Mindy for being my wing man, and always showing up with snacks!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing I wasn't going to mention, because I feel very odd about it, but I feel compelled to say thanks to so many people. A few weeks ago my buddy Scott Posavitz sends me an email explaining he's already set up a go fund me account to offset expenses, and sends me a link. How do I feel about this I kept wondering, then Mindy asks me about the last 5 surgeries and treatments, and how much we've spent over the last 8 years. She said "God has this all under control, relax." Soooooooooooo..........I get home that night and open a $1380 bill from MD Anderson. The next morning I get an alert from Go Fund Me that the balance is $1630. I think.......oh cool......a little more than that exact bill! The NEXT morning I get an email from GFM........"one of the deposits into your account came from an unknown source, it will take a 7-10 business days to sort out, and we reduced the total to $1380." Uh.........yeah........<b>HE</b> has this under control. Thank you to friends and family and people I've never met. I am humbled and blessed, and it means more to me than I could ever express in a blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next week I'll post again, and the side effects should be in full swing......and with side effects you get COMEDY on the blog!!!!!!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go Cubs Go</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-43971451961122331832016-10-25T16:27:00.000-05:002016-10-25T16:28:25.630-05:00Like A Frightened Turtle<b>Quick update and an introduction to my new hero.....</b><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First of all, for those of you that don't get the title of the blog as fast as Jenny and Bart did, this is the Seinfeld reference...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GG2dF5PS0bI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GG2dF5PS0bI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So a quick recap.........4 tumors total in my neck, with the largest being 15mm. I could feel all of them, and the biggest I could measure with a cool digital caliper that I bought from Lowes if I twisted my neck to a really odd angle. I could tell in the last 3 weeks that the biggest tumor was getting smaller, or at least felt like it. But in the last week it seems to have shrunk by about half of what it started.........<b><span style="color: #38761d;">like a frightened turtle!!</span></b> (see how I tied the title in? I'll be teaching this important step in 4th grade writing soon) Now, this is not scientific, but it sure seems like it's at least 50% smaller. Great news and a HUGE praise!!!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I did go back to MD Anderson on Oct 12th, after the Oct 5th appointment was Aardvarked! (ties to previous blog post, this is more of an advanced, 5th grade writing step) The infusion went very smoothly, and I felt really good the week after. This week is a little rougher, as I'm not 100%, and the stomach issues have been getting worse. But going to Game 1 and Game 6 in Wrigley to watch the Cubs advance to the World Series helped!!! (Thanks cousin Chris!!!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYENNfXqYgK43CTjakiwqLQdeFwqJ1R5kERvdt1_z0Hq5jIK3KmBiZFYCT7-ts9wdfGbndw_ujVi6415krvUCV3UG_uSp5S8wfKzHyC1TXr-87oSYu7jnogCUr7kw_ze3-bBAJYb6zA4c/s1600/Chris+cubs+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYENNfXqYgK43CTjakiwqLQdeFwqJ1R5kERvdt1_z0Hq5jIK3KmBiZFYCT7-ts9wdfGbndw_ujVi6415krvUCV3UG_uSp5S8wfKzHyC1TXr-87oSYu7jnogCUr7kw_ze3-bBAJYb6zA4c/s320/Chris+cubs+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On to the hero part......... Texas Monthly has a cover story on Dr. Jim Allison, who is the chair and head of the Department of Immunology at MD Anderson. It is one of the most fascinating and interesting articles I've ever read. (and maybe the longest) Mindy said "this article was written to and for you!!!!!!!" It's about the research that has gone into developing and the science around the EXACT treatment I'm on!!!! For most the article would make your head spin, but it discusses every treatment I've been on, from interferon, Sylatron, radiation and now nivo/ipi. Dr. Allison developed ipi..........the wonder drug based on CTLA-4 molecules. The article points out that he is expected to get the Nobel Peace Prize soon, and I for one, can't think of a better person. His license plate on his Tesla is CTLA-4.......nerd alert maybe? But it's OK little buddy, get back in that lab and keep up the great work!!!!!! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I can't begin to thank everyone that has touched my life in the last few months......I'm humbled and blessed more than I can express. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mike</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-63927969435916988252016-10-06T14:59:00.000-05:002016-10-06T14:59:17.044-05:00Let's Talk Aardvarks!!<img alt="Image result for aardvark" src="http://dinoanimals.pl/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Mrownik_1-300x286.jpg" /><br />
No, this isn't going to be a blog about the little guy above......but I need a code word for poop (I was going to say 'diarrhea', but I think that is one of the most hated words in the English language, along with 'moist' for some reason, but I digress)....so AARDVARK it is! <br />
<br />
My alarm goes off Wednesday morning at 4:15 am for my trip/flight to Houston. I get to MD Anderson at 7:45 for blood work and head up to wait for Dr. Patel. Mindy shows up with her signature chocolate chip cookies, which are amazing, and we are called back within 30 minutes. A nurse comes in and asks a few questions, and then Dr. Patel's side kick comes in and asks a ton of questions and does an exam. Here is where the conversation takes a turn towards our odd friend pictured above. "How many aardvarks are you having a day?" "When was your last aardvark?" "Does your stomach cramp before your aardvarks?" "Is there a sense of urgency with your aardvarks?" You get the picture. A couple of those answers were yes, and here is where the problem arose. <br />
<br />
Dr. Patel comes in and says "yeah, so you aren't doing your nivo/ipi treatment today, but thanks for the cookie!!!" Wait what???????? So I put on my 'sales' hat and say "Let me change the detailed description of my aardvarks, and convince you that I'm getting nivo/ipi in 2 hours." Dr Patel: "you can talk all you want, but you aren't getting nivo/ipi today.....and do you use a special margarine or something in these cookies, they are fantastic!!!" I talk and beg for 15 minutes and she and Mindy finally convince me to head back to Hobby Airport and fly back to Big D.<br />
<br />
So here is the basic reason why I didn't get an infusion yesterday. In the clinical studies of nivo/ipi, they had a couple of people die........yeah, DEAD, because they ignored stomach issues that lead to intestines bursting and other nasty stuff like that. So they take any stomach issues very seriously, to the point where if you are having 5+ aardvarks a day, they may pull you off the study/drug all together. Nivo/ipi stay in your system for 60+ days, so no biggie to skip a week and see if we can take some "anti-aardvark" meds. <br />
<br />
By the time I got back to the office I already had new appointments set for next Wednesday, and the nurse has called 3 times today to get aardvark reports. I can see it now.... Next on Fox News, we break from the hurricane coverage to give you a live update on Mike's aardvark!!!!!!<br />
<br />
Thanks to everyone for the prayers, calls, texts and especially to Aunt Emmy and Uncle Bill who keep arranging flights to Houston, that is a huge answer to prayers!<br />
<br />
Love to everyone! Next week possum talk!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
MikeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-21900848434574123862016-09-15T16:13:00.001-05:002016-09-15T16:13:55.508-05:00A Piece of Cake or Nivo/Ipi???<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Mindy has been bossing me around.........uh......"helping" me keep track of things since I was, well, born. From letting Mom know that my apple fell from the tree when I was in Kindergarten (in K we had a tree on the bulletin board and each of us had an apple with our name on it, when you got in trouble, your apple fell from the tree), to going with me to MD Anderson yesterday. She is a trooper, minus the "Apple incident of 1973 in Austin, TX".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I fly to Houston Tuesday afternoon, grab an Uber to take me to MD Anderson, and about 5 minutes from the airport I get a text from Dave........."Hey, I'm your Uber, I'm sitting outside, call me when you land". Sorry Dave....... I get blood work and then head to the odd building where they do the brain MRI......and I see Dave sitting in the lobby! Again, sorry buddy. Tuesday goes smoothly and I head to dinner with Mindy and Dave, I eat well when I'm in Houston!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I worked Wednesday morning at Mindy and Dave's house where my mission is to make Max the yellow lab like me, had lunch with M&D, and Mindy and I headed back to MD Anderson. We had a 2:15 appointment with Dr. Patel, she was running an hour behind but she and her team gave us great info about what was coming. At one point Mindy asks me: "Are you nervous about starting the nivo/ipi combo thingy?" Me: "If I had the choice of eating a piece of cake, or getting an infusion of nivo/ipi, I'll take the cake". I think that sums it up. One side note, the 11mm tumor is not 15mm........Dr. Patel doesn't seem concerned, and will keep a close eye on it, measuring each time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We head downstairs and wait for 45 minutes to be called back into the Infusion center. They put us in a small room and almost immediately hand us a menu for dinner. Hey, I'm not one to turn down a free meal, so I order a sandwich. IV started by Dana, the nurse with angelic IV starting hands and we waited another 15 min for Nivo to show up from the pharmacy. That arrives and Nivo is flowing. Here is where we are told Nivo is an HOUR, and Ipi is 90 minutes......ruh roh, I'm not going to make my flight. So a quick call to Southwest Airlines and I'm on the 10:00 pm flight, but that doesn't look good. Nivo finishes and we wait 30 min before starting Ipi. 90 min on the clock starts and we start doing math on if I can make that late flight.........not looking good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, here is where the "Great Sandwich Incident of 2016" starts. MY dinner arrives, Mindy's does not. I do what any good twin brother would do, OFFER to split my sammich, NEVER thinking Mindy will take food out of the mouth of a Stage III cancer patient, who by the way is hooked up to 4 IV bottles of poison. But Mindy grabs the sandwich so fast I thought I was going to lose a hand........she scarfed it like a fat kid on Halloween. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to Ipi flowing, the late night nurse comes in and says I have another 5 minutes, then 30 min of observation starts. IF we do 30 min, NO chance I make my flight, so I ask if we can forgo ALL of the observation, and amazingly she agrees! A quick check of vitals, and I'm dismissed....and we RUN to the car. I make the 10:00 pm SWA flight by 10 min and I'm the last one to board. Home at 11:50 and I'm officially tired. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I'm sore and minor flu like symptoms, but nothing major. I don't feel great, but not miserable. One HUGE praise, and an answer to prayer......after the 4 combo doses I start on Nivo every 2 weeks for two years. Dr. Patel said I could look for a place to do those infusions up here, and just come down there for scans and check ups. That is BIG!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you VERY much again to Uncle Bill and Aunt Emmy for flying me to Houston on SWA, thank you to Mindy and Dave for the hospitality, to Mindy for being by my side for 48+ years........I'll split a sandwich with you any day, and thank you to everyone for the prayers, calls and well wishes....it means more to me than I can every tell you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-8613408341481165842016-09-12T09:15:00.000-05:002016-09-12T09:15:08.966-05:00Yeah Science!!!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know what you are wondering as you woke up this morning, sipping your coffee...."Hey Mike, now that you are Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) also known as cluster of differentiation 274 (CD274) or B7 hololog (B7-H1) negative, are you going with ipilimumab and nivolumab?" </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQR1r1KTjaE">Yeah Science!!!</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why yes......that <b>IS </b>the plan! Dr. Patel emailed last Friday and said my PD-L1 test came back <b>negative</b>. (I swear to you, my first thought was 'I failed another test!!!') We were waiting for the PL-L1 test results to narrow down the 3 options that were available, and being PL-L1 negative did just that. So here is the plan:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flying down to Houston Tuesday afternoon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6:45 bloodwork</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7:15 Brain MRI with contrast </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wednesday 2:30 meeting with Dr. P</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3:00 start infusion of nivo/ipi</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The infusion takes 3 hours. About 30-60 minutes for each drug, then they stare at me for an hour to make sure nothing odd is happening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night at "Cousin's Dinner"........ (cousin's dinner is Sun night. My cousin Chris and his family meet my fam, Jenny's family, Emily's family when they can make it, and the rare appearance from my parents for a very casual dinner, last night was at Fuddruckers. We have been meeting for "Cuz dinner" for 15+ years).......some asked about nivo/ipi, so I'll give a brief breakdown.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nivo is nivolumad (Opdivo) and ipi is ipilimumab (Yervoy). Several years ago they were approved to treat Stage III and Stage IV melanoma separately, and both had moderate success. Last October they were approved to be used in combination. Think of it like this, nivo is chicken, and ipi is steak......I just ordered the combo fajita plate! Both are immunotherapy drug, or checkpoint inhibitors. Here is a good article on the nivo/ipi combo when the FDA approved them. <a href="http://www.cancerresearch.org/news-publications/our-blog/october-2015/in-a-first-fda-approves-immunotherapy-combination-of-ipilimumab-and-nivolumab-for-melanoma">chicken/steak combo fajita platter FDA approved</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I now wait for Wednesday at 3:00. In the past I've known exactly what to expect. Surgery at 7:00 am at the Carroll Clinic......arrive at 5:30, don't eat anything. Sadly I can say "hi" to about half of the people at the Carroll Clinic, but the good thing is it's a known entity. I've got that surgery routine down to a science. (hit 'yeah science' link above again) This is a different animal, and doing it in Houston adds to the unknown. Hopefully the sides effects are as easy as Shane Buechele dropping a perfect pass to a streaking receiver down the sideline, and not as difficult as a Texas Tech defensive stand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there is the latest update. Thank you VERY much to Uncle Bill and Aunt Emmy for the flights to Houston! Thank you everyone for your kind notes and prayers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-77447444773158276392016-09-07T14:45:00.002-05:002016-09-08T20:47:44.742-05:00Giddy Up take 5!!!!!!!<b>Friends, Romans, countryman, lend me your ears.......</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
There are a few reasons why the world famous blog would be back up and running.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>The Cubs won the World Series</li>
<li>I won Top Chef </li>
<li>I spun the Melanoma wheel of fun again</li>
</ol>
<div>
The top 2 haven't happened........YET. (shout out to Isbell and the "YET" theme!!!) So #3 is the big winner for now! Several weeks ago I called the great Nurse Terry at Dr. Beitsch's office, and told her I felt a couple of bumps in my neck. Her response was simple......"Do you want the 9:15 or 3:00 Wednesday". A sonogram and a needle biopsy confirmed that melanoma was back. This time we agreed to leave it, and head to MD Anderson to check options. If we cut it out, again, the options are very limited because MD Anderson doesn't have anything to measure, so I'm not eligible for clinical studies, ect... A quick email to Dr. Ross and Dr. Patel at MD and I had an appt a week later. A quick recap of last week........I drove down to MD early on Aug 29th, and had a PET scan at 1:00. Tuesday I had a neck CT scan with contrast at 6:20 am, then met with Dr. Ross and his team at 9:30. CT scan confirmed 4 tumors in my neck, Dr. Ross could feel all of them with my head contorted to angles I only thought a Muppet could achieve. Then I met with Dr. Patel and her team Wednesday and they did a biopsy on a tumor on my jaw line.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dr. R has clinical studies that are available, with TVEC, chemo, TVEC + Ipi (Yervoy), and any combination and surgery all being options. Most of those are being ruled out, as there is a chance I could be randomized into the surgical side of the study, and we don't want that. (been there, done that, got the cool MD Anderson shirt)</div>
<div>
Dr. P has studies and everything has a really cool name, like PDI, CTLA4, LEEO11, MEK162, ect... (feel free to make up your own, nobody will know) And she has some NRAS targeted therapies also available. Most people are BRAF positive or negative, I had to be "special" and am NRAS positive. NRAS+ offers up some trials that are new and hopefully have great success soon, if needed. Here is some light reading on the BRAF gene if you are bored: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRAF_(gene)">BRAF cool info</a> Dr. P also had a biopsy done on Wednesday (I have a cool 3mm incision and 3 tiny stitches to prove it) and they will be testing to see if I'm PD-L1 positive or not. What you say, you want a link to read about PD-L1???? Boom.....</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.cancercommons.org/2015/09/09/to-pd-l1-or-not-to-pd-l1-that-is-the-question/">Even Cooler PD-L1 Link</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So.........what does all this mean and what is the plan????</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dr. R is presenting my "case" to the Tumor Board (this group would be a blast at a party) on Monday, Sept 12th. Dr. P is waiting for the PD-L1 results (you should be an expert after clicking on the above link). And I have another appt at MD Sept 14th. By then a plan should be set. I was hoping to hear back this week, but it's now going to be next Wednesday before all the results are in, and everyone has talked.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Cubs Magic number is 10, Hook 'em Horns, where can I buy a life size cut out of Shane Buechelle, hashtags are so 2015, thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!!!!!!!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mike</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-17282720344639992972015-12-31T21:18:00.001-06:002016-01-04T14:24:17.436-06:00MD Anderson Day 2 and a HUGE announcementThe evening after Day 1 was spent at the Farace mansion in Katy, TX. The highlight was Audra doing a dramatic reading of the last blog post, and she has been chosen as the official reader for the audio version of the blog, coming in the summer of 2016, immediately following my interview with Matt Lauer on the Today show.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Day 2 started with a mid-morning call from MD Anderson letting us know that Dr. Patel and the team was running ahead of schedule, and that I was free to come in earlier than my scheduled 2:00 appt. Having anyone at MD "running ahead of schedule" is like seeing Halley's Comet every Tuesday for a month...it just doesn't happen. After a short wait, we were called back and did the blood pressure thingy, and weight (3 pounds less than yesterday....SCORE!!!!) and met with Dr. Patel's nurse and she went through a rough history and general medical questions. Then the very cool Dr. Baez entered and spent about 30 minutes going through a complete history of surgeries and treatments. Side note: Dr. B is freaking cool, like the flip side of the pillow and you want to invite him to dinner at Flemings when the Bradleys are paying cool. Grew up in Puerto Rico, went to Stanford, worked on Wall Street with Goldman for two years before going to med school back in PR, and then doing his residency and fellowship at MD Anderson. Yeah, about like my path and story, we could be twins. So Dr. B had an interesting focus on the questions....he wanted to know the dates of each surgery and reoccurrence, but wanted to know the specific treatments, length, how I tolerated, ect... After beating him down with "no really, we should be best friends" he left to go update Dr. Patel. About 12 minutes gave me just enough time to watch the best Ted Talks ever.....Amy the Unicorn...watch it here if you've never seen it, you can thank me later:</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work?language=en">Best Ted Talk Ever-Shawn Achor</a></div>
<div>
So then the great Dr. Patel enters and we are reminded why MD Anderson is so great. Her bedside manner, like everyone at MD is impeccable. She is friendly, attentive, knows every date and person's name along my journey off the top of her head and wants to have a discussion, not just tell me what she thinks. At the end of the day she suggests doing nothing at this point, other than monitoring and checking scans quarterly. She gave a concrete reason for not doing Yervoy at this point, the 10% uptick in pushing back reoccurrence is not worth the terrible side effects. They are basically waiting for the 'next time', then LEAVING the cancer in place, so they can have something to monitor to see if the treatment is working. The tumor or cancer is shrinking, great, stay on whatever drug or in whatever trial, if it's not, then try something else or remove it. The other interesting thing coming out of this is I'm somewhat of a Melanoma Rock Star!!! Having an initial diagnosis, then reoccurrence, reoccurrence, and reoccurrence puts me in rare company....so MD will send a private jet to Addison Airport so I can travel in luxury each quarter to make MD my home base. Ok, so I made up the private jet part, but my agent is working on that, right after making sure Matt Lauer doesn't get 'handsie' during my Today Show interview.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>So now for the big announcement</b>.....thanks to the generous offer from Mrs. D (you know who you are you Scandal loving principal.....even thought the acting and story line in Scandal is terrible) I will be teaching 4th grade writing at Isbell Elementary starting this Spring. So expect a generation of writers that like to use "..." to join run on sentences, put anything and everything in "quotes' to draw attention because you can't see me doing air quotes while I'm typing, and a smarmy attitude and understanding that sometimes comedy makes people uncomfortable. (see Emily and Mike's rehearsal dinner toast)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thank you to Mindy and Dave for hosting us for two nights, and buying two of the most expensive meals I've ever eaten. (Mitch, we still hold first place with Nobu NY) And to Craig and Audra for a great dinner, company, and keeping the girls for two days.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mike<br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>PS I'm kidding about teaching at Isbell.......after the 5th person asked either when I was starting, or if I was still working at Splunk, I figured I needed to clarify! haha</b></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
#Blessed #TrevoneBoykinisanidiot #TCUquarterbacksliketohavefelonies #StillwishTexashadaQB #Scandalisterrible #LittleSweetslidingdownthebannistermakesmelaugheverytime #Ilovedrpepper #MancrushonDrBaez #MancrushonKirkHerbstreit #Alabamadefenseisprettygood #Idon'tproofreadIjusthitpublish #Untilnexttime </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-79202057331837123732015-12-29T19:57:00.001-06:002015-12-29T19:57:28.969-06:00Souvenir MD Anderson T-ShirtMD Anderson is amazing. Literally, amazing. For starters, it's huge. Just like going to a sporting event or trying to park in downtown San Francisco for dinner, parking is the first thing you think of when approaching the complex. After circling and seeing multiple "Full" signs on 15 story parking garages, we found a spot and made it into the "primary" MD Anderson building. Asked the front desk that was next to the "Aquarium", "Bookstore", big "Souvenir" shop and "Art Display" (because who doesn't want a "My mom and dad went to MD Anderson and all I got was this crummy t-shirt") where to go, and she pointed at Elevator T, 9th floor. When you walk off the elevator there is a huge waiting room with "MD Anderson Melanoma Clinic" above the entrance.........ahhhhh, my people!!! "Paperwork" on an iPod, and I was called back......super nice nurse, and a somewhat pushy and over the top "nice" research nurse and then the GREAT Adam entered the room. Adam is Dr. Ross' PA, or wing man, right hand man, just all around great dude. We chat for 15 min, and he gets all the pertinent info down to present to Dr. Ross in some super top secret room where I envision Dr. Ross sitting on a big throne with scantily clad nurses fanning him and feeding him grapes. Then the smell of freshly cut grapes filled the air, as a heavenly glow shown under the door, and after an angelic knock, Dr. Ross entered the room to a huge ovation. Dr. Ross is the man, super great guy, and all round great doctor. He has known Dr. B from med school, and asked Adam to try and get him on the phone after questioning me about why the melanoma was removed, instead of keeping the mass intact, and monitoring it versus various treatments or trials. Adam sticks his head in the door two minutes later with Dr. B on hold.......Dr. Ross steps in the hall to discuss. They have a good discussion, have a plan if it comes back, and Dr. Ross comes back in. He wants to do a sonogram on both sides of my neck, and a needle biopsy on anything that doesn't look normal. He sends me off to the Ross Clinic, which is a 1.3 mile walk through the Sky Bridge system connecting all the buildings. Literally there is a "golf cart" side of the Sky Bridge, and a "walking" side of the bridge. Side note/question: Why do people in white doctors coats look smart. I could go the Drag in Austin, grab a homeless dude, shower and quick shave before putting him in navy slacks and a white doctors coat that says "Dr. Wilkins, Emergency Trauma Medicine" and he would INSTANTLY look like he knows what he's doing. So back to the walk......I get to the Ross Clinic and check in for the sonogram. A really nice tech lady does the very thorough sonogram, and walks down the hall with the results. A really smart guy (no clue if he was smart or not, but he had a white dr. coat on) appears and says he would like to do a needle biopsy on the left side, he thinks he can tell which lymph node was 'of concern' on the report from last month. So they set up for the needle biopsy, make me sign consent forms, and another VERY smart guy enters the room......he must have been smart because he had a white coat on AND scrubs.........ooooooooooooohhhhh, impressive. He jabs me and pokes me with multiple needles, and drops it on some slides. The nurse hands me an ice pack and a big wad of gauze and they disappear to the floor below us, to have the slide read, right then and there....again, MD Anderson is the real deal. 20 minutes later the doctor sticks his head back in the room and says "Not malignant, you are free to go." AMEN........finally a sliver of good news!!!!!!!!! A 1.3 mile walk back to the car and we are on our way back to Mindy and Dave's house to get the girls. <br />
<br />
Tomorrow I have a 2:00 appt with the oncology team. Dr. Ross had some interesting opinions on the treatment options, but we will wait to hear what the team has to say tomorrow. And I'll update the blog again tomorrow night.<br />
<br />
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers!<br />
<br />
Mike "I'm wearing a white coat to the office next week" PetersAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-72434132213525398682015-12-10T17:06:00.002-06:002015-12-10T17:06:20.901-06:00Confucius Say:<strong>"True wisdom is knowing what you don't know"</strong> <br />
-Confucius<br />
<br />
So we are 90% sure, after meeting with UTSW, that we are making all the right decisions. But after my last meeting with Dr. B, he suggested we go back to MD Anderson for a second opinion if it would alleviate any doubt, or give any peace of mind. So a quick call to Dr. Ross, who I saw after my initial surgery, and after a lengthy conversation with his nurse, she presented everything to Dr. Ross and his team the next day. He said he does want to see me, and wants me to meet with the melanoma oncology team also. Appointment is Dec 29th with the surgical team, and Dec 30th with the oncology team. Mindy and Dave will be buying dinner BOTH night we are there...........thanks twin!<br />
<br />
Mike<br />
<br />
#Melanomasucks #Cubswintermeetings #Iwouldplayforthecubsforfree #Mouthstillnotworking #Whyarepuppiessocute #Whatisthemostexpensivesushiinhouston? #TopChefreviewstocome #YesIkilledthatgatorwithabow #Itwasaverysickgator #Nowitisapairofboots Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-65170035864477555142015-12-07T18:14:00.000-06:002015-12-07T18:15:56.334-06:00Giddy Up....Take 4Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears, I come to bury Melanoma, not to praise it.<br />
<br />
Ok, so it's a poor attempt at borrowing the great Shakespeare's words, but you get the idea.<br />
<br />
So, the blog is back up and running, and you know what that means.......<span style="font-size: large;">Melanoma in the House!!!! What what!!! Word!!!!!!</span><br />
<br />
I'll give a general, LONG update, then will update with shorter reports as needed.<br />
<br />
I had a PET/CT scan Aug 25th that came back all clear. About a month after that I noticed a small bump in my neck, just under my jaw. No biggie, scar tissue and stuff everywhere, it was not that unusual. Observing it I noticed it getting bigger, so I called Terry at Dr. Beitsch's office, and she got me in the Monday before Thanksgiving. A sonogram and a needle biopsy later, I was standing back by the front desk with Team Beitsch surrounding me. Dr. B says: "It's coming out either way, so schedule surgery ASAP." Terry: "You have a 2:00 tomorrow." Dr. B: "Great". Me: "What the what? Tomorrow, Tuesday tomorrow???" So, a PET/CT scan that afternoon at 2:00 and slides sent off for biopsy results. Tuesday morning I received an email from Tiffany that said "Melanoma positive on slides from needle biopsy, and it did show in PET/CT scan, but nothing spreading, so that is good, see you at 12:30 for surgery."<br />
<br />
I'll skip a lot of the details of the day, but surgery finally around 4:15 went well. Dr. B said it was more invasive than originally thought, as he took tissue around it also because he didn't like how it looked.<br />
<br />
So now just healing up and preparing for next steps, IF there are next steps at this point. We met with Dr. Frankel at UTSW and I talked to MD Anderson today........more on that after I hear back from MD Anderson late tomorrow or Wednesday morning.<br />
<br />
Thank you for friends and family, and especially for Dasha. She is a rock through this. And to Splunk and my co-workers. I don't think they really know what to make of it so far, but the upper management has been GREAT and very understanding. <br />
So many people ask about prayer requests and what they can do......so instead of saying "I'm good" like I always do, I'll be more transparent this go around......<br />
<br />
1) The right side of my mouth is still not working. There is a nerve that is close by, and with past surgeries is stops controlling the bottom right side of my mouth for a few weeks. So just that it returns to normal at some point.<br />
and 2) for my girls......CC is at the age where she is very worried and concerned, it's the first time either of them have been upset, as they were always too young to ask questions, ect....<br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone for your prayers!!!!!<br />
<br />
Love-<br />
MikeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-13704040949418486872014-03-28T11:35:00.000-06:002014-03-28T11:35:09.320-06:00All Aboard!!!!!!!!A good friend of mine battled cancer for years, and is thankfully cancer free now. He compared his treatments to a roller coaster ride, and it is the perfect analogy. And this "ride", like the Shock Wave at Six Flags, is a roller coaster I've been on before and know well. <br />
<br />
Starting back on Sylatron tonight is a known entity. I know it well, and know what to expect......that is the good thing. If I was starting a new drug like Yervoy, there would be the unknown side effects and timing of said side effects to deal with.......but my long lost friend Sylatron, we know each other well. I know how I'll feel around midnight tonight. I know how I'll feel in the morning and how I'll feel standing on a soccer field tomorrow afternoon. Side bar: Why can I yell (encourage) my girls to spread out or run faster, and they ignore me, but if I ask in a whisper "who would like ice cream?" they all scream and run to me?? But I digress....... I know how I'll feel Sat night, Sunday, and Monday. THAT in my mind is a good thing. I'm a planner, I like things organized and on time, and Sylatron NEVER fails. And having a week on, week off schedule is hopefully a good thing also. I know going in the roller coaster is pulling in tonight, and will be back in two weeks. The up and down and loops in between is predicatable, and known........and that is a good thing too. <br />
<br />
All aboard!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
Side bar II:<br />
<br />
Don Juan is still an idiot.<br />
Nikki should be an Abercrombie model.<br />
Yes I had to look up how to spell "Abercrombie"<br />
The BBQ judges in FW apparently had radiation and can't taste too.<br />
Full Draw BBQ is back to catering......get your orders in NOW.<br />
Cozi is a great family calendar.<br />
How many years does a hot water heater REALLY last?<br />
How could anybody possibly know that?<br />
My birthday dinner at LUCK was great with great friends.<br />
We may not be allowed back in LUCK for a year.<br />
Just like our year long ban from Victory Tavern.......I see a theme here.<br />
Jimmy Fallon over laughs at his guests.<br />
And I miss Circle 6 Farms.<br />
<br />
Mike<br />
<br />
#Sylatron #Whydopeopleaddthesethingstoeverything #C6Farms #Fulldrawbbq #I'mrunningoutofideasforthese#tagthingies #Godbless #IsitoktosayGodblessinahashtag?<br />
#SixFlags #ShockWave #LUCK #Sylatron #Campbell #Avery #Barkley #Bella #D #RedStonePeeps #HotWaterHeaters #Thanksfortheprayers!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-79489795294523188382014-03-06T08:25:00.002-06:002014-03-06T08:25:47.742-06:00Mount Everest EarI finally figured out the perfect way to describe my ear a couple weeks ago.......Mount Everest Ear. Don't even try, I've already copyrighted it, trademark and have the rights to <a href="http://www.mounteverestear.com/">www.mounteverestear.com</a>. Do you remember seeing the guys come off Mt. Everest, and they had a couple people on their team die on the mountain, and they made it down but lost 4 fingers, 5 toes and an ear? Well, that black charred, frost bitten ear is Mt. Everest Ear. So, mine wasn't quite that bad, and it looks pretty good today as 3 layers of skin have peeled off and is looking better every day. My neck looks 100 times better and feels better every day. And my taste is SLOWLY coming back.......which is a good thing. I do have a PET/CT scan today at 11:30 am. I'm not worried about it because the last one was in December and only showed the small reoccurance in my neck that was removed. I'll start back on Sylatron in the next few weeks, probably the week after spring break and a big BBQ competition we have in Ft. Worth. And I'll be on a week on/week off protocal, and on a short leash as far as side effects and if they have a negative impact on quality of life. But, back to more important things.........I see "Mt. Everest Ear" blowing up. Kids everywhere wearing a plastic ear for Halloween. Licensing deals so Ohio State can put a little OSU logo on the ear (they will buy anything because they are usually intoxicated). Aggies could buy one to put on Reville with a little upside down Longhorn. The possibilities are limitless!!!!!!!!!!! Shark Tank here I come!!!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-7308233667298709152014-02-12T09:59:00.001-06:002014-02-12T11:42:58.730-06:00Happy Radiation Day!!!!20 up, 20 down. My last day of radiation was Monday. Very kind and sweet people at UTSW that I'll miss. From Jerry the valet kid that just got engaged and has his bible open on his stand every morning. To the girls in back that asked about soccer every Monday morning and the entire staff there that couldn't have been kinder or more professional. If you have to get strapped to a Mega Radiator 2000, I would highly rec UTSW for all your "radiator" needs. Even if you feel like you are "teetering on the verge of insanity", they will get you through the treatment. (you're welcome Bart)<br />
<br />
The side of my face and neck are still really burned. Especially my ear and behind my ear.......so bad in fact that behind my ear started bleeding this morning. Poor K in my office......she is a mom of 3, so I immediately call her in the kitchen to look at my ear, assuming correctly, that a mom could check it out and offer swift medical advice, which she did. "Don't touch it and switch ears when answering the phone." Good advice......thanks K!!!!!! My throat feels better but my taste is completely jacked up.......everything tastes like paste or cardboard with a hint of metallic. <br />
<br />
So I head home after work on Monday to two very excited little girls that had made posters. (is "that had made" correct, not sure......Mrs Ward or Becky, can you chime in here?) Here are the posters:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYKbK_me03b3xZoyG3RA-cZav_si4fKpOony2_euGhZOCbcGPBjEtsvm86U379oSYCBo5eC1zxlqaI6B5bukdjHJhCOjJwI7mRRqaHfdidKxrRjOJFF9oZIJ2r5NkFdhu4pei12Cczsg/s1600/A+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYKbK_me03b3xZoyG3RA-cZav_si4fKpOony2_euGhZOCbcGPBjEtsvm86U379oSYCBo5eC1zxlqaI6B5bukdjHJhCOjJwI7mRRqaHfdidKxrRjOJFF9oZIJ2r5NkFdhu4pei12Cczsg/s1600/A+poster.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-mYmXcdnmQb1wYEWS02tErJO58SkY351hwQq9hH4vln0CyGYGf9vuWsxmODQz6xujbNcK30qiqUBmLVLSxh1dI-ZlrF3HL76QAQYsFqNYgxg1Fyyc4ee9X4brhzlQz99p1fHaAIEU9w/s1600/CC+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-mYmXcdnmQb1wYEWS02tErJO58SkY351hwQq9hH4vln0CyGYGf9vuWsxmODQz6xujbNcK30qiqUBmLVLSxh1dI-ZlrF3HL76QAQYsFqNYgxg1Fyyc4ee9X4brhzlQz99p1fHaAIEU9w/s1600/CC+poster.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The first one is from Campbell......."Let's have a party" "Radiation's Over" "No More" with the 'buster' thingy through it is my favorite. And the second one is Avery's.........."Happy Radiation Day" and "Peace Love Joy" are the highlights. Both of them came down to UTSW early on and got to see the machine and me getting strapped down, so they both attempted to draw a picture of that......so the stick figure with the mesh is ME!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Very sweet girls and I'm very blessed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Dasha and I met with Dr. F yesterday, and we set a plan for treatment going forward. In March I'll start back on Sylatron, but will try and do every other week to reduce side effects. If they get bad again and start to affect quality of life, I'll stop all together. (again, is it affect or effect and when??......M.A.W. help me out here) We are keeping Yervoy as the drug to use if there is a reoccurance, and some other bad mamma jamma that puts you in the hospital for 10 days. Over all very happy with Dr. F and the plan going forward.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So on to bigger and better things. My boy Nicholas won Top Chef. If I ever need an assistant for Full Draw BBQ you'll be in the running Nick! And if Brad screws up the turn in times again, I just may be!!!!!!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Don Juan has his pick of 30 chicks on The Bachelor. So I have a party trick........I can pick the finalists getting out of the limos......but only on Bachelors, not Bachelorettes. Nobody cares about 30 dudes, they just hang out like a fraternity and have a great time. Now the chicks on the other hand, they fight like rabid dogs........which makes it watchable. So, back to the limos......the last 3 Bachelors I've been able to pick 3 of the 4 finalists, 4 of 4, and 3 of 4 as they got OUT of the limo. It just shows, guys don't care if you have a kid, are psycho, talk like a duck or have wooden leg.......if you are smoking hot, you will have a shot at winning his heart!!!!!!!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I don't have a Big Momma or Lincee with I Hate Green Beans following, but I'm working on it!!!! Hmmmmmmmmm..........Big Daddy or "I Hate Sweet Potatoes"......it has a nice ring to it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thank you to everyone for your emails, texts, calls and most importantly prayers. I feel covered in prayer constantly, and am humbled and blessed daily.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mike</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(now as I hit "post" I also call Mindy to tell her there is a new post, my twin likes to be the first to read it...........it's a twin thing)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-77818742008528756442014-02-04T09:58:00.000-06:002014-02-04T09:58:42.225-06:00I Hate Bluebonnets<div align="center">
<img alt="" src="http://nclbluebonnet.chapterweb.net/_custom/NCLBLUEB/Images/bluebonnet%20close.JPG" style="height: 263px; width: 350px;" /></div>
<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, there was a time when I loved the sight of the state flower of Texas, the bluebonnet. On a deer lease in Valley Mills I was on several years ago there was a field that was covered in bluebonnets, as far as you could see.....and there was nothing prettier than turning the corner to the blue blanket of spring. But now, that pesky blue weed is going to haunt me......you see the kind folks at UTSW decided that I should get to see something "soothing" on the ceiling when I'm bolted to the table and the Mega Radiator 2000 spins around me. So in the ceiling above the table, is a backlit picture, that looks like the one above. So that is what I get to stare at, well kinda. Imagine looking at the picture through a tiny peephole in the Hannibal mask......that is my view of the mighty bluebonnet. Now you see why they are quickly becoming my nemesis.<br />
<br />
So 16 down, 4 to go, because of the MLK holiday, I limp into my last treatment next Monday. (thanks a lot Bin Laden) I'm tired but that is nothing that can't be managed. My taste is changing quickly, and not for the better.........not that I can think of any ways that your taste could change for the better other than everything tastes like Kent Rathburn prepared it.....but I digress. Everything tastes "metallic". Even water tastes odd, like I have a ball of tin foil in my mouth with the water. And food just tastes odd, or muted with an odd after taste. I'm really hoping that goes away at some point. My throat is raw and swollen, but hasn't gotten any worse in the last week, so that is good news. The side of my face and neck looks like a have a sunburn, and feels like it too, but nothing that can't be managed with a gallon of aloe vera lotion daily. The hair on the right side of my face and neck has stopped growing all together, so the GREAT looking grey hunting beard that I have every fall will be a thing of the past. Zoom in on the caribou picture and tell me that is not a great looking hunting beard! And the hair on the back of my head on the right side is falling out by the second.........so I have that going for me!!! And my right ear feels like it's swollen shut......but who needs two ears anyway. I did mention the more annoying of the side effects to Dr. C last week, and her answer to everything is "that is expected, would you like some pain meds for that?" If anyone would like hydrocodone, I'm a seller. Philip Seymour Hoffman was a potential client, but I guess he switched to smack..........too soon????????? (idiot.........but let's have a big tribute to him next year at the Oscars, by then he won't be the only one)<br />
<br />
I'm cheering for Nicholas to beat Nina in Top Chef tomorrow night, even though I think Nina will win. Actually we are ALL winners because they show Padma in a bikini in the previews. Full Draw BBQ is registered to compete in Ft. Worth in March and Arlington Supercross is less than two weeks away. Life is good.<br />
<br />
4 to go!<br />
<br />
Mike<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-78315727983338106142014-01-22T09:55:00.001-06:002014-01-22T09:55:43.283-06:00Hold still.......7 down, 13 to go. Not that I'm counting or anything. <br />
<br />
The first week of treatment was fairly anti-dramatic. Getting in and out of UTSW is easy, and the staff there is great. I walk in, take my shirt off, and lie down on the table to get clamped down with the Hannibal mask. So from the time I walk through the doors to the start of treatment is literally 3 minutes tops. A few adjustments on the table, pulling or moving me slightly, and checking the green lasers that come from the corners of the room to make sure I'm in the exact position needed, and the tech says "Ok, here we go.........hold still!!!!!!"<br />
<br />
Hold still, really? Do you think that I can move, or slide any direction? I can't move my lips or my eye lids......is there a real fear that I'm going to move 5 inches down the table? With that said, this is me, bolted to the table, getting ready for the Mega Radiator 2000 (which Mindy mistakenly called the Mega Radiator 1000 this morning.......like I would use that old 1000 technology!!!!!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B02PwpOAcML8R7WYkV3yZ_FUef5lRBm0fshWcxykklgeJujpDnKUmZOkMQHe52BaeiOzBkN6ZuAdLNOhTuwYHszBbgUBpuQhzZuZKg0xkf23ef3msA9DFaAqC1j1OgnrGu2HxxNLHAg/s1600/Mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B02PwpOAcML8R7WYkV3yZ_FUef5lRBm0fshWcxykklgeJujpDnKUmZOkMQHe52BaeiOzBkN6ZuAdLNOhTuwYHszBbgUBpuQhzZuZKg0xkf23ef3msA9DFaAqC1j1OgnrGu2HxxNLHAg/s1600/Mask.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A guy in the office that saw this picture on my cell phone said "dude, you need sun!!" To which someone said "did you just tell a guy with melanoma he needs sun????" Well played.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So the first week is over, and other than a swollen jaw and some discomfort there, and a slightly sore throat, no big deal other than starting to feel overall fatigued. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
7 down, 13 to go......did I mention that?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mike</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-9593818456388920522014-01-13T08:42:00.001-06:002014-01-13T08:42:27.812-06:00Good luck in the "Tunle"!!!I have great kids.......by pure accident, luck and mostly because of my wife...but they are great Christian kids. CC, AMP and I have a little thing we do. I write in a journal, leave it on their nightstand, and they write back and leave it on my nightstand. (I can't take credit for this.......another D invention) But the "letters" that we write each other are great, and their insight and humor is classic. Much like the post it note that was left on my mirror, and the journal entry that AMP left for me last night. Side note: The girls don't know much. They know Daddy had surgery, and he's had them before and always seems to be ok, and that he sometimes feels crummy, but again, always seems to be ok. But they started to ask more questions over the weekend after multiple people have reached out to us and mentioned treatments starting today. So D explained, best you can, to a 9 and 7 yr old the process of radiation. A wrote me this note:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsaVuJDVghGbiBaSj78shZ0WM5qAt3oQ0Mkcc8q-Buoh6xjK9oEtIDC05hhkDkvs8rgg-Lyl5WN8wJMbSvUA7u5I3EOGqxj9sg_-NgNMKhc90bnIB2N_IyL4r9IkYa1SB7QqJKXAbkpM/s1600/AMP+note.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsaVuJDVghGbiBaSj78shZ0WM5qAt3oQ0Mkcc8q-Buoh6xjK9oEtIDC05hhkDkvs8rgg-Lyl5WN8wJMbSvUA7u5I3EOGqxj9sg_-NgNMKhc90bnIB2N_IyL4r9IkYa1SB7QqJKXAbkpM/s1600/AMP+note.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
AMP is in first grade, so she can write a full letter, but almost all phonetically. If you need translation: "I hope it doesn't hurt when you get in the tunnel."<br />
<br />
And I had this on my mirror:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE84NMIiKeWJo42lAfmuwWXDYz6QmR_XrzsVfeEsgVJEqoz2jfdzwF5Mbatsd_UQ0QIqUk537gcAmgnI7P5AcIJ609q_vq42TJyWooEPABF-5nyj_I1QUPuzMp6FzN7rvBgk2Ad628og/s1600/CC+Note.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE84NMIiKeWJo42lAfmuwWXDYz6QmR_XrzsVfeEsgVJEqoz2jfdzwF5Mbatsd_UQ0QIqUk537gcAmgnI7P5AcIJ609q_vq42TJyWooEPABF-5nyj_I1QUPuzMp6FzN7rvBgk2Ad628og/s1600/CC+Note.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Yes, I feel loved and covered in prayer today, through friends and family, and my wonderful girls. Yes, a little nervous just because of the unknown. I'm such an "expert" at Interferon and pegated Sylatron......switching to a new treatment brings the unknow. But notes like those above are priceless!!!!!<br />
<br />
Mike<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487538020760904396.post-42186693464705112302014-01-10T13:16:00.000-06:002014-01-10T13:16:08.740-06:00And now the plan has times!This morning I got to UTSW at 9:55 (I'm VERY timely) and didn't get to go back until 10:40 (they apparently are NOT). Not that big of a deal, but if this is a preview to how "on time" they run, it's not a good sign. I went in the radiation room and the Mega Radiator 2000 is pretty cool. Some very high tech stuff going on from the hallway, where they have 10+ monitors, and screens to see you in the room, and the room and machine itself are pretty cool. On the table they bolted me down with the Hannibal mask, and moved me all around to get me set, then the table "shakes" a bit, as it's moving in fractions of a millimeter to get me in the same position every time. They took some scans and xrays and I was done in about 10 minutes. It should take 15 minutes each time, with an extra 10 minutes once a week for additional scans with the treatment. I did laugh once when I tried to open my eyes a bit, and my eye could see out a very small hole in the mask, and I saw bluebonnets on the ceiling. Not just a painting, but when the machine turns on, a backlit mural appears.......so peaceful and calming, I almost forgot I couldn't breathe!!! (side note......is it "breathe" or "breath".....either way, you know I couldn't suck in any air. And if you ever want comedy, have Avery do her fake British accent for you......classic)<br />
<br />
I also got the schedule with times for the next 4 weeks. They warned me the first week sucks, as I'm low on the list, and they were right. <br />
<br />
Monday 5:20 pm (traffic will be fun)<br />
Tues 8:00 am<br />
Wed 10:30 am<br />
Thurs 5:20 pm<br />
Fri 5:50 pm<br />
<br />
So Monday, Thurs and Fri will suck, but oh well. Every day after that I'm the first appointment available for head and neck at 7:30 am, which is a good time.<br />
<br />
I'm ready to get this show on the road!!!!<br />
<br />
MikeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17148825643008157374noreply@blogger.com0