Siphoning Results

Took my last dose of Cycle 18 of the Sutent last night. I'll start feeling better in a few days, which will be good as I'm singing in a concert on Sunday and I'd like to be up for that.

I'm anemic, etc, as usual, but this time it showed my blood sugar was high. I hope that doesn't continue, diabetes is really not what I want to deal with now.

Hand-Foot not so bad this time

I hope it continues! I've been using DMSO in the morning and evening, as well a lots of Bag Balm. It's seems to be helping.

Started Cycle 18

Well, started up the next cycle of Sutent this evening. Cycle 18. Man, it's hard to believe I've been on this for almost 2 years. I think it's 2 years April 19, actually - I'll have to check that out.

I hope the H-F is better this time. If there was some way to get that under control, this whole thing wouldn't be so bad. It really makes me miserable.

The Good Cancer? from Curetoday.com

Interesting article that I can't copy and past for some reason. It talks some about XL184 as a treatment for thyroid cancer. Click on the title or here to read the article.

Finished Cycle 17

Hi, All - took the last dose of Sutent for Cycle 17 last night.  It was a bad cycle - lots of pain from H-F Syndrome in my feet.  Not much peeling or flaking, just lots of pain.    Oh, well, it's not as bad as what some people face.

My step-mother, Joanne,  was recently diagnoised with cervical cancer.  She'll start chemo and radiation next week.   I hope things go well for her.  I'm not impressed by her descriptions of trying to set up appointments for surgical follow-up and for either the chemo or radiation treatments.  I'm really lucking in having the oncology team I have here in Lincoln.  One would think Joanne would have the same or better in Phoenix, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Now have have two weeks off of the Sutent before starting Cycle 18 on April 15.  (That seems like an apropriate date, doesn't it?  ;-) ) 

I'll have a CT scan sometime late in May and will go down to St. Louis for the results and to pick up the next 2 cycles' drug supply on May 27.

Thanks for your continuing prayers and support.

John

WHAT CANCER CAN'T DO

It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot eat away at peace,
It cannot destroy confidence,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot shut out memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot evade the soul.
It cannot reduce eternal life.

Results of latest Scan

Hi, All - Wow, it's been a while since I've posted here. I guess I haven't had anything new to report. (Or am too lazy to find anything.) I suppose I could post that I don't feel good, or my feet hurt, and so forth, but I don't know that anyone would care to read that. It's kind of a given, isn't it? I flew down to St. Louis yesterday for my 12-weekly check up in my Sutent clinical trail. This was my 16th cycle of the drug. I've been taking it for 2 years in April. I got some good news. There are no new tumors and the none of the existing tumors have grown. In fact, the main tumor in my lung has shrunk from 10.8 centimeters at it's widest point in December to 10.7 centimeters today! I know that's only 1 millimeter, but it's still exciting. It means the disease is "stable" to the doctors, which is the goal of the study, but to me it's a millimeter in the right direction. My brother Dave flew down with me and it was a beautiful day to travel. Due to changes in Southwest's schedule, and the local mass transit schedule, we hopped from the plane to a train to a bus and then reversed the process with no time to spare, but we made it. We did have time to find out that the Burger King in Lambert International Airport has good french fries. Nothing new to report on the side effects, unfortunately. The most bothersome ones continue to be fatigue and Hand-Foot Syndrome. There is an over-the-counter cream I'm trying this time called Amlactin. I'll give it a try and see what it does. I would have listed "most of my hair turning white" as another bothersome side effect, but there are some cute freshmen girls at Lincoln East High School who tell me they think it's a cool look. (Thank goodness I'm too lazy to use "Just For Men"! Freshmen girls are much wiser and more perceptive than they were in 1975. ) It's interesting how the hair thing works. Usually, I've gotten dark roots the 2 weeks out of every 6 that I'm off the drug. This last cycle, however, I didn't get the dark roots. Maybe the old follicles have given up. Just so they keep growing hair, I guess I don't care what color it is. I go down to St. Louis next on May 27 to get the results of my next CT scan and a supply of the Sutent. Thanks for your continuing prayers and support. On to Cycle 17! John