Update Houston December 6 2009

A lot has happened since last I updated. I will begin with the best news of all, which is that the doctors administering the treatment as well as the oncologist he referred me to agree that I am an outstanding candidate for this particular type of treatment, and that the results should be very favorable. The tests that they did to determine if my cancer would be receptive to this kind of treatment came back strong. I don't know the results of the PET scan which was administered Friday, but the other tests that were back indicated a strong 'uptake' of the treatment medication, which means my cancer cells will absorb it well and effectively. This is great news because it means I have an excellent chance of a favorable result. The PET scan results will play a part in their prognosis, but everything points to a very good result.

The bad news is that I have been in pain almost continuously since Friday. Thursday I had to take a large dose of predinsone, a steroid, to contradict the allergic reaction I have to iodine contrast. The steroid took care of that reaction but I've been in constant pain ever since. Friday I had to go over and get Demerol shots to deal with the pain and I've been on painkillers since as the pain has not gone away (it has gotten less intense however). I haven't felt much like doing anything (not that there's anything to do here anyway). We did drive to downtown Houston yesterday, which was nothing special. It snowed here Friday (for a So Cal boy, that was a highlight), and it's now raining heavily. It doesn't matter because I don't feel like doing anything anyway.

I'll keep you posted as to what happens between now and Wednesday.