Hello friends,

Once again, I am happy to report that the treatment plan continues to work in spades! You take notice when your Oncologist says you are doing “fantastic.” Earlier this week, I had my first CT scan since February. I am on bi-monthly cycles, so I haven’t written any updates since February. The scans showed the cancer continues to shrink even more dramatically, Hallelujah! Between the CT scans, they are also tracking tumor markers in my blood by measuring my CEA on my treatment days every two weeks. The goal is to have the CEA continually decline, and the CEA continues to do just that. So, to say it differently, the CEA is corroborating what the CT scans show and vice versa. 

I have now had nine full chemo treatments with the primary chemo drug (Oxaliplatin) in addition to the two immunotherapy drugs. I will continue with Oxaliplatin for the next month or two, which concludes the entire treatment plan for it. After that, I will wean down to having only the immunotherapy treatments.

I am incredibly excited about getting to stop the Oxaliplatin soon because the side effects are cumulative, and I am feeling some of those side effects more so after every treatment. The main one is that on treatment days, I am just out of it, sometimes sleeping 20 hours or more and having bouts of nausea. However, once I get that much-needed rest, I quickly bounce back. One of the other main side effects of Oxaliplatin is a high sensitivity to cold, which has started affecting me, especially when drinking cold drinks. Most everyone knows I am an ice-in-my-beer guy, so I am cutting back on putting ice in my drinks, including my non-alcoholic beers. J

In terms of our daily lives, we are on autopilot and have settled into a good routine. We appreciate all the expressions of love and compassion for our family. All the notes, calls, gifts, food, PRAYERS, and simple gestures of kindness register in extraordinary ways. I also want to express our gratitude to those who are around our three children. Having your love and support means everything to us, as Alison and I know we can’t always be there when they have “their moments,” but we know you are!

Don’t think all of this has kept us still. Ali, Alison, and I went to DC for spring break and made college visits for Ali in the state of Virginia. All five of us were fortunate to spend Easter weekend together down in Sea Island, followed by a trip for the father-son weekend at TCU, and capped off with a couple of great weddings for children of close friends. Throughout this, Alison is watching me like a hawk: rest, hydration, sunscreen, etc…. you know the drill.

As Alison and I reflect on the journey of the past few months, we are incredibly grateful for the advice Dr. Tauer gave us in my original diagnosis meeting: He said, “It is time for you to tell your friends and family and to rely on your faith.” AMEN to that.

“Life is a journey, not a destination” (attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson). Thank you for sharing it with us!

A quote from my Daily Walk NIV Bible:

Prayers made in faith and in harmony with God’s Will are forecasts of the future

Prayers Up!

Jim