Hi all, I want to pass on the latest on my new journey as I was diagnosed with localized pancreatic cancer in April.  

After talking to innumerable medical folks, and getting crucial research and advice from my son, I decided to participate in a Johns Hopkins clinical trial.  Of three paths I was randomly selected for the most adventurous.  The plan is I’ll get a stronger dose of the drugs I’d get anywhere else, a blood pressure Med to soften the tumor to help the chemo do it’s thing, then radiation combined with an immunotherapy drug, and finally surgery, combined with more of the drug, to get what’s left.  Suffice to say it’s gonna be a rough road and will keep me out of trouble.  I do feel I am getting great care.

I’m currently doing chemo cycle 1 of 8 and I’ve experienced a few side effects but luckily none too severe, other than hiccups (for three days), which I’m learning to manage.  I’ve also lost some weight and my taste is impacted.  Hopefully future cycles will be about the same.

Of course this has added a lot of turmoil but the support from family (wife and son especially), neighbors and friends has helped immensely.  More to follow.  Thanks for caring.