Halfway there

Today marks the halfway point of John's standard of care radiation treatment. He's had 16 sessions of radiation, as well as daily doses of the standard chemo treatment of Temodar. He's also had two infusions of the clinical trial drug Avastin.  He has tolerated all of his treatments remarkably well.  The only impacts have been increased sensitivity in his gums and the inevitable hair loss due to the radiation treatments. However he's maintained an excellent appetite, actually putting on 10 lbs since he's been home eating his mother's superb cooking, as well as getting in plenty of exercise.  Fatigue has not been an issue yet though it is something his radiation oncologist, Dr Peddada, says may show up in the next couple of weeks. If so he'll have to push through and maintain an exercise regime as the data shows that is the best way to deal with fatigue and ensure a positive outcome.

Looking ahead he will have have radiation treatments through March and will match that with Temodar. He will also continue the every two week treatments of Avastin. April 4th he will have another MRI to see where we stand.  April 8th we fly back to Durham for the first follow up with the trial team. The meeting with them is on the 9th and we return to the Bay Area on the 10th.

He was pleased that at the follow up last week with his neurosurgeon, Dr. Shirzadi, he was cleared  to play full court basketball. He's now able to log some hours on the hardwood going all out.He has been subsisting on a diet of 21 with me and anyone else he could convince to play.  Please, no comments on the bald spot.

John has also enjoyed hikes in the hills above our home including in Ed Levin park and Alum Rock park.

Cousins!

Alum Rock with Mom

We hope at some point soon to return to Yosemite. John and I enjoyed a wonderful backpacking trip there a number of years ago.

                                                          Glen Aulin/hope to return soon!

Next week is Spring Break for Gonzaga University. John is on a medical leave of absence from school for what was going to be his Senior Spring. During Spring Break a couple of his friends from school will be in the Bay Area and he's looking forward to seeing them.

We look forward to seeing one of John's oldest friends, going back to his elementary school days at Harker, play baseball in Raleigh on April 9th. Taylor Martin plays ball and goes to school at Coker College in South Carolina.  John checked in with him last month, as we were planning the trip to Duke,  to see if Taylor would be around school.  We thought we might find our way to him during that visit. We were excited to hear he would be in the same town as us during our visit while Coker played St Augustine's College in Raleigh. We will be Coker Cobra fans that night!