Situation Report #14

Hi All...Heather here :-) I feel the need to preface this update with my name so you will all understand why this update will not be filled with pictures, stories and witty comments...just the facts man. I went to the Stanford appointment with dad and mom yesterday, so I have been tasked on this update.

Overall it was good news. The doctor had a shit eating grin on her face when she told us that ALL of dads lymph nodes have shrunk to under a size they would consider abnormal. His spleen has also reduced in size. Basically dad has already beaten the odds in that 30-40% of patients do not respond to Chemo. He is responding and not feeling to bad to boot. The chemo is CHOP-E, the E is another component they have taken from a German study and they are pleased with the outcome. He will not be entering into a clinical trial through Stanford. They have one starting in a month that they would consider him for but the timing is not right. Dr. Advani feels like the plan they have in place is his best option.

Here is the plan of attack:
He will have four more chemo treatments for a total of six. The chemo treatments should be completed by the beginning of November. In the meantime Dad will be meeting with the Bone Marrow transplant doctors. They want to be up and at'em right when the chemo is completed so he can start the transplant. The transplant will be of his own stem cells which is good news. We thought he may need a donor which can be a challenge to find. We will have more info on the transplant after we have that appointment but they did say he will be hospitalized for 7-10 days during the procedure of taking out the bone marrow. The replacement of the stem cells can be an outpatient appointment. That too is good news as we thought he would be hospitalized at Stanford for the entire time.

We are told that without the transplant he has a 33% chance of survival but with the transplant it increases to 66%. We like those odds much better and in fact are the best odds we have heard to date! So dad left the appointment with a smile on his face and hopped in the truck with Mom to spend the next week up at the cabin before his next treatment.

So those are the facts and I'm sure Analicia will come in here and edit something or put in a picture because she won't be able to stand it!! have at it girl.


OK-Picture added by demand of Bonnie. She's the picture person! I couldn't pass up the opportunity to post this great picture of dad from 1976. Thanks Bonnie.