Good News, We Hope: OT, Probably Long, Boring and all the other warnings

"Tanada" wrote in message
hlink.net...

UPDATE: We finally got hold of Dr Ewend's secretary, who had Dr Ewend
call us back. Dr Ewend was in surgery all day yesterday, so couldn't
get hold of us, and we couldn't get hold of him.

Anyway, the news is the best possible right now. The specialists
(radiology pathologists specializing in brain tumors) agree with Dr
Ewend that there is no signs that the tumor has grown. The recommended
course now is to give Rob a course of large doses of temodar (I never
spell this correctly) for a year, as a precaution to make sure the
sucker is dead, nag at Rob to KEEP TAKING HIS MEDS, and keep in eye on
him. After a year, or as long as he can tolerate the stuff, whichever
comes first, Rob will be taken off the Temodar. We're still on MRIs
every two to three months, and regular visits with the drs. I'm
beginning to think I need to cross cross stitch a picture for them.

I think now that the bad temper and inappropriate comments were because
of stress and the steroids. Rob really doesn't remember saying any of
those shocking comments or blowing up at anyone. I believe him. Rob
has always admitted to any thing he's done, so long as he remembers it.



Pam S. really relieved
We're really relieved, too, Pam. Purrs and prayers for Rob's continued
improvement.
Sam and Ramona

"Tanada" wrote in message
hlink.net...

UPDATE: We finally got hold of Dr Ewend's secretary, who had Dr Ewend
call us back. Dr Ewend was in surgery all day yesterday, so couldn't
get hold of us, and we couldn't get hold of him.

Anyway, the news is the best possible right now. The specialists
(radiology pathologists specializing in brain tumors) agree with Dr
Ewend that there is no signs that the tumor has grown. The recommended
course now is to give Rob a course of large doses of temodar (I never
spell this correctly) for a year, as a precaution to make sure the
sucker is dead, nag at Rob to KEEP TAKING HIS MEDS, and keep in eye on
him. After a year, or as long as he can tolerate the stuff, whichever
comes first, Rob will be taken off the Temodar. We're still on MRIs
every two to three months, and regular visits with the drs. I'm
beginning to think I need to cross cross stitch a picture for them.

I think now that the bad temper and inappropriate comments were because
of stress and the steroids. Rob really doesn't remember saying any of
those shocking comments or blowing up at anyone. I believe him. Rob
has always admitted to any thing he's done, so long as he remembers it.



Pam S. really relieved
We're really relieved, too, Pam. Purrs and prayers for Rob's continued
improvement.
Sam and Ramona

"Tanada" wrote in message
hlink.net...

UPDATE: We finally got hold of Dr Ewend's secretary, who had Dr Ewend
call us back. Dr Ewend was in surgery all day yesterday, so couldn't
get hold of us, and we couldn't get hold of him.

Anyway, the news is the best possible right now. The specialists
(radiology pathologists specializing in brain tumors) agree with Dr
Ewend that there is no signs that the tumor has grown. The recommended
course now is to give Rob a course of large doses of temodar (I never
spell this correctly) for a year, as a precaution to make sure the
sucker is dead, nag at Rob to KEEP TAKING HIS MEDS, and keep in eye on
him. After a year, or as long as he can tolerate the stuff, whichever
comes first, Rob will be taken off the Temodar. We're still on MRIs
every two to three months, and regular visits with the drs. I'm
beginning to think I need to cross cross stitch a picture for them.

I think now that the bad temper and inappropriate comments were because
of stress and the steroids. Rob really doesn't remember saying any of
those shocking comments or blowing up at anyone. I believe him. Rob
has always admitted to any thing he's done, so long as he remembers it.



Pam S. really relieved
We're really relieved, too, Pam. Purrs and prayers for Rob's continued
improvement.
Sam and Ramona

In article , Tanada
wrote:

Susan M wrote:

Hey Pam:

I was away from the ng when you posted the original message. I'm glad
that
Rob's tumor is under still control, though I don't see the original
post to
see exactly what happened - purrs to all of you.



Briefly (though that isn't possible for me), we were coming back from
vacation, when Rob had a seizure. The ER doc had a CT done and told us
that there was some calcium build up, but nothing major that they could
see and for Rob to go on steroids and stay on his meds. (Rob had
decided that he couldn't remember to take his meds, so why bother) We
got back and called Rob's oncologist who had Rob get an MRI. The
radiologist reading the MRI decided that the tumors were growing back in
two places. We were then sent to UNC/Chapel Hill, where we saw a
neurosurgeon named Dr Mike Ewend, who said that he didn't see any signs
that the tumors were growing and then put the MRI films before the
experts in his group and on the tumor board. They agreed with him on
the tumors not growing and on what he wants next, Temodar for the next
12 months, or however long Rob can tolerate it, whichever comes first.
Rob's military oncologist, who's very good BTW, is wondering why put Rob
back on Temodar if there is no signs of it growing back. The oncologist
and surgeon now get to work out the best treatment for Rob. We're
celebrating.

I hadn't been familiar with Temodar, but had a chance to read some of
the relevant medical literature today. It's revolutionized the
treatment of brain cancer, with effectiveness nothing before has ever
approached.

Good luck!

In article , Tanada
wrote:

Susan M wrote:

Hey Pam:

I was away from the ng when you posted the original message. I'm glad
that
Rob's tumor is under still control, though I don't see the original
post to
see exactly what happened - purrs to all of you.



Briefly (though that isn't possible for me), we were coming back from
vacation, when Rob had a seizure. The ER doc had a CT done and told us
that there was some calcium build up, but nothing major that they could
see and for Rob to go on steroids and stay on his meds. (Rob had
decided that he couldn't remember to take his meds, so why bother) We
got back and called Rob's oncologist who had Rob get an MRI. The
radiologist reading the MRI decided that the tumors were growing back in
two places. We were then sent to UNC/Chapel Hill, where we saw a
neurosurgeon named Dr Mike Ewend, who said that he didn't see any signs
that the tumors were growing and then put the MRI films before the
experts in his group and on the tumor board. They agreed with him on
the tumors not growing and on what he wants next, Temodar for the next
12 months, or however long Rob can tolerate it, whichever comes first.
Rob's military oncologist, who's very good BTW, is wondering why put Rob
back on Temodar if there is no signs of it growing back. The oncologist
and surgeon now get to work out the best treatment for Rob. We're
celebrating.

I hadn't been familiar with Temodar, but had a chance to read some of
the relevant medical literature today. It's revolutionized the
treatment of brain cancer, with effectiveness nothing before has ever
approached.

Good luck!

In article , Tanada
wrote:

Susan M wrote:

Hey Pam:

I was away from the ng when you posted the original message. I'm glad
that
Rob's tumor is under still control, though I don't see the original
post to
see exactly what happened - purrs to all of you.



Briefly (though that isn't possible for me), we were coming back from
vacation, when Rob had a seizure. The ER doc had a CT done and told us
that there was some calcium build up, but nothing major that they could
see and for Rob to go on steroids and stay on his meds. (Rob had
decided that he couldn't remember to take his meds, so why bother) We
got back and called Rob's oncologist who had Rob get an MRI. The
radiologist reading the MRI decided that the tumors were growing back in
two places. We were then sent to UNC/Chapel Hill, where we saw a
neurosurgeon named Dr Mike Ewend, who said that he didn't see any signs
that the tumors were growing and then put the MRI films before the
experts in his group and on the tumor board. They agreed with him on
the tumors not growing and on what he wants next, Temodar for the next
12 months, or however long Rob can tolerate it, whichever comes first.
Rob's military oncologist, who's very good BTW, is wondering why put Rob
back on Temodar if there is no signs of it growing back. The oncologist
and surgeon now get to work out the best treatment for Rob. We're
celebrating.

I hadn't been familiar with Temodar, but had a chance to read some of
the relevant medical literature today. It's revolutionized the
treatment of brain cancer, with effectiveness nothing before has ever
approached.

Good luck!

"Howard Berkowitz" wrote in message
...

I hadn't been familiar with Temodar, but had a chance to read some of
the relevant medical literature today. It's revolutionized the
treatment of brain cancer, with effectiveness nothing before has ever
approached.

Good luck!

Howard, you are extremely knowledgeable about medications (among other
things), are you in the medical field, really, really smart, or both? ;

Hugs,

CatNipped

"Howard Berkowitz" wrote in message
...

I hadn't been familiar with Temodar, but had a chance to read some of
the relevant medical literature today. It's revolutionized the
treatment of brain cancer, with effectiveness nothing before has ever
approached.

Good luck!

Howard, you are extremely knowledgeable about medications (among other
things), are you in the medical field, really, really smart, or both? ;

Hugs,

CatNipped

"Howard Berkowitz" wrote in message
...

I hadn't been familiar with Temodar, but had a chance to read some of
the relevant medical literature today. It's revolutionized the
treatment of brain cancer, with effectiveness nothing before has ever
approached.

Good luck!

Howard, you are extremely knowledgeable about medications (among other
things), are you in the medical field, really, really smart, or both? ;

Hugs,

CatNipped

In article , "CatNipped"
wrote:

"Howard Berkowitz" wrote in message
...

I hadn't been familiar with Temodar, but had a chance to read some of
the relevant medical literature today. It's revolutionized the
treatment of brain cancer, with effectiveness nothing before has ever
approached.

Good luck!

Howard, you are extremely knowledgeable about medications (among other
things), are you in the medical field, really, really smart, or both? ;

Well, let me put it this way -- I'm not a physician, but I simulate them
on computers. I manage to be underemployed both in network engineering
and clinical computing! I'm more published in network engineering, but
medicine has been a lifelong interest. Some of my projects include
expert systems that try to put the "doc into the box," so I have to get
into the fundamental medical science, not just this pill does that.