Hi everyone. Great news from Texas.
We met with doc Levin today. The latest MRI indicates some great news. None of the potential negative affects from having another person put his hands into your brain have manifested. Two of these possible conditions are having an empty pocket in your head or a cyst. Brain cysts are exceptionally good things not to have as most people who do have them experience short term memory loss and poop a lot.
The MRI also showed that the tumor has not increased in size and is not showing any tendencies that it is currently growing. It appears that the head baking accomplished the goals what we hoped that it would. This is excellent news.
Next up is one year of chemotherapy. Specifically, I will have twelve cycles of 28 day treatments. I will take pills from home for about half of the cycle and then just monitor for the remaining cycle. I have been told that I will be very irritable for the last five days of the cycle and to warn those around me. I will be taking my first pill this Friday so mark your calendars now. Other probable side-affects of the treatment will be nausia and a strong belief that I am a penguin.
More good news: I would estimate that I have regained about 75% of my taste.
My deepest love for everyone who is reading and leaving comments.
joe
Joe -- this is just wonderful news!! We'll keep the prayers and good wishes coming!
Keep up the blog, love your style!
Sherry
Posted by: Sherry Ainsworth | August 10, 2005 at 11:05 AM
Joe,
So glad to hear the news. Stay away from eating mexican food for now. I don't think Amy would like to wake up with thrown-up refried beans, or tacos in her hair. As far as being irritable, I have left over Lexapro you can take. Makes you so mellow and happy. Much love to you. God is taking very good care of you.
suebee/mom
Posted by: suebee/mom | August 10, 2005 at 08:48 AM
Hi Joe:
I'm a vague person from your past but I ran into Barbara Romano at the gas station and she told me about your blog so here I am - I enjoyed reading - have you considered writing for a living???
Hope you get well soon and all best wishes!!!
Joel
Posted by: Joel Hamm | August 09, 2005 at 06:00 PM
I always heard that it made one feel like a man trapped inside woman trapped inside a man. I hope I don't come over and find you with a skirt on and a full grown beard. penguins aren't so bad anyway, you could have become a televangelist with a pension for prostitutes. Glad to hear all the fry daddy sessions are working and miss you tons. your sis, melissa
Posted by: Melissa | August 09, 2005 at 12:24 PM
A 28-day cycle ending in irritability? Sounds familiar. You'll make a fine irritable penguin, though I picture you more as a pissy puffin.
Thanks for keeping us updated. It's nice to know good things can happen in Houston.
Dugly
Posted by: dug | August 09, 2005 at 09:17 AM