Walking Dead Man

[SmokyT]

An update for anyone who gives a rat's ass.

After only three months/cycles of chemo treatment...pancreatic mass has shrunk by 36%, tumor cancer markers are down 86%, my weight's back up from a deathly 160 to an I'm happy with it 187 pounds, and other than right after treatment I'm feeling about 95% normal. That's about a 3 sigma positive response....so far.

So it appears I ain't gonna croak fer awhile yet....and I'm beginning feel a lot like Chicken Little.

Great to hear that, ltxi!

[sas PM9]

Ltxi:

Glad to hear that you are doing well. What chemical is your Chemotherapist giving to you?
They gave me Gemzar after Pancreatic CA surgery and a year after finishing chemotherapy I am still showing 'clean' scans.
I have a pretty good idea what you are going through- keep up the good fight and God bless.

-steve

[ltxi]

Ltxi:

Glad to hear that you are doing well. What chemical is your Chemotherapist giving to you?
They gave me Gemzar after Pancreatic CA surgery and a year after finishing chemotherapy I am still showing 'clean' scans.
I have a pretty good idea what you are going through- keep up the good fight and God bless.

-steve

Abraxane and gemctibane. Seems to be working quite well at the moment, obviously.

[sas PM9]

Abraxane and gemctibane. Seems to be working quite well at the moment, obviously.

Ltxi:

Gemzar is the same thing as gemcitabine. And they added the Abraxane to you. You are getting the double whammy; keep up the good work- it is wonderful to have it work so well on you. When I was in the thick of it, I didn't really want to dwell on it- it was just what I had to do to survive.
Best of luck, keep us informed.
-steve

[ltxi]

In Maine on vacation at the moment. First of three road trips this summer/travel season. Been off chemo for just over two weeks so far, for the trip, and feeling fantastic. Also discovered I can vacation drink beer! I'd been off alcohol for six months and will continue to stay off it under normal circumstances, but for today and the next two weeks..... This be so great, especially 'cause I gots to stop by an' visit my sister on the way back home and I haven't been able to take her sober for well over 20 years now.

[jeepster09]

Thanks for update...good news!

[Armybrat]

Enjoy the road trips..... and don't waste your beer drinkin' on any of that lightweight mass produced stuff - go for the good local craft brews.

[ltxi]

Once again beating this not yet dead horse.....life sucks and then you die ain't working out quite like I expected.

Blood work check before first chemo infusion after I got back from Maine.....despite the long break and drugs having been fully out of my system for a couple weeks, my tumor markers dropped by half from the month plus before check. Now down 92% from my February, pre-treatment baseline. My chemo treatment team declared me, capital A, Anomalous. I was quite pleased until I realized they weren't referring to some kinda Greek god. A few eye rolls and revised to "an Anomaly" in order to prevent further misunderstanding.

Bottom line is my response to treatment has been at least three sigma positive and not only am I not likely to die soon I'm going to appear perfectly healthy while I'm not doing it. I'm going to deliver the bad news in person to family at our mid-July reunion in PA. It's gonna be fun watching them folk attempt to mask their disappointment.

-- Don

[Bawanna]

Get pictures. That ought to be good.

I'm glad things are looking positive for you. Been wanting to email and check but don't want to be a nuisance.

[AIRret]

Thanks for the wonderful news!!!

I'll still be praying for you and your family.

[berettabone]

Good deal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[knkali]

great news! You kicked that gremlin's assss.

[Armybrat]

Sounds like miracles really do happen. Good on you and your docs.

Don't be surprised if those doctors write up your special recovery story in one of their medical journals. Be sure they include the help you got from a bunch of oldfart Kahrnuts and how shootin' guns relaxed your chemo treatment reactions.

[knkali]

"recoil" therapy

[yqtszhj]

I'm going to deliver the bad news in person to family at our mid-July reunion in PA. It's gonna be fun watching them folk attempt to mask their disappointment.

-- Don

Thats great news, and what I quoted above just cracks me up.