Health progress

[Ajax]

So, how fares the bald and rightward-looking eagle in his aerie on the bluff? Over this cycle's hump?

Just about. Blood test today. WBC, RBC, HCT and platlets low but not alarming. BP low so they detoured me to a room for a liter of fluid. Seeing the doc tomorrow. Suspect he'll want new blood work Friday or Monday before committing to the next Chemo session, hopefully starting next Wednesday. Don't want to push it back a week.

Lynne tell you I'm having my peoples over for drinks on the evening of the 28th? Perfect excuse to make sure they're out by 2100. If she's early there might be a margarita left.

Who are "your peoples?" I didn't know you had "peoples."

Larry, you'd think by now some clever vendor would whip up something similar to the Camelbak hydration system for IV's so you don't have to lug that stand around.

[Orestes Munn]

So, how fares the bald and rightward-looking eagle in his aerie on the bluff? Over this cycle's hump?

Just about. Blood test today. WBC, RBC, HCT and platlets low but not alarming. BP low so they detoured me to a room for a liter of fluid. Seeing the doc tomorrow. Suspect he'll want new blood work Friday or Monday before committing to the next Chemo session, hopefully starting next Wednesday. Don't want to push it back a week.

Lynne tell you I'm having my peoples over for drinks on the evening of the 28th? Perfect excuse to make sure they're out by 2100. If she's early there might be a margarita left.

Who are "your peoples?" I didn't know you had "peoples."

Larry, you'd think by now some clever vendor would whip up something similar to the Camelbak hydration system for IV's so you don't have to lug that stand around.

Yeah, I got peoples. Larry, we can just bang a nail into the wall over your chair and adjust the drip by eye with a watch, like we used to do before those pumps.

Farewell gift from one of my peoples.

5100815a-eda0-4947-9e46-b81cd394b293.jpg

[Slick470]

Is that what they attach the bathroom key to?

[Orestes Munn]

Is that what they attach the bathroom key to?

Bookmark. We don't lock our bathrooms.

[LarryHoward]

Is that what they attach the bathroom key to?

Bookmark. We don't lock our bathrooms.

Walk in once on me and you'll change your tune.

[H B]

Larry, I missed this thread while being distracted but I'm happy to hear things are progressing and that you are doing relatively well. Keep up the good progress and get that sucker out of there.

+1, I contacted Larry directly, and he alerted me to the thread so I don't have to hassle him anymore. ..but he knows I will anyway.

[Orestes Munn]

Domes.jpg

Bald is beautiful, Baby.

[Ajax]

LMAO!!! OM, I hate to say this but I think he wears it better than you!

Bravo!

[LarryHoward]

Well, from it's not obvious, after dinner and a sleep over at OM's last night, I'm back in the hospital for round 4 through Monday evening. For a skinny guy, he's a pretty good cook.

[BeauV]

You guys do the "Egg Head Look" really well!! Larry, glad to hear Eric actually knows how to cook. Given how thin he is.... I wondered....

Hang in there!

[Orestes Munn]

You guys do the "Egg Head Look" really well!! Larry, glad to hear Eric actually knows how to cook. Given how thin he is.... I wondered....

Hang in there!

Tim Ford makes me look like Jackie Gleason retaining water.

[Ajax]

Eric doesn't "eat." He "tastes."

We guests, eat the food.

[Slick470]

Eric doesn't "eat." He "tastes."

We guests, eat the food.

And then he rides off those meager calories.

Don't forget to put some sunscreen on that Larry.

[cap10ed]

I missed Larry’s home coming by a few hours. I dropped by the Howard home and if anything can bring you back to full health its the scenery around the homestead. Larry you have a Shangri-La of well being surrounding you. Also a great group of scoundrels that have no hair. Myself included. In your court on your journey and I will drop by again knowing your time table now.

[LarryHoward]

And now back home again. Another uneventful stay.

Ed, Sorry we missed this time. Please do stop by again.

[Ajax]

This is the final round before surgery, correct? When is the scan to determine the final amount of shrinkage that has occurred?

[LarryHoward]

This is the final round before surgery, correct? When is the scan to determine the final amount of shrinkage that has occurred?

Well.....

Next scan is scheduled for 15 August at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in NY along with a surgeon and presurgery visit. Surgery tentatively scheduled for 24 August. I'll be in NY for a couple of weeks then.

That presumes the surgeon says its a go when I see him on the 15th. Since we had really good results in % tumor reduction (30 +) from the first 2 rounds of Chemo, he has indicated that if we see another big reduction, he may want to go for rounds 5 and 6 to "maximize the benefits" of presurgical chemo. The Clinical (Dr. Chemo) isn't so keen on that as he plans 4-6 rounds (UGH!) post surgery and feels I have finite "reserves" and wants to give my system a rest. That said, all the docs are "amazed" with my tolerance for and response to the chemo as it is a regime designed for young kids with tons of bone marrow and T-Cell reserves. To the best of my research, I'm a couple of standard deviations (and some) beyond the age where this cancer would be expected to show up (something >80% are in kids under age 10) and would be expected to be on my butt by now from a system impact of the drugs. It appears I may be the only 60+ YO man in the US to present with a "Ewings Sarcoma of the Retroperinium" this year. How exciting.....

I'd like to move forward on the 24th with surgery but want the docs to do the best that they can with what they have to work with. Key to long term is getting all of the tumor at surgery and chasing down (with Chemo or/or radiation) any errant cells that are the "tumors of the future." For that, I need the best work out of both the surgeon and the Clinical. I believe I have 2 of the top Docs in the country and generally will listen to them. Even the Clinical agrees that he is supporting the surgeon at this point so if the cutter wants more chemo, we'll probably do more chemo.

[Ajax]

Hrmm...

Yeah, I'm sure everyone wishes this thing would go away completely without surgery but I agree with Dr. Chemo that even with your tolerance, flogging you with this stuff indefinitely will burn out your reserves. It sounds like a real balancing act.

I'm amazed and grateful that you're handling the chemo so well. Typical Naval officer over-achiever.

[BeauV]

Larry, why am I not surprised that you're more durable than most folks! I've found that mental durability and physical durability seem to be linked. We all know you're certainly mentally durable. So there you go - amateur medical opinions offered free of charge!

There really is a limit to how much poison folks can tolerate, even durable folks like you.

[Orestes Munn]

This is like how fast you have to be to outrun the bear: You don't have to be tough, you just have to be tougher than the tumor.

[TheOffice]

I hope what OM eats at home is better than the sawdust he brings for provisions on a race!

Larry, wishing you all the best as you beat this bugger! Sounds like you are doing great!

[kimbottles]

Much respect Captain.
We are rooting for you out here in the PNW!

[JoeP]

Good to hear you are doing well on your chemo Larry. sounds like my brother when he was on chemo. Must be a navy officer thing.

[BeauV]

Larry, with all of us sending massive HATE messages to your tumor, it's no wonder it's shrinking faster than expected. Seriously, I'm really pleased that the chemo is working. I'm a lot less pleased that a friend of mine becomes the one and only old guy to have this disease! UGH!

I have to say, your attitude is great. I have an Oncologist buddy who claims (without verifiable proof) that attitude REALLY MATTERS. So go kick this tumor's ass!!

[LarryHoward]

Thanks guys. I'm no hero. Just a shy, quiet guy trying to get along in a world of pushing and shoving. Getting a little weary of the ups and downs of chemo but that comes with the territory.

[IrieMon]

Just a shy, quiet guy trying to get along in a world of pushing and shoving

I see what ya did there And yes.... you are living your life like a song

The end of Aug can't get here fast enough ! Be gone, you mofo tumor !

[LarryHoward]

Just a shy, quiet guy trying to get along in a world of pushing and shoving

I see what ya did there And yes.... you are living your life like a song

The end of Aug can't get here fast enough ! Be gone, you mofo tumor !

Mother, mother ocean.

[Joli]

Hang in there Larry! One foot in front of the other.

[LarryHoward]

Latest from Tuesday.

Another 20% (from original size) reduction but still snuggled up next to the aorta so surgical margins at that location are less than desired. Given they have "nailed it" as to treatment effectiveness, I'm in this weekend for one more Chemo round and then will go back to NY for IGRT with this guy https://www.mskcc.org/videos/igrt-precise-and-powerful-radiation-therapy. Amazingly complex regimen preparing for 3 days of high dose radiation treatment. Approach is "We have it on the run with chemo. We'll go for the kill with radiation and follow up with surgery if still required." Generally believe it likely that I'll still need surgery (70/30) but the radiation will kill a lot and potentially all of what is left.

Scorecard. Started chemo at 10 X 7 X 4+ CM. Currently at 2.9 X 4.1 X 1+ CM. Scan Tuesday again confirmed no metastases so "primary site" only. Does mean the treatments and post chemo will extend past Christmas and possibly until early spring so about a full year total since diagnosis. A bit tired of being in treatment but still moving forward and beating it down.

Was hoping to get in some fall sailing but that will not happen. Going to pull the boat before radiation treatment starts, probably as soon as the yard will agree to start their "winter rate". Daily summer rate can kill the budget quickly. Sad to clean the prop and de-winterize the engine for a 5 mile run across to the yard. Tempted to tow her over.

[kdh]

Great news, Larry (except for the sailing prognosis).