May 7, 2022

I didn’t expect to be putting out another update so soon but things have been moving fast so I needed to provide an update before I lose track of what is going on.  Quick summary: The EBUS taken on March 9 found malignant tumor growth in my air ways.  As a result, treatment was switched from immunotherapy to chemotherapy pills on March 29.  The next day, I left for Cayman Islands for work.  A couple of days later, the pills showed their ugliness.  Not to bore you with the gory details but let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.  Of all the potential sides effects described to me that could happen with taking the pills, I think I got them all.  I returned to Syracuse on April 9 after being wheelchaired through all the airports.  (tip – a wheelchair and global entry will save you about 2 hours in getting through customs/immigration!).  Of course, I was told to stop taking the chemo pills.  I was in the hospital April 12 – 15 due to all the side effects of the pills.  I am back home now and have ejected from my job in Cayman. Since then, I had 6 treatments of radiation from April 19-26, a PET scan on April 26, a CT scan on May 3 and then an appointment with my oncologist on May 5 to have it all explained and plot the way forward.  The PET and CT scan showed pretty much the same as in the past indicating not much change.  The radiation proved to be effective as it has cleared my airways to some degree, so I’m not as fatigued as in days past.  The plan going forward is to try a different type of chemo pill in small doses to start with to see how my body reacts.  But as of today, I feel better than I have in a long time.  So, as a result, a trip to Nashville in mid-May, a bone fishing trip at the end of May, a blue fin tuna fishing trip in September and, most importantly, a wedding in Maine in mid-September are all still a GO! John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”