From Columbia, Missouri

Brooke, almost 2 here, a bright light in my life

Since none of the new drugs seem to be working (I have been on 7 protocols since September, 2005 and all have failed) my doctor decided to go back to Adriamycin, the heavy duty breast cancer drug that I took for 6 months in 1997. At that time I took 2 other drugs with it, but my doctor tells me it is effective on its own. It can cause heart damage, however, so I had to get a Muga Scan, which is like a CT of the heart to determine. I had other heart tests the fateful day I was stuck in the ER, so that’s all we need. My heart is fine, which I already knew, as though that is even relevant.

On the same day, I also had another endoscopy to dilate my esophagus again. The kind of breast cancer I have is called "infiltrating lobular," and the cancer has not only invaded the muscles of the neck, back and shoulder, chest wall, and now my esophagus. It occasionally causes a mass, like the ones I had removed from my spine and from my rib cage.

The endoscopy required me to have a driver, as it involves an anesthetic, so a neighbor on the lake, who lives in Little Rock most of the time, drove me around. Andy and Kim had just moved from Little Rock to Columbia, Mo, so I have to solicit new drivers, as I lost the help from my daughter-in-law. All my treatments are in Little Rock which is about an hour’s drive from my home in Hot Springs, so driving me for treatment is a lot to ask of my friends.

Andy and Kim’s house hadn’t sold yet, so my friend dropped me back at the empty house, where I took a nap, and then picked me up later to take me to the surgeon to have the stitches removed from my side—just to round out the day. The incision healed nicely, which was of concern because the tissue there was radiated and is not normal tissue. I can swim again. Yea! I spent the night in the empty house and drove myself home the next morning.

ABOUT COLUMBIA
Andy has been working at a new job in Columbia for about a month and Kim and the kids moved just a few weeks ago. He got a great offer from a very small group here and will take over from the retiring neuro-radiologist guy. He mostly has been doing interventions, angios, coiling aneurysms, organ biopsies, central lines, etc. The latest thing he was doing was using a new device to pull clots right out of the head, so that the stoke patient could actually recover movement right on the table. This new technology is amazing. And so is Andy, of course.

Kim, Jacob, Emily, and Andy in front of their new home

This is the first time I have been to Columbia, and I love it. We have been exploring the area all week. It is a very exciting University town. Andy and I went to a lecture Wednesday night given by Greg Mortenson, the author of “Three Cups of Tea.” You may know the book as it has been on #1 on the NYTimes nonfiction list for 72 weeks. He was so interesting and enlightening about the Middle East, where he builds schools.

Thursday night, Andy dropped me downtown on his way to a planetarium show with Jacob, and I hung around a music festival for an hour of so, mostly watching the college students, and sniffing some sweet smelling aromas.

Friday night Andy took me to dinner for my birthday and then we planned to pick up Emily to see “Seussical the Musical.” During dinner, Kim called to tell us that Jon Oliver (of Daily Show fame) was performing, so Kim drove to meet us and we went to that instead. He was great—so spontaneous in responding to the students. (Emily didn’t care and we may go to the musical tonight.)

Birthday Cake with Emily and Jacob

I was supportive of this move because Andy needed a change and we all need to get out of Arkansas. (No offense to my southern friends.) Jacob and Emily (12 and 10) are really happy here, love their school, and their house is beautiful. I return to Little Rock and more chemo on Tues.

Oh, about chemo. I have had three doses (one a week) of the Adriamycin so far, relatively small doses until the last week, when he increased the dose by half. I have been feeling fine, too good actually. I don’t think the drug is working, as the nerve pain continues to escalate, and I have been having some spasms again. I know my doctor didn’t want to make me sick again, but I am going to lobby Tuesday for a larger dose. And for a PET scan. I have frequent PET scans (the radiology group in Little Rock treats me very well) which usually tell the story, or confirm what I think is happening. I haven’t had one since March.

THE OTHER GETZOFFS
Tim, Amy and Brooke (2) drove over from Dallas for the Labor Day weekend. Their older kids (12, 10, 8) were with their dad this weekend. Tim still works for his Denver/Boulder firm, mostly from home, but of course does some traveling for depos and trials. He can be on a conference call and change a diaper at the same time. He is a very happy man. Brooke is adorable and has become less shy of me, and much more loving to me, which fills my heart to the brim.

Tim and family in Colorado.
Cannon(9),Tim,Sydney(11),Carly(7),Amy, Brooke(2)

Mark just left for 2 months in Europe. He has been working 6 months (ER peds at Denver Childrens) and taking 6 months off. Last year he spent the 6 months and Mexico, Central and South America. This year, since June, he was in Mexico, drove across southwest, north to the San Juans for kayaking, and then home through Yellowstone, etc. He left for Europe, via Amsterdam at the first of September, will spend two months there, return to Mexico again in November and then back to work December 1. He is obviously unattached still, and has rented out his house in Denver out for 2 years. This is Mark’s is way of avoiding burnout, and playing out his inherited lust for faraway places.

Mark at Horseshoe Falls, Columbia Gorge,near Portland

Mark at the Reichstag (House of Parliament), Berlin

Last year his blog was: notesfromLatinAmerica.blogspot.com.
This year it's foolsparadise-Mark.blogspot.com. Lots of photos, history and, of course, witticisms.

Doin's in Hot Springs
In Hot Springs, we have been battered by the two recent storms, first Gustav and then Ike. I lost power for about 3 days last week. About half the town was down. The winds were awesome and my yard is a mess, Lots of limbs down, but I didn’t lose any trees. I plan to sell my house next spring, get rid of everything, and maybe hit the road again. I'd like to spend more time in California and Mexico if treatment allows, with lots of visits to the kids. I’m sure what this will look like it or if my health will even allow. But that is the plan for the best possible case. At worst case, I will be doing my kids a favor by cleaning everything out.

September Sunrise from my Dock, Lake Hamilton,Hot Springs

I can use your prayers and all your good thoughts that this chemo will begin to work.