Skip to main content

Let’s Get Back on the Horse

Well, it is now more than three weeks since the surgery.  

I’ve been sort of melancholy lately and as such I’ve been remiss in keeping this blog updated.  But, I’m over my funk and it’s time to get back on track with defeating this nasty cancer.

I had amazing home care to help Diane get through the last few weeks, with Rachel, Joel, Diane’s sister Barbara, and my sister, Melissa and my Mother, Willie.  We had some great family time and I feel very loved.  I’m getting stronger everyday but my incisions are still very tender to the touch.  Everybody has returned home, so Diane and I now have the house to ourselves again.




During this time we have been researching clinical trials and I’m starting to get involved with the Mesothelioma Foundation.  They have lots of up to date information about trials, medicine and success stories.  Rachel and Laura Lester worked together on finding clinical trials and we have decided to travel to Houston to check out a clinical trial at MDAnderson Cancer Center.  We leave tomorrow and will stay the night in Dallas with Melissa and Garn and then drive to Houston for a Friday appointment.  

The trials that are showing promise with rare cancers are using Immunotherapy.  It is administered the same as Chemotherapy but the Immunotherapy only attacks bad cells, not the good ones too.  There are still side affects after each treatment but I’m hoping I can tolerate the affects like I did during chemo.  There are a lot of experts at MDAnderson that I’m hoping to learn all the latest strategies for long term remission.  

I feel connected to hundreds of prayer warriors through this blog.  Thank you so much for all your support and love.  Here’s our primary prayer request right now.  We are praying for a clear decision on whether to commit to a clinical trial in another state, or get started with the Immunotherapy here in Phoenix.  Of course, we are always praying for the strategy that provides long term remission.  We are feeling very blessed as God is with us everyday. 



Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 9, 2022 at 4:53 PM

    God go with you Brother and my Sista!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 9, 2022 at 4:53 PM

    Its Barb

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jill & RobAugust 9, 2022 at 6:44 PM

    Mark! You are frequently on my mind. Just now I has a thought about you and decided to see if there were any recent blog posts since the last one. Lo and behold, one posted today right when I was thinking of you. To me, that’s serendipity that means lots of good forces in the universe are working for you. We miss you, we love you. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟🌟🌟🌟💥💥💥💥💥💕💕💕💕

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 10, 2022 at 11:01 AM

    Sending LOTS of love your way for a safe journey!!! Theresa and Dave 💕

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousAugust 10, 2022 at 2:49 PM

    You have our prayers .God will guide you in the correct direction- listen to you gut as it is him talking directly to you. God Bless you as you continue this battle . Prayers , Robin C

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousAugust 10, 2022 at 7:07 PM

    Thanks for the update Mark! Prayers and love from us in Kentucky. Cory

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousAugust 11, 2022 at 11:26 AM

    Good Luck Brother -

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kelly ClarkeAugust 11, 2022 at 12:45 PM

    Praying hard for you my dear cousin!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousAugust 11, 2022 at 12:47 PM

    We will pray for the best route and hope that you stay strong. You’re an inspiration to us all. Erin

    ReplyDelete
  10. Deb from KSAugust 12, 2022 at 9:16 AM

    If I have a choice between immunotherapy or chemotherapy I will choose immunotherapy. My daughter’s dog was in an immunotherapy trial a few years ago for bone cancer and did amazingly well with this therapy. I understand everyone’s cancer is different and I’m praying your doctors will give you honest and transparent information concerning your cancer journey. Don’t forget the Lord is in control of everything and will guide you through these decisions.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousAugust 12, 2022 at 2:27 PM

    I got a feel your strength and the love around you will push you through. I had a free minute to read your blog so good job and stay in touch brother! ~Steve Wong

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bookie & PhilAugust 14, 2022 at 8:52 AM

    Hi, Mark and Diane! When I do my "morning phone routine" I look for anything new on your blogspot... Was so glad to hear your news about the clinical trial just the other morning... Congratulations to you for finding one, and so close to Melissa! When Phil's Stage 3C colon cancer diagnosis was so bleak, we'd made arrangements to go to MD Anderson if necessary, and although we found an EXCELLENT cancer center and the best oncologist on the planet in Little Rock, MD Anderson's handling of his case was remarkable. Also, my surgical oncologist in Little Rock has developed DNA testing in conjunction with MD Anderson that has made incredible strides towards determining the proper treatment protocol for breast cancer patients. So, you are going to be in an amazing facility and in the very best hands available. Please know that you go with our thoughts, prayers and love... looking forward to your updates when you're up to it. 💕

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousAugust 14, 2022 at 1:01 PM

    You are both in our thoughts on a daily basis and we are praying for the very best outcome at MD Anderson. May God guide you in your decisions and we pray the doctors will have all the information necessary about the clinical trial and that you are a perfect candidate! We love you, we miss you, we pray for you. Doug and Pam

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousAugust 17, 2022 at 10:13 AM

    It takes courage to share what you are dealing with. Will pray for continued success in your battle. Wayne R.

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousAugust 17, 2022 at 2:57 PM

    Sending lots of love and prayers to you Mark, Diana and the whole family. Love, Toots

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousAugust 17, 2022 at 8:50 PM

    Uncle Mark! Thanks for this update. I know you all have a big journey ahead in this but you have so much love and support from everyone and you’re in our prayers I hope to visit you all soon and help as much as I can - Emily

    ReplyDelete
  17. MelissaAugust 18, 2022 at 10:06 AM

    God was guiding you to Texas, even if my GPS on the Kia wasn't. So here we are ready for the next chapter. It can't be any harder than driving on Texas freeways!! We've got this! Full speed ahead 😘❤️👍

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousAugust 20, 2022 at 2:14 AM

    River Brother
    Even though we are miles away in Greece, our love and prayers 🙏 for you continue each day. I know your family and friends give you strength,support and love. God has your back, stay in the V in this river of life. I love you Bro!
    Capt Mike

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Battle Begins

I’ve never tried to create a blog, in fact I’ve never even looked at someone else’s blog.  So, this project may start off a little slow.  My plan is to post frequently about what’s currently happening.  But, people also want to know when this started, what were my symptoms, and why did it take so long to get this diagnosis.  So I will, from time to time, create posts that will be labeled “Prologue”. That story will begin on November 19th, 2021 and I’ll add stories until I reach today’s date.  April 18th, 2022 Today I finally have a comprehensive diagnosis.  It’s not what we were hoping for but at least we can now proceed with the attack. I have Peritoneal Mesothelioma.  Most people think of Mesothelioma as a lung disease but of the 3000+ yearly cases of mesothelioma only10-15% occur in the abdomen.  The primary cause of mesothelioma is from exposure to asbestos.  Later, I will tell you the story of my time working around raw asbestos.   I would like to offer readers some advice.  It mi
12 comments
Read more

Shifting Gears

"Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you"                                              Preacher Roe, Brooklyn Dodgers Clinical trials seem to be a finicky process.  All year you’ve been reading about how my tumors shrunk slightly with my CT scans every two months.  However, recently there has been slight growth in each scan.  On our last visit the tumors grew again and Dr. Yap told us there is no use continuing this trial, it’s time to look for something new.   For those of you keeping score at home, that’s the second time we’ve been moved out of a trial because of growth.  As a matter of fact, the first time was almost exactly one year ago, December of 2022.  The doctor told us he considers my time in this recent trial to be a success.  That might seem counter intuitive at first considering this news, but when we really think about it, we’ve had an amazing year on this medicine.  For the most part the monthly treatment was harmless, there were no real side
6 comments
Read more

Still Shrinking

“Do girls know about shrinkage?:   George Constanza  We often joke about shrinkage because my tumors continue to shrink with every CT Scan.  We return to MDAnderson every 28 days and I get a scan every other visit.  Each one has shown the tumors smaller that the scan before.  I would say, the prayers are working…we could have only dreamed the new medicine would be this effective.  God has us in the right place at the right time. The doctors have a matrix that shows my overall cancer has reduced by 19.4% in just 7 months! The last visit I had another rise in the protein in the urine.  As I’ve mentioned, this is the only side affect I have experienced.  The good news is it doesn’t manifest itself so that I feel any affects.  It’s mostly a doctor concern to protect my kidneys.  The protocol is to reduce my dosage by 50% for the next treatment.  But, as my doctor has pointed out, the dosage hasn’t affected the drug’s ability to kill my cancer.  My tumors continue to shrink regardless of th
7 comments
Read more