Well, you don’t have a choice, so here’s the Good News! When we went to Houston last week for my 8th treatment of the new immunotherapy trial drug, my doctors offered us to move to a different clinical trial (still at MD Anderson).  This trial is among the latest effort of Targeted Therapies uniquely targeting genetic mutations.   The treatment uses Small Molecular Inhibitors (SMI) to target a gene pathway that regulates the survival of cells.  Mesothelioma has a deregulating, or abnormal pathway.  This new medicine is a blocker, like a switch, that tells the cells to stop growing and even shrink.   We are very excited to enter this new treatment.  If you refer back to the graph I posted in the previous two blogs, you’ll see this procedure is listed in the “Experimental Treatment” column of cutting edge efforts to control Mesothelioma.  And, here’s some of the reasons we are so optimistic: Unlike Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy, which are both transfusions, this trial is an oral drug. O

I warned you I was new at posting blogs. My intent with posting the graph on the previous post was to include the entire fundraising letter from the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.  But, when I was writing the original blog it kept coming out  blurry so I reduced it to just the graph.  Once I posted it I went to the actual posted blog and realized if you click on a picture or attachment it will launch and allow you to zoom in or enlarge the print. So, for those of you interested here is the letter in it’s entirety: Click on document to launch This foundation has done wonders for research and progress for those affected by Mesothelioma.  Diane believes that every time a patient is diagnosed with this cancer anywhere it should be mandatory that doctors refer the patient to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.  They will get that family on the right track from the beginning. You can see why this group adds a great deal of hope to our journey. We like the philosophy of a

Wow!  Sorry for the long span between posts. Most of my posts are pretty positive.  Sometimes I wonder if readers think I have a Pollyanna attitude…or that maybe things aren’t quite as rosy as I portray them.  In fact, at times I almost feel guilty when I feel so good and I know others undergoing stressful medical issues are not so fortunate.  Another clue is when we have visitors (often friends from Alaska) who make a trip to Arizona partially to see how I “really” am.   Well, I’m going to do it again.  I’ll begin with a rosy picture of the last few weeks, then I will tie it into our reason for hope.   The Latest: The last three Immunotherapy treatments have been side affect free!  The treatment day itself, however, has not been 100% smooth.  Each time there’s been an obstacle to overcome, either nausea during the drip or a bout with the rigors.  The good news is when something occurs the nurses know what to do.  On the last treatment I experienced a short round of the rigors, which i