A few of you may have wondered what is happening to me. I have not written a blog update in 3 months. My thoughts were if nothing is going on, then there is no need to report anything. I may have to revise that thinking. I was starting to get emails asking if I was all right. But as a general rule no news is good news, and that is the case with me. I just had my 3 month checkup with Dr. Kipps on Friday and he once again gave me a clean bill of health. End of Short Report.
Even though I get blood tests every month before my IVIG infusion, it is always in the back of my mind that there may be something else going on. All my blood tests have been good for the last 3 months and my blood test from yesterday was actually better than 2 weeks ago. My physical exam proved to be unexciting, with no lymph nodes or spleen felt by the good doctor. He is encouraged by my continued excellent response and said he didn’t need to see me for 3 ½ months. I asked him about the others that were on the same trial that I was on and he said they are all doing pretty much the same as I am. Dr. Kipps is more optimistic than I have ever seen him and he is really encouraged by all the new therapies that are being developed. If and when I need treatment again, there will be something even better out there for me. There is already a new version of ABT-263 (the one that I took) in Clinical Trials. There are also three new drugs that are showing great promise.
So since there is nothing going on with my CLL I guess I will have to discuss other issues. As with most people that have lived in Southern California for some time, I have wound up with some pre cancerous skin issues called AK (Actinic keratosis) on my face. I started a skin treatment called Zyclara, which is a cream you rub on the lesions and it generates a reaction in your body’s immune system killing the AK cells. As with most men, I have been reluctant to visit the dermatologist on a regular basis, but because of my increased risk of skin cancer I have decided to be more diligent about this and try to be proactive in eliminating some of these skin issues. I encourage you all to do the same.
This last month has been an exciting one for the Evans Family. In September our youngest son Matt got married to his long time girlfriend Randi. The wedding took place in Seattle (where Randi is from) and was attended by most all of the family members and some friends from Southern California even made the trip up north. It was a great event and Matt and Randi honeymooned in Maui after the wedding.
Because our life has been free of treatments for a while, we have finally started to do some traveling again. After the wedding we continued up into Canada with our friends John & Toni. We had a great time traveling around British Columbia and seeing all the amazing sites. Who knew Canada had a great wine region called the Okanagan Valley? We are also planning trips to Seattle, a couple of weeks in Palm Desert, a possible trip to Sedona and then a trip to Hawaii early next year. We have to be careful with our trip planning; working all the trips around the arrival of our first grandchild in late November, or early December.
Even though my situation seems to be on hold for the time being, life’s challenges continue for others. Last week we lost a friend from church who had been battling Multiple Myeloma for 1 ½ years. Our prayers go out to her family. We also have another friend who is in the midst of chemotherapy for treatment of Melanoma and is dealing with treatments, tests, doctor visits and insurance issues. Believe me when I say to you (Carol & Larry) that I’ve been there and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Speaking of insurance. After many years with the same insurance through my work, they are now making a change. I have been very fortunate that I have had excellent coverage over the past 4 years during all of my treatment. Now I don’t know what is going to happen. All of my approvals, doctors, prescriptions will all have to be redone; I don’t look forward to that. PLUS, much to my dismay, I will go on Medicare this year. I have heard conflicting reports on the quality of Medicare coverage; plus making decisions on the supplemental plans is going to be an additional challenge.
I will be more prompt in the future with my updates, even if I don’t earth shattering medical news.
Terry
Saturday, October 15, 2011
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