Dearest Paul,
I am so thrilled to see you have posted something new. It appears Michael is doing well. Was concerned when I hadn't heard from you since early in the year. What a blessing that you both are still doing well.
Rick is still doing well, 15 months along. We did just change chemo drugs and found out today that we will be adding Avastin tomorrow. Aetna denied this drug as it is not yet FDA approved for gastric cancer (and I can't blame them really, not at 15-20 grand a treatment), so the manufacturer, Genentech, has approved his joining their foundation to replace the drug. What a blessing. The clinical trials at least for colorectal cancer demostrated a 5 month extension of life with Avastin added to a chemo regimen. We are hoping for at least that much, lol.
He is still feeling well, and spending lots of time in the gardens. Our new regimen has definately curtailed our travel every three weeks though. New treatment is every other week, along with a 5FU pump for the first 48 hours after an infusion. Tomorrow is our second treatment on the new regimen (19th chemo treatment in total), and we are hoping to at least squeeze in short trips, but we'll see. Even if we can't ever go again, we were SO BLESSED to go for so long, so no regrets here.
Hope you both continue to stay well, and holler if you need an ear......
Cheers, Scott