Quick note about result of scans and scope

Since many have been calling and I know several of you want to know how it went today, here's a brief report.

The scope was normal as expected. The CT scans of the lungs showed things are "stable". The largest tumor, which is about 1-1.5cm, is the same length, but "may be slightly narrower." The full report wasn't even ready, so I won't have the details until next week. It was enough, though, for Dr. Eng to decide that I should keep doing the same chemo I have been doing, maybe get a little more shrinkage - at least squeeze this chemo for what it is worth as long as it holds things at bay. Only she wants me to do a lower dose or lower frequency because the side effects are beating me up. Then we'll reevaluate after some more rounds. I'm going to call and try to discuss in more detail with Dr. Shapiro in Dallas tomorrow to find out what this means and how we'll proceed. The meeting today was rather short.

I'm Back

I finished round ten. It has been quite grueling, but I pressed through all ten even though along the way there were times when the doctor (and Christine) thought I needed a break. Maybe they were right. But I had scheduled out all the weeks and planned accordingly. There was my work schedule. And there were the three different families (Julie's Susan's, and Anne's) who visited and it would have messed things up badly had I got out of sync in the weeks by skipping a week. What a silly reason, you might think. Putting my body at risk, just to keep a schedule? My only response is that a person suffering seeks to hold on to something - anything - to control. Something to accomplish. You cannot just let go of all goals when you have cancer. I have let go of so much. I still mourn over all the goals and hopes I have left behind these past few years. It feels like just about everything got tossed overboard to keep this ship afloat, in fact. But I still hold to a few goals. This was one of those I held to ... and kept.

I want to thank the many of you who have written, emailed, and called to check in on me. It is apparent that I am blessed with a strong group of people who are collectively lifting me though this. So many of the calls and notes I have left unanswered. I hope I have not lost these friends by my silence. One of the notes reminded me of this story:

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"


I think I have such friends.

So how am I and what's next?

I have been pushing along day by day. Most of the little energy I have had, I have used going to work - to keep the bills paid and because it is another one of those purpose things, and one I happen to enjoy. The problem is that when I get home, I pretty much collapse on the sofa like I ran home from the office instead of driving. Sound unbalanced? It is. Even though they say that all you need to know you learn in kindergarten, the truth is that nobody taught me how to fight cancer.

This weekend, we head back to Houston. This time I get the full round of tests: colonoscopy, full CT, you know, the works. That's going to be a big one-two punch for this weak body. But I don't think much about the difficulty of a few days. I am more focused on Thursday, when I meet with Dr. Eng to find out the results and chart out what is next. It is odd meeting with someone to find out about your very life. I have had dozens of such appointments. I am still not used to it.

For this one, I have no idea what to expect. I am not thinking too much about the what-if's this time because there are many different possibilities, and many treatment plans that could be recommended for each. I'm praying for good results and wisdom in the direction to go. We'll worry about the details of making the plan once we hear the results and Dr Eng's recommendation. "Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Several brave souls have joined the no-hair club since I last wrote. I need to tell about them, but I'll save that for another post.

Round five

Tuesday, I began round five of the irinotecan. We added Avastin to the mix, hoping for some additional effectiveness. I'm having to rest a lot, but seem to be doing a bit better than the previous rounds. They unhook me today. The next two days are typically the roughest, but I think I have a good start here.

I have some new members of the no-hair club. Pictures coming soon.

Rice is once again in the College World Series. They are seeded #2. Would be fun to go if I were healthy. Maybe next year.

CT results - stable

The lung nodules are "stable". No reduction, no growth. I have taken, I estimate, around 75 rounds of chemotherapy in my life between this cancer and the bone cancer I had as a teenager. These rounds consisted of around 8 different chemo protocols. With all this experience, this was the first time that a scan revealed that the chemo treatment had not significantly reduced the size of the tumors. Disappointing. Could be a lot worse, I suppose.

Dr. Eng says stability is a good thing in their business. The chemo is holding back the tumors. The largest nodule doubled from 0.5 to 1.1 cm in two months from January to March. In the three months since then, it has not grown at all. So she wants me to continue the protocol I've been on. Six more rounds is the plan, starting this week. She also added, "and let's throw in some Avastin to the mix." This struck me a bit odd - like Emeril throwing in some garlic based on his spur-of-the-moment logic that garlic always is a good idea.

Avastin is a drug that I took last year. It is technically not chemo - it does something to the tumor blood vessels. Adding it now, she said, cannot really hurt anything and it might help some. I sure hope so. If we continue to see stability or some reduction, then she will send me for a lung surgery consult. It is a long shot, because the nodules are in different places. But that would be the best option of getting rid of the tumors. I am used to praying for long shots.

I called my oncologist in Dallas and spoke to his PA about the news. She told me that a stable CT scan report is "excellent" when it comes to colon cancer lung nodules. "Excellent"? I feel like I just won a free room upgrade on the Titanic.

Chemo break

Dr. Shapiro postponed my chemo a week. My white blood cell count was too low. Also, he was concerned about the intestinal pain, which is likely due to irritation caused by the chemo. He said to me, "I'm going to try to talk you into taking a week off." He thought I would resist. It is true, I didn't want to give the cancer the week off, but the doctor didn't think it would make a big difference and he wanted me more healthy to hit me with the next dose. Sounded reasonable to me. The past few days the pain has indeed subsided, and the mid-week blood count showed the white blood cells climbing quickly. So we'll start the fourth round Tuesday. I'll then go to Houston the following week for CT scans and meeting with Dr. Eng at MD Anderson.

In other news, we have three new members, bringing to 15 those who are feeling the breeze...

john andrew scott

Check the members page to see who they are.

Membership hits a dozen

Greg's No-Hair Club for Men is gaining momentum. The satisfied membership is growing. And the entries are beginning to get creative...
A true Aggie.
So David, is your boss going to join?

Click to see all the members.

I was asked yesterday, "How does it feel that all these people around the world are uglier because of you?"
"It feels great!" I replied.
Of course, the secret that we club members understand is that there is only beauty in hating cancer and feeling the breeze.

All of this a a fun blessing to me, distracting me from the growing pain I've been having lately in my lower intestines. They say it is due to the chemo irritating where the radiation was. The pain lollipops they are giving me (same as back during the radiation) makes it tolerable, which is a good thing because I want to keep this chemo coming so it can do its job in my lungs. Round four is Monday morning. Ugh. Daily I must look to the Lord for strength to go another day. Thanks for your prayers and support. I believe this is how I find that strength to keep going.

Three new members

Three new satisfied members are feeling the breeze: Charles & Michael Burck and David Ray.

From my sister Julie in San Fransisco...

Dear Greg,

This morning, we went over to Chinatown to see Ann at our favorite place, Charmante Beauty Salon. It is described by SF Weekly as the �best cheap haircut for Men in the city!� It is located across the street from the famous Washington Square, (a park, playground, and big cathedral) and he posed for you on a tree in the park. He did climb up himself�he wanted you to know!

I�d like to say that Charles was really excited to be a part of your club. I am confident that the lollipop and playground across the street had nothing to do with his excitement about getting his haircut!

While he was getting his haircut I was reminding him how we were going to get it cut and then Uncle Greg would put his picture on the computer for all to see�and he says, �Like in the Bible. We�re going to cut off all my hair and I�ll lose all my strength!�

Mike was on a business trip and got back this afternoon. He hadn�t heard about your club and wanted to join too, and Charles was very excited about Daddy joining with him.

Love ya, JuJu

Pics of Charles, Mike, and David and all the other satisfied members is here.