chemo
3/4/2005

Lori is scheduled for her MRI on Sunday & is beginning BCNU (chemo by iv) on Monday morning. She will be taking Gleevec, hydroxyurea and rapamycin by pill starting Monday also.

Some of you have asked about the 100% & 90% removal of the tumors. I have to clarify that is 100% & 90% of the visible tumor, there are always cells left over that spread out from the tumor mass itself. Those are the cells they cannot see & those are the ones that regrow & cause all of the damage. In other words, there are still cancer cells that could not be removed. Those are the ones the chemo is suppose to attack & kill. We have to find the right combination of chemo to do this very important job.

I fear that because we try so hard to remain optimistic & upbeat we don't paint the picture as serious as it actually is. We always say "she is fine, everything is going good" when in fact, the truth is, if the doctors don't find the right combination very soon, she will run out of time first.

Lori is doing well, under the circumstances. She is having a lot of problems with her speech & some with her vision. It is only 2 weeks after surgery so some of that is to be expected. I think she doesn't want to see or talk to people because of these problems. She is very appreciative of your phone calls, emails, questions, etc - she is just not herself. Please keep praying & keeping her in your thoughts. Thank you.

Linda

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