Some good news on the cancer front

Posted on September 12, 2007
Filed Under All, Photos, My Brain, New Life |

MRI showing ver faint tumor and flareAn MRI at UCSF this morning showed the greatest apparent reduction in both my tumor and the surrounding edema flare as seen in the MRI image to the left. You can compare this image to a couple of earlier MRIs.

Our last round of chemo (consisting of 3 infusions) has been using a new drug, Avastin (previously we were on Temador) and it seems to be very effective: neuro-oncologists Drs. Chang and Liu were plainly excited by the results.

Avastin is less convenient - it’s an hospital-admininstered infusion that takes an hour, and a trip up to UCSF, rather than a home-administered pill, but would clearly seem to be worth the effort. Really welcome news…

Comments

17 Responses to “Some good news on the cancer front”

  1. pauldwaite on September 12th, 2007 2:59 pm

    Fantastic :)

  2. Stuart Rosenberg on September 12th, 2007 4:09 pm

    Chris- That’s fantastic news. The clinical improvement is always delayed so you should be feeling better soon. You may get that palce in France yet!. best wishes. Stuart

  3. Avis on September 12th, 2007 8:07 pm

    Chris,
    I have been amazed for months at the strength and reserves of energy that you somehow dredge up to have an active life every single day. You’ve also been so involved in understanding and explaining your treatment that no one deserves more than you to get a new drug first. Congratulations!

  4. cg on September 12th, 2007 8:27 pm

    A chemo drug that gets you a house in France (given they both cost about the same) sounds like a really good idea to me…

  5. Catherine Hunter on September 12th, 2007 8:57 pm

    On y va en France tout de suite! Bravo!!

  6. Roger on September 12th, 2007 10:59 pm

    That’s great news, Chris! And here’s an enlightening article from the Guardian on property in France (and elsewhere).
    http://money.guardian.co.uk/buyingpropertyabroad/story/0,,2164570,00.html

  7. Alice on September 13th, 2007 8:09 am

    HOORAY for you, Chris! Love seeing the dying tumor! Have enjoyed your Green Blog this week. How facinating!

  8. Lamar Van Gunten on September 13th, 2007 9:58 am

    Chris: very encouraging news. Prayers continue and keep eating them tomatoes!

  9. Mike anderson on September 13th, 2007 3:37 pm

    Chris- Wonderful news! I love your blogs and love your attitude of courage and determination.. You are my kind of guy! God Bless.. Mike A

  10. Andy on September 13th, 2007 4:11 pm

    Wheeee! Good news.

  11. Leah on September 13th, 2007 6:35 pm

    Hooray for our side. Continue the good fight. We’re all cheering for you
    and Linda. LRC

  12. mike p on September 13th, 2007 7:49 pm

    Chris,

    Good news, feel good!

    Let’s get together and break out the pinot.

    Mike

  13. Ginger Terry on September 14th, 2007 7:43 am

    Great news, Chris! I see a dinner celebration in our future!
    Ginger and Stan

  14. Ginna on September 17th, 2007 2:00 pm

    That’s is the BEST news, Chris! I’m so happy for you and Linda!

  15. www.gulker.com » Blog Archive » Insurers push back on life-saving, but expensive drugs on September 18th, 2007 9:45 am

    […] This morning’s Wall Street Journal has a story this morning about the plight of folks like me. On the one hand, I appreciate efforts to keep health costs down: on the other, this is life or death for me and many other glioma patients. I’ve paid my health care premiums all my working life against the day I’d need therapy like this, and I’m not alone, it would seem. The good news is that the UCSF team finally prevailed with the insurer: I’ve been on Avastin for 2 months and the result has been very encouraging… […]

  16. Carol McCrary on September 18th, 2007 4:59 pm

    Chris…
    Wonderful, fantastic, excellent news.
    Take care. We’re thinking of you. And, yes, a house in France is in the future!
    Love,
    Carol and Bob

  17. Anonymous on September 25th, 2007 3:00 pm

    Chris,
    We were so excited to hear the great news!! Looking forward to a get together with Mike and Cath when you are up for it…Cannot wait to give you a big hug!!
    Kath and brad

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