Just like the governator

After some thoughtful, loving nagging from his family, CBRD this week began a physical therapy regimen.

He will be going to Think Physical Therapy three times per week beginning this week. The focus during the first six to eight weeks will be to strengthen the communication between neurologics and physiologics so that he can regain balance and range of motion. His balance test the first day wasn't too hot - there are some 80 year olds that can stand on one foot longer than CBRD.

Once he has the balance and range of motion down, he will begin pumping the iron with the goal of becoming a beefcake, like his favorite governor, before our Hawaii vacation in August.

In the news

Good piece of news today: the IV chemotherapy that CBRD (Clifford the Big Red Dog, of course) has been taking for the last five months was recommended, unanimously, by a U.S. Panel for accelerated approval to market for patients with Glioblastoma.

Now, you may be asking, how is he taking it before it has been approved? Due to the elevated stage of his cancer, his quarterback at UCLA was able to bypass the clinical trials (that led to the U.S. Panel's findings) and just start using it from the get go - think of it as a fortunate head start.

The article quotes an Avastin patient who was diagnosed over three years ago. Based on the current data, three years is a long time. But these are only the short-term findings. Lets hope this same patient is being quoted when the long-term findings are being reported in 2014.

Update: In his own words....

Yesterday, CBRD (Clifford the Big Red Dog, aka Dad, Pop) had his second BIG check-up (MRI, scans, etc.) since being diagnosed with brain cancer. Rather than give you the update, I thought I would just copy and paste an email some of us received from him.

Cliff: Had MRI today - so far, so good ....‏

Jan 7th: Results from this MRI performed 8 weeks ago didn't show evidence of any tumor growth. This suggested that the radiation and chemo had a positive effect and actually reduced the tumors.

March 4th - today's MRI: Results unchanged from that of 8 weeks ago. Bottom line: This is a good result and what we want to maintain.

I will continue on current therapy.

I get IV Avastin every 2 weeks to limit blood supply to tumor - supposed to limit tumor growth.

I take Temodar 5 days on / 23 days off as my chemotherapy. 2 cycles.

My lab tests are fine. I am still taking the insulin but hopefully will get off that in a few weeks as I taper the prednisone.

April 27th: Next MRI is at end April (after next 2 cycles of Temodar). Basically, I am on a 2 month treatment cycle to monitor response to therapy.

Love to all.

Cliff

The straight and narrow no more

I thought I would give a shout out to myself and acknowledge taking the plunge. Obviously, no Locks is surprised but all are excited, as am I.

It must be funny as a parent, after raising your kids and sending them off into the world, to have another kid added to the family.

I know I am going to make eyes roll with this one, but I find this engagement, marriage stuff a little funny. Dont get me wrong, I think there is nothing greater than fully committing all of oneself to another, but why does this process of commitment have to follow this straight and narrow and infinitely traveled path with these same traditions and "rules"?

I dont have an answer, nor am I suggesting an alternative. I'm sure my feelings stem from my slight distaste for the unoriginal. But I realize that this is something I am just going to have to accept....happily. Although I do plan to exert some effort and draw a few curves in the path along the way.

Dads 60th

Sorry, Mags. You cant just post 10 pictures (mostly of you) and not write anything. Bow down to the blog master.

I will say this: mom and dad have gotten SO much better at party execution. Usually we are eating 2 hours late and people are cleaning for 2 hours longer than they were suppose to be staying. This time, people came over, we stuffed our faces and played family, kissed and said goodbye. Very nice party.

60 is a strange age. It use to sound so old. As a kid, I use to think 65 was the beginning of the "grave" age. Now that I have gotten older and seen my grandparents and others live well beyond those years, 60 doesn't seem all that bad. Obviously, these are different circumstances and uncertain times, but I feel comfortable officially removing 65 from the grave age category.

GamePlan: Round 2

Due to the success of the first round of treatment, the plan is to continue down the same path. It will include:

1) Oral chemo for the first five days of every month for two months (beginning yesterday)
2) IV chemo once every other week for the next two months.

Basically, its pretty similar to the previous round, except no radiation (because he already OD'd on that) and rather than taking the oral chemo every weekday, he is going to be taking it in higher doses for just the first five days of each month.

After two months, he will have another progress MRI/scan. Gulp.

My understanding is that he will be on this treatment plan for as long as it works and once things start getting worse, they will get a little more experimental with his treatment. So here is to my dad being on chemotherapy for many years to come!

Round 2: Fight!

Round 1: Results

Today was our dad's first MRI / CT scans since October. It was the progress report on whether the radiation and/or chemotherapy was effective. Good news.....

Think Costanza in the Hamptons, polyester in hot water or Barry Bond's roided testicles ......thats right! Shrinkage!

The quarterback (aka Dr. Cloughesy) was very pleased with the reduced size of the tumors.

Round 1 to the Big Red Dog.