Good news... all around

A word you never want to hear when you are visiting your oncologist is the word "dead" or "death." But Dr. Zu managed to squeeze the word in twice during my monthly visit today. Of course, it was in response to an insurance form verifying the necessity of my Afinitor. According to Dr. Zu, Afinitor has historically been used to treat those with advanced kidney cancer who "are dead six months after starting treatment." He added that my condition is different and that I am "exceptional" (which we all know is "dead on" accurate). I have been on Afinitor for 3.5 years with great success, no tumor growth and a 30% reduction in tumors. Still, I have to remind Zu to go easy with his "dead" pan humor!

Other good news:

Blood work is good!
I am up another four (4) pounds. (See what eating like crap and not running will do for you!)
I got my monthly Sandostatin injection and it didn't hurt! Here's to painless shots in the glute! (Guess you'd call it 'glute-free' of pain!).

And.... here goes.... (imagine a drum roll!):
I passed my comps for my Reading Specialist Credential!
I have to apply to the CCTC for my credential, but I can't tell you how hard I have worked on this.
With much sacrifice and support from the Beautiful Christine!

We are heading to Massachusetts for Christmas to spend time with my family. We will be staying at the Seacrest Hotel. I know how to find the best rates at luxury hotels.... just stay at a hotel when it's winter and no one else is there! HA!

I have much to be thankful for, each and every day, most of all the love and support of my beautiful wife, Christine, the camaraderie of wonderful friends, access to the best medical care, and the opportunity to work with young people.

Here's to a great 2015!

All my love!

An Update

It has been too long since I have updated my status.
So, here goes:

I am well. I have maintained and actually gained weight! Up 5 pounds since September. Of course, my limited physical activity may play a part in that! In addition to working full-time, I have been tutoring four hours a week at the SDSU Community Reading Clinic, and finishing up a Reading Specialist Credential. Three weeks ago, I sat for my Reading Specialist Comprehensive Exam (results this week!), a three-day, insanely intense take-home exam. Three written responses in APA format with source information integrated into the response, and with a limit of 15 pages. Since August, I have literally written over 50 pages! I am finishing up tutoring this week as well as an independent study that will round out my Reading Specialist Credential.

Yesterday, Christine and I attended a wonderful "symposium" at UCSD on Tuberous Sclerosis Complex where we discovered that a new comprehensive TSC Clinic has opened at Rady Children's Hospital! Dr. Trauner shared that the clinic has started a clinical trial for Afinitor, my primary medication for the last three years. Dr. Zu is Da Man, eh? He had the wisdom and foresight to put me on Afinitor three years ago!

I will most certainly avail myself of the comprehensive clinic at Rady's!

San Diego
Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego (RCHSD)/UC San Diego (UCSD) Comprehensive TSC Clinic
Director: Doris A. Trauner, MD
Co-Director: Keith K. Vaux, MD
Coordinator: Cheryl Orphan, RN
Age Range Seen: Children and Adults

To read more about TSC, go to: TSC Alliance

What's up next:
-Blood work Friday
-Appointment with Dr. Zu, December 15
- Travel to Massachusetts to see family: December 22!

Thanks for your love and support!