Hello from London,

We thought we would do a short post and update you re the results of our doctor visit yesterday. We received the good news that the tumor that had spread to Myron's liver has now also shrunk (in addition to the tumor on the pancreas shrinking earlier). While the chemo has not eliminated the tumors, there is a marked improvement, which is very good news for us.  Myron (and his doctor) have decided to suspend his chemotherapy for the summer to give his body a break, and he will resume treatment toward the end of August. Already, only a week after he would normally have received treatment he is regaining his sense of taste and enjoying his meals so much more! As a consequence, we are definitely planning to visit Newfoundland this summer, and Myron's sister Vern and her husband Dale (from Wisconsin) are going to drive down with us since Myron cannot drive for such a long distance. Accordingly, we have made our ferry reservations and will arrive in Newfoundland on July 10th.

The disappointing news is that he is going to keep his PICC line in place because while it is easy to remove it, the scheduling and backlog to get it reinserted is just too great, (and we don't want to take the chance of his not being able to get it again so he can resume his chemo upon our return home). The downside is that since the PICC line must be cleaned, flushed and re-bandaged weekly, we are going to have to arrange for those treatments to be done while we are in Newfoundland. We have CCAC working on those arrangements right now. For those of you who do not know exactly what a PICC line is, PICC stands for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter and it is a tube that is inserted into the vein of his arm which travels through the vein and ends just above his heart. It is through this tube that the chemotherapy is given, and it is not so hard on the patient's veins as it is to have the chemotherapy administered through an IV. I have included a photo of Myron's arm with the PICC line in in (although it is bandaged), so you have some idea of what we speak.

Otherwise, things continue to be good. Myron is feeling well and much less tired without the chemotherapy. He still tires easily, but not like he does during the chemo cycle. He haven't heard yet any results from the echocardiogram that he had last week.

We continue to be busy and Myron went out on his former bus run today to visit with all "his kids" and wish them a good summer. We are heading up to the trailer tomorrow for a couple of days of R&R. We'll post again sometime in the next week or so. Take care and love to all.

Myron & Wendy

Greetings Family and Friends,

Once again, we have had an exceedingly busy time since our last post. Myron continues to feel well, and he has been feeling practically normal since he recovered from last week's post-chemo tired spell. Following a new CTscan on Friday morning, we went up to the trailer and had our first overnight of the season there, coming home on Saturday. While we were at the trailer our niece Shirley and her husband Jim dropped out for a visit. We also visited with Karen (who is our neighbour both at home and at the trailer). Myron cut both Karen's and our lawns and we put in two new flower beds beside the deck. Upon our return on Saturday, Maggie came over for a visit and stayed for the night. Sunday evening we feasted on a beer-can chicken dinner at our neighbour Dianne's place.

 

Campfire at the trailer with Shirley and Jim

 

Out to dinner in Dianne's backyard

Monday was supposed to be our pre-chemo oncology appointment, but while we were at the trailer they called and postponed the appointment until next week as the doctor was attending a conference. It was a welcome reprieve for Myron, so we are off to the doctor this coming Monday. At that time we will get the results of Myron's most recent CTscan, and we discuss the options re Myron taking a break from chemo. He is definitely stopping it for the month of July while we travel to and vacation in Newfoundland. We will find out on Monday as to whether Myron will have one final session on Wednesday of this week or we will wait until August for further treatments. It will be a blessing for him to have a break and have a period without dealing with the side effects he experiences afterwards. With the doctor we also need to determine whether to keep the PICC line in place (this is the catheter through which he receives his chemo) and have the regular weekly dressings down while down east, or have it removed and then get it reinserted upon our return to Ontario. Myron also had an appointment for an echocardiogram this week, so they can make sure the fluid around his heart is not causing any problems.

We have been out for two short bike rides (approx. 3k each) this week, and Myron had no difficulties with his blood clots. Otherwise we have kept busy with a visit from and a lunch out with our cousin Helen and, a visit from Sadie one evening. Myron continues to work repairing lawn-mowers, and he also went out this morning and rode his bus run to visit with "his kids" again.

                                  

 

Myron tinkering with his lawnmowers

 

Upcoming this weekend is a wedding rehearsal party at our neighbour Gustavo's on Friday, Myron is going to his brother Frank's golf tournament in Waterloo on Saturday, Maggie is holding her sleepover 15th birthday party here on Saturday evening/night and we are going to Chris' place in Woodstock for a Father's Day celebration on Sunday. And that's about it for this week - back to the oncologist on Monday. We thank you all for your prayers and good wishes as they certainly seem to be working. Myron is feeling much better than we ever hoped when we were given his diagnosis in January. Keep us the good work! Cheers, we love you all and we'll be in touch again soon.

 

 

Myron and Wendy

Greetings Family and Friends,

We apologise for the tardiness of this blog post, almost two weeks after the last one, but life is busy and time just seems to get away from us. Myron continues to feel well except for those incredibly exhausting days he experiences a few days following each chemotherapy treatment. He has been enduring one yesterday and today, but if things follow to pattern, we expect to see a marked improvement in how he feels tomorrow. Wednesday of last week he had his 7th chemo session (which is pretty good considering he was originally told they would give him somewhere from 2-4 treatments). We were up early this morning and Myron went for another CTscan (7:00 am) as the cancer doctor is trying to determine whether to continue treatments or to suspend it for a time to give him a rest. It can be very wearing on the patient, so she is trying to figure out the optimum time to do this - to give him a break from the rigorous treatment, but not be a detriment to his health.

We have continued to be busy as ever. We went to Kitchener a week ago Sunday to attend the 90th birthday party of our friend Chris Duffenais. We also took a trip to Woodstock on Wednesday evening last week to attend Chris' Rotary Club meeting and to hear Rachael's speech to the club about her exchange visit to Brazil. Well done Rachael! This past Sunday we went up to the trailer for a few hours (got the bed made up, planted flowers in the flower pots, cooked and ate lunch, etc.), and then came home to go out for a turkey dinner at a neighbour's place. We have been working in our yard, spreading top soil and grass seed after disposing of the above-ground pool that used to fill the yard. Flowers are all planted in the garden and Myron has started a small vegetable garden with beets and tomatoes. That's about all the news for now. We will try to remember to post again next week after we see the doctor and get her decision. Please keep us in your prayers.

 

Myron in the living room

 

 

Myron on the deck at the trailer (note the flowers in the planters)

 

 

Take care and we'll write again next week. Love to you all.

 

Myron and Wendy