4/15/18 Two More Years

I have been on the Ruxolitinib trial for two years now. It has been good so far. The trial was designed to address the symptoms of CLL and prove, disprove, or measure its efficacy in individual patients. The requirements of the trial were that each person enrolled must not be treatment naive, meaning that they…

7/20/16 Eating Your Way Across I-10

The right-smart honorable Raymond E. Huffmaster, in all his over-alled glory, and me made the trip from home to Houston on Sunday, July 17, then back home on Monday after my appointment at BATCC. Debbie was not able to go, having duties with the grand-kids, and Raymond offered to take me…this time…every time…which is the…

7/13/16 Ruxolitinib, Day 27

I have been taking the ruxolitinib (Jakafi®) since June 17, which is nearly a month. I have been back to Houston to see Dr. Gooday, once, on July 6, and will return on July 18. This is a powerful drug and a Phase II clinical trial so I have to be monitored closely. Everything was…

7/3/16 Two Weeks and Counting

My life-long friend, David, and his wife Pat, have a wonderful home at Smith Lake in Alabama. That is where we are spending this weekend, celebrating July 4th, and my birthday. It’s good to have another birthday. Lots of folks probably wished they had had the chance at another birthday. I am thankful for mine.…

6/19/16 Two Days In

I am 2 hours and 20 minutes away from my fourth dose of ruxolitinib. So far it has been tolerable, mostly. I had a bout of nausea yesterday and awoke with a splitting headache, both of which are common side effects and are expected to subside as my body accustoms itself to this intruder. Ibuprofen…

6/17/16 It Starts Today, for Me

It’s not often FedEx brings you a $100,000 package. There were four bottles like the one shown, which adds up to $25,000 per bottle. I admit that FedEx brings me lots of of stuff, some of it expensive, but nothing quite so expensive as this. Of course, the Ruxolitinib is being furnished to me free-of-charge…

6/14/16 Clinical Trials and Me

I was asked if I would consider participating in a clinical trial at Big-as-Texas Cancer Center. The trial was then explained to me. Apparently, there are many people with CLL who do not actually need treatment to get their blood numbers back in order and their bone marrow whipped into shape. I am one of…

5/19/15 The List Needs Some Help

In an earlier blog post, I discussed the list. Lots of folks want to know about the list, some of which I share, but most of which I keep to myself. “How are you doing?” an acquaintance recently asked. “Just fine,” I said on automatic pilot. “And you?” They beleaguered me with their entire list,…