Pigtherapy

As you can see from the photo, Big Pig got a hold of my iPad and read the report from my latest series of tests before we did. He was, of course, trying to shield us from any bad news, but fortunately there was no need. The PET and CT scans of my body and the MRI of my brain show no new cancer anywhere and continued reduction of cancer on the kidney, which was probably the first stop for the melanoma train in my body. According to the oncologists, these results suggest that the Opdivo continues to work. Very good news indeed!

It has now been a year since I started treatment, with a bunch of ups and downs as described in Melanoma without a Cause. Lately, the news has been all good, as the immunotherapy drugs, supplemented with acupuncture, seem to be derailing the melanoma train. It has not crashed and burned yet, but we re hopeful. Elvira and I are very thankful not only to the doctors and RNs who have treated us, but to all those who give us support. As I hope you realize, the emotional/mental part of this "adventure" is really important in making progress and maintaining a positive attitude as we begin Year #2 of treatment.

I continue to receive occasional notes from people around the country who have read my postings on cancer sites. The most recent is a patient from Nashville who gets treatment at Vanderbilt. He has been on the same regimen as I have for about six months longer, which means he was one of the true trailblazers. He says that he continues "...to respond positively to the drugs and my tumors continue to shrink with almost no side effects." Good news for him and for all of us who are going through this amazing immunotherapy treatment.

I have also received notes from Cancer.net, which may run my guest post in July, and the American Cancer Society, which plans to run our story in one of its newsletters, The Benefactor, in mid-August. I'll keep everyone posted. I appreciate your following my blog!