"Cruise Control..." :)

"Cruise Control."

That's what Rob's oncologist said today.  Rob's in Cruise Control, and that's news on the upper side of happy!

Let me give you the details of today's visit...

We first asked her about the mention of findings in the "white matter" of the brain, to which she replied, "It doesn't look like a stroke..."

WHAT?!?  That had never entered our minds!  Arrgh, the things we find out each visit that we had no idea about, astounds me!

It's nothing to worry about at all, they'll compare it next time he gets another brain MRI.  Whew!

As for the chest, pelvic, and abdomen CT...  it seems the chemo worked and didn't work.  I know.  But they call it "mixed response."

Some of the cancer/masses got smaller, some larger.  So, here's the plan of action:

Rob will undergo more of the same chemo, and will have another CT the end of March to check progress.

• If the cancer/masses have ALL gotten smaller, that would be great, and he could go on a chemo vacation for a while until it starts to grow again.
• If the smaller gets smaller, but the larger DOES NOT, it means a conglomeration of the cancer is resistant and keeps multiplying, in which case she can try to zap the bad with radiation.
• And the last scenario we spoke of, is that this cancer will, at some point, become resistant to the treatment and keep growing fast, and will be addressed with other drugs/? at that point. 

So all in all, it was a good visit, because she was afraid it was all going to continue to grow.  She said Rob's body is trying hard to fight this, and we believe that in part is because we are keeping him inside and away from people, as hard as that is, but it's keeping him in a better place through this fight.  So even though some family/friends can't understand why Rob can't come out and play, it's because we want him to stay around as long as possible.

His blood numbers today were a bit better...  WBC at the very low end of normal (but IN normal), all RBC counts still low, platelets up a bit.  He's been off chemo for two weeks now, which is why they're a bit better.  Sugar is way too high, but he has to stop his meds for a few days after the CTs, and that contributes big time to the higher numbers.

The chemo treatments that Rob just finished consisted of 7 weeks of treatment, with a break in the middle.

This time is going to be a tough one for him:  NINE weeks straight with no break, and we will be seeing the oncologist every three weeks.  Rob is going to be pretty sick, and he may or not be able to keep up the pace if his numbers don't stay up, but we are going to handle it all ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Slow and steady, as Rob says.  He doesn't want to be stressed or upset, he just wants to do one day at a time, so that is our plan.

Rob, 2012, just before the cancer diagnosis, powerful
  ♥ 

So, Rob is in CRUISE CONTROL and driving forward, hoping to avoid all traffic jams... and all traffic, period!  I told the doc that it feels like we're living in the Twilight Zone...  like one long day that is never ending.  So strange to be happy and stressed about steps forward.  

Unless you've been there, this won't make sense.


Rob and I want to thank you so very much for the prayers that you have lifted him with, as we both know what a huge difference they have made in our lives.  God's people are good!!! 

I would like to ask that you please continue to pray for Rob as he starts these chemo treatments back up this Monday...  It's going to be a rough road, but as always, we'll keep you posted.

Love you all so much, 
appreciate you all so much... 
SO VERY MUCH.


In Love and In Peace,

Cheri (and Rob)   ♥