Hello Everyone:
We hope this update finds you all well and in good spirits ready to face the temperature changes as we begin to see the early signs of winter as well as the approaching Festive Season. Here in the U.S. everyone is preparing for their family gatherings and turkey dinners. With their Thanksgiving long weekend scheduled for the 28th, we have already started to see the blast of advertising for the Black Friday sales which, like our Boxing Day sales, seem to begin a week or two before the actual day itself. To our surprise, we have been listening to the various news reports and late night shows covering the embarrassing antics and sorry state of Rob Ford, our now totally impaired mayor of Toronto. Thank goodness his responsibilities have been curtailed as it’s hard to see how he could possibly be able to function effectively in his present position.
It is a week today that Gary and I returned from a magical 5 days in Cancun attending Tris & Alexa’s amazing wedding celebrations. (Will let you know when the pictures have been uploaded to their website). I felt blessed to be well enough to attend and enjoy the entire event and most of all to be able to catch up with so many of Tris’ old school friends and at the same time have the pleasure of meeting Alexa’s friends – both from school and the close-knit group from university. The pride and joy for me, as a parent, seemed to sink in as I stepped back and was able to more objectively view my son’s happiness, his accomplishments and the friendships which he has nurtured over the years, without any help from us. It’s a good feeling to know that, as a parent, we ended up doing a pretty darn good job with our child/children even though there may have been many occasions to doubt along the way.
While in Cancun, I received an email from cousin Pat to say that he wanted to have Dave Roy and I participate in a leading edge blood test that would be tied in with genomic sequencing. It had also been set up for 60 Minutes to film this as part of an upcoming episode on Pat. The timing of the filming would allow us to have our chemo treatments after the filming – Dave was able to reschedule both our appointments. Unfortunately, the afternoon before we were supposed to meet up, Dr. I advised that we would not be able to use his clinic. He had been away when this had been set up and so did not realize that a camera crew would be involved. A new location was found in the building next door but as I am technically not a UCLA patient, I was advised that I would not be able to participate (no doubt for insurance reasons). However, Gary and I still went ahead to meet up with everyone. The Asst. Director of the production is a Montrealer and was very happy to come across some fellow Canadians. She told me that her preference is to film a separate segment with me to cover the personal side of “Dr. Pat” and that we would schedule this in due course. Afterwards, one of Pat’s research team came across with me to Dr. I’s offices to capture the necessary vials of blood so that the testing could still take place – I was more than happy with that.Since our appointments with Dr. I had been rearranged, I did not get to see him until later in the day. Fortunately, Faye – our head chemo nurse – was able to get me started after a thorough physical and handled the extra vials of blood for Jacob, who had come across with us to take back to the lab for the special test. Both Gary and I were very happy to see that Dr. I had put me back on to my original regimen and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that my platelets will start behaving normally once again. On the other hand, we also realize that the recent volatility of my platelets could be a late side effect of my chemo. Next Tuesday’s chemo appointment should prove illuminating.
In the chemo-suite, we met David whose wife, Peggy, came in a little later with their Tibetan terrier whose name I’ve forgotten. Gary had a good discussion on this rare and intelligentl breed of dog as his sister once owned one. Dave had surgery 7 years ago and told us that out of 25 lymph nodes tested, the 25th one was found to have been impacted. Having had twice yearly check-ups, they have just found a recurrence of the cancer except that this time around, the tumour has settled in among the blood vessels making further surgery not an option. David and Peggy live in San Diego and somehow manage the 2 hour drive in to west LA and back. After further discussion, we discovered that they had referred a good friend, Gretchen, to Dr. I and it just so happened that Dr. I had asked me to speak to Gretchen when she came in for her consultation a month ago. Gretchen and her husband Dan, who live in Palm Springs, have been emailing me quite regularly. She has managed to have her local oncologist administer the 3rd treatment locally under Dr. I’s supervision, which saves them one trip in to LA during her cycle.
After our chemo, we went out for a light dinner with Dave R and his wife Nancy to get caught up. As a result of the two symposiums which Dave has been involved in, he has amassed a wealth of knowledge and contacts with the leading pancreas cancer researchers in North America. He had also just returned from spending his recovery period in Dallas visiting his son and at the same time met up with Dr. Palucka. The timing for her immunotherapy clinical trial has been delayed as a result of her dealings with the FDA. Timing for the clinical trials is now expected to take place sometime in the new year. I am optimistic that giant strides will be made towards a cure for pancreas cancer as there are so many promising research projects currently being worked on. Between Gary, Dave and I, we try and remain as up-to-date and informed as we can on this front.
As we leave you, we send you our warmest wishes and, as always, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the support and inspiration we receive from you. From the friendships we saw in Cancun to the friendships we have been so blessed to have extended to us throughout our journey together, it is our privilege to share with you the following saying:
People say true friends must always hold hands,
But true friends don’t need to hold hands because
they know the other hand will always be there.
With love and blessings,
Maureen and Gary