Waiting -- still exploring options

Just wanted to send a quick note that I didn't go into UCSF surgery today.  I'm still evaluating clinical trial options, and will hopefully be "accepted" by the pharmaceutical sponsors shortly.  Certainly, not great being in "waiting" mode, but am looking forward to a favorable decision (hopefully today).  Once I know more and have dates of my next steps, I'll do another blog post.

Interesting new options are presenting themselves

So, to catch everyone up, we've been having fun with family, friends, and work over the last 3+ months of treatments -- health-wise, I've only been doing the 5-days chemo every month and clinical infusion.  All seemed to be going well, and I went in recently for my ongoing 2-month MRI, and me/Sandi were kinda expecting a clean "bill of health" -- but alas,  the doctors found some growth that they weren't expecting.  So, we're now at:

• Let's get in there and see what the growth is:
• Just dead tumor cells (yay = continue what we're doing!)
• Just scar tissue and inflammation (yay = continue what we're doing!)
• New growth (boo!  But investigate some new clinical trials that may now be open to me)

So, the bummer in all cases is that it looks like I'll need surgery again in the next 1.5 weeks.  But, we caught whatever this is fairly early, so they are really optimistic that it looks very promising.  And, we'll know more about the cells soon to take proper action.

If, unfortunately, there is new growth, there is some good news -- there are some pretty impressive clinical trials that I may qualify for (Precision Medicine working with a DNA expert, Virus Vaccine, and other therapies).

I went up to talk to the surgeons and teams today.  They all say they can't see anything from the outside and their baselining of me -- which makes their tests look good ;)

More soon,

This spun us around a little bit, but we're doing well.  Thanks for your steadfast support, it remains the stilts that hold our house up!

stu, sandi, stella, and jaida

Decisions to be made soon

We've been having a great time with family and friends.  Golfing at Cygnus.  Golfing at Los Altos Country Club.  Halloween was great hanging out with cousins and friends.  Watching Stella do her cheerleading has been awesome (and she is trying out Wed for Competition Cheer -- which is potentially more dangerous than Sideline Cheer).  49ers.  Eagles.  Friends' 50th parties.

Today, was my 2 month check in for my MRI.  I've been feeling good, working, etc.  But alas, the results didn't come back as clearly as my MRI from September.  In short (who you calling short!!!), they saw something -- and it could be scar tissue (good) or could be re-growth (bad).  This is all happening real-time, and doctors are scanning the image -- and may have some recommendations on decisions that need to be made soon.

More soon,
xoxo,
stu

MRI is clean -- "As great as we were hoping"

Just wanted to post a quick note that my MRI was "clean" and the doctors said it was "as great as we were hoping".  Dr. Jennie Taylor (who normally is pretty stoic) gave me and Sandi big hugs.  All great stuff, as I'm moving into 6 months of "maintenance" mode (5 days/month of Chemo + some Clinical Trial stuff each week).

All is looking good as we continue on our normal routine -- kids in school, Stu easing back into work, mini-house rearrangements, watching Giants lose, etc.

More soon,
stu

Happy Rosh Hashanah (MRI is tomorrow)

Happy Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Years)!  Our family did our traditional sharing of apples and honey (Jaida ate all the honey), but we added some whipped cream for me.  Oh, and then the girls dipped into some mini-frozen ice creams, and who knows what else they devoured.  All is good for the joyous new year!

Last few weeks have been a blast:

• Thanks to Brother Ken for planning a Los Altos High crew and friends trip down to Pebble Beach.  A few of us were able to go kayaking (and saw otters and sea lions), golfed on Spanish Bay, played poker, watched CAL win, and didn't totally embarrass ourselves in beach volleyball.  Alan -- thanks for the round -- you really shouldn't have, but I'll make it up to you soon.
• Kudos to Steve-o and Betsy-boo for celebrating their 20th anniversary, and inviting me and Sandi-cakes to play with them on a hot air balloon ride, Segways through Napa, wine tasting, and Steve-o beating up on me in bocce ball.  What a special day!
• Giants games with Mike S and well as Fred, Chris, and Lewis (boy, they are losing some close (and not so close) ones).  But, lose or win, it's always a good time with friends
• Puppy-sitting with the O'Reilly's pug
• Sandi and the kids partying with the Mills High party gang
• Kids are happily back in school and playing with their friends (and hopefully studying a little bit)

MRI is tomorrow, and we'll see what we can see (hopefully nothing except some good brain).  And now, I'll be starting more "maintenance" treatments -- but hopefully not as rigorous as the first 6-weeks.

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Back to school, work, and the "routine"

The girls have had a great time starting school.  We went to Stella's first cheerleading gig at Los Altos High School's first football game.  Really fun, and a little hot after sitting outside for a Junior Varsity and half of a Varsity game.  (But, I wasn't the one doing splits 20 feet in the air).

I've been back at work for about a week, and it's been great.  The people I work with have been super supportive and I've been easing back in.  My clients seem genuinely happy to hear from me.  Very cool.

In the next couple weeks (9/11), I'll do my next MRI and see how productive the radiation + chemo + clinical trial was.  I'm feeling good in almost all facets, and really only have some loss of hair for the most part.  After the MRI, we'll figure out the next plan of action.  UCSF has me signed up for some elements with the clinical trial.

I've been having fun with lots of recent events:  golfing with Dave, Alex, and John; steak dinner with 3 bottles of wine (not for me!) with Fred, Riza, and Sandi; pool party hosted by Tony; road trip to LA to visit with my cousins Jake and Katie at their new Mermaid Bar; hooking up with my old CAL dorm friend Eric; lunch with Ljupco and seeing his mom selling their blankets at Palo Alto Art & Wine Festival; visiting with Uncle Paul from NJ/Israel; Giants game with Lewis, Chris, and Fred; Leland visiting and installing Alexa switches and partying with all of us; etc.

We're getting into the school and work routine now, and all is going well.  Always have time to play with y'all if you are around!

xoxox,
stu

6-week treatment is completed!!!

Super excited bc earlier this week, I completed the 6-week treatment program -- so no more radiation, chemotherapy, or my clinical trial infusion for the next month.  Thanks to all who helped drive up with me to UCSF -- it was great to catch up.  Wrt the effects of 6-weeks of treatment, I had a little hair loss, but didn't get many of other side effects that they were warning me about (nausea, fatigue, etc). I'll get my next MRI on 9/11, and then UCSF has some ideas of some other treatments to proceed with that we're evaluating.

The past month has been adventuresome.  While Sandi and the kids were in Maui, 11 of my college/work friends took me to Vegas.  I was a little skeptical about going to Vegas with only 1-drink in my system per day, but it was most excellent.  Ben, Alex, Mark, Peter, Ed L, Ed H, Ted, Austin, Erik, and Tony really went over the top with the cabana rental and other activities.  By the way, 49ers "over" is 8.5 games -- so they only need to win 9 games.

Kudos to Fred and Riza for taking Sandi and me out to Alexander's Steakhouse.  (Note to self:  when the waiter says "Happy Birthday" to me, even though my birthday was 1 month ago, just say "thank you" and accept his generosity).  And, thanks Jeff for the tix to the 49er game.  (Note to self:  Doh!  Don't leave the game in the 4th quarter even though you're down by 11 and just gave away the ball again).

Dan and Corinna came from Maui and San Diego for a quick visit.  Oh boy, do we appreciate the invite to the Ben and Serene meat-fest.

And, I had a special treat last week -- my cousins Stephanie and Jaime from the East Coast came to visit.  We had an extended family dinner at Opa, and continued to catch up and play for much of this week.

Leland is back in town for a couple days (and brought a Duartes ollalaberry pie).  The girls are getting ready for school -- that starts next week.  They are looking forward to seeing their friends.  Stella is going to be a freshman, and Jaida is in the 6th grade.  Wish me luck in keeping up with Stella's geometry for any questions that she may have.

Looking forward to playing with y'all during the next month.  I'm going back to work on 8/21, but nights/weekends are always good.
xoxo,
stu