Interferon Schedule is set

Patti and I just got back from the oncologist and the following is the set up for the foreseeable future: Cat scan on Thursday afternoon. This is needed for a new baseline to start from since the surgery and radiation. Monday, March 17th at 2PM will start the 4 weeks - 5 days a week intravenous injections. After that it is shots three times a week for 48 weeks. The oncologist gave me the option of just shots for the four weeks as I am in good health, but the aggressiveness of melanoma is the reason he recommends (as well as my other oncologist) that I do the intravenous and Patti and I agree. They did blood work also and as the nurse and the doctor said, my blood is text perfect. He was also amazed by how I look in the areas of my surgeries and radiation. He gave us a very positive outlook in contrast to the last visit with him in November. Although my staging shows a greater risk, and as he said that is just statistics, my body shows a lesser risk and greater chance of survival. He told us that with the aggressive nature of my cancer that he wanted to make sure I was operated on by the best surgeon possible. This is the biggest factor in the process, getting it all out and my surgeon seems to have done just that at this point. Anyone of the radiologist or oncologist can do the rest, but if you do not have the right surgeon, your chances are greatly diminished. He was willing to give me up as a patient in order for me to be taken care of by the best surgeon that he knew. I thank him for that. He did say that I will get sick from the interferon. Everyone does.

One note to all who read this blog: My oncologist told us his children have only known organic food. A product of the 70's hippie movement in California, he is an firm believer in organic food without all the pesticides, steroids and antibiotic injections. Patti and I brought it up so he felt free to tell us just how he lives his life and what he eats. He is a firm believer in the fact that all this processed stuff is only bad for you and keeps his business growing. He told us that my good health is directly an effect of good living and good eating. I am off vitamins and an aspirin a day regiment and yet my blood levels are down from good to great. He is a firm believer in reading labels and making sure of what goes into his families food. And besides all that he is a really nice guy.

Continue to pray for others suffering from cancer and other problems. Thanks.