I got GREAT news today!

The PET came out negative for metastatic cancer in my back or pelvis! The only tumors that showed in the test were the lung mets which I already knew about. This makes a huge difference in my prognosis, this is the best news I have had since my last clear CT scan back in 2004!

I still have a lot of pain and some kind of post-surgical inflammation responsible for it. But I'll take that any day. I was really getting conditioned to getting positive test results in my fight. I can't wait for October in Austin, even if I have to do it in a wheelchair.


LIVESTRONG - Andrew

Region 7 of the NLRB

I wanted to post a copy of the article that was run in this month's NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) newsletter. Back in June my brother, Dan, organized an event to commemorate LiveStrong Day.

Top'd off

Went into the hospital today for a couple of units of blood. I am feeling much better, my anemia was getting bad. My bone marrow is just not what it used to be after all it's been through. The infusion floor at St. John's is really nice it made the time go by quickly. I get my PET scan tomorrow to see if this stuff in my back is a tumor.

The pain/lack of strength in my back and legs is getting worse. I went ahead and requested a handicapped permit for my car and a wheelchair. If I want to be able to do anything that requires a lot of walking I'll have to have a wheelchair.

LiveStrong,

Andrew

Photo of the Molenda boys

Me and my two sons (Evan 1yr, Liam 6yrs)

So much has happened since I started chemo last week

I was given three days of ifosimide and DTIC as my chemo regimen. The ifosimide can have a neuro-toxic affect. I got it in spades. I had a lot of confusion, motor control problems, hallucinations, basically an encephalitc response. It was unbearable, I don't know if it was this chemo or just the total effect of my last surgery and neutron therapy. But I could not continue the chemotherapy it was driving me crazy. I have read that prior Cisplatin treatment can make those symptoms worse.

Thursday night I had a MRI of my back, they were concerned that I had metastatic tumors that were not showing in the bone scan. Friday I found out that there is something wrapped around my nerves in my back. Friday night I had a MRI of my brain, they were concerned that I had metastatic tumors in my head. Sunday, I found out that there are no tumors in my brain! Seems weird to type those words. I have a PET scan scheduled for Wednesday to see how advanced my disease has become and I plan on meeting with my oncologist to sort out what my options are at this point.

LIVESTRONG - Andrew