Four in a Row

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Michele’s Luck Continues after St Patrick’s Day.

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Same as before, the MRI shows no sign of cancer.

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Even though Michele may not have a single Irish gene, her luck continues. We had originally scheduled her MRI this week for Wednesday, St. Patrick’s Day (since we Schultz’s are so Irish). However, Michele could not stand the thought of waiting two days for the results, so she rescheduled the MRI for Thursday, allowing us to get the results during her doctor’s appointment on Friday. The doctor insisted upon discussing the results face to face.

Michele’s second surgery was way back on 23 July 2009 and she is now in her eleventh three-week cycle of Avastin and CPT-11. Since it seems to be working, we plan to continue that protocol for as long as it works.

On this MRI especially, we were not expecting such good results. We had two major concerns this month.

Michele’s memory and communication skills have continued to deteriorate. In the past month, she has experienced increased difficulty in speaking and has had extreme difficulty remembering names -- even the names of relatives and close friends. The cancer was located in the eloquent (Broca’s area -- word processing speaking, word selection, word memory) portion of the brain. Back in February 2009, the first sign of trouble was difficulty in speaking and reading. A tumor recurrence in that area could be causing these current problems.

Our second concern was Michele’s “wobbliness.” Mobility has been difficult because she has had serious problems with balance and coordination. In the past month, she has experienced several very painful falls. No bones have broken, but she has some huge bruises. A completely different portion of the brain, the cerebellum, is responsible for the body's balance, posture, and the coordination of movement. If the cerebellum was now cancerous, we would be in real trouble.

Although no cancer was observed in either area, or anywhere else in Michele’s brain, considerable shrinkage of the eloquent area was observed. The doctor believes that this new shrinkage may be the result of the radiation treatment received last spring -- many brain cells were damaged by the radiation and only now are withering. Regeneration of the area will not happen. A study was published last year suggesting that speech functions can shift to nearby areas in the brain.

. [ Plaza M, Gatignol P, Leroy M, Duffau H. (2009). Speaking without Broca's area after tumor resection. Neurocase.9:1-17. PMID 19274574 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19274574 ] . ..

Exercising the brain may help develop undamaged areas. We are beginning to work on this.

No explanation was given for Michele’s mobility and balance problems.

In summary, we are alive without visible brain cancer, which is an accomplishment, but continue to have serious language and mobility problems.

We expect the next MRI in nine weeks -- o/a Thursday 20 May.

Next posting expected o/a 22 May.

RKS

　

Anniversary and a Schedule Change

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Anniversary and a Schedule Change

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Today is the anniversary of Michele’s seizure, which was the first sign of her brain cancer. It has been a long and hard year, but we are bearing up and Michele’s British upper lip remains stiff.

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We have also made a slight change in the chemotherapy schedule. Michele has a chemo buddy now who is French. He is about six months ahead of her in his treatment for GBM brain cancer. He and Michele are coordinating their treatment schedules so that they can get their infusions (IV’s) on the same day, Fridays. Does not sound too romantic, so I am not worried or jealous. I mean, how much can happen when you are all wrapped up with three IV bags and IV tubes?

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She remains on the same three-week treatment cycle -- two Fridays receiving chemotherapy and one week off for much needed rest. The next MRI has also been shifted back a day. For those of you who want to mark your calendars:

Chemo Friday 26 Feb and 05 March

Rest 8-12Mar

MRI Thursday 18 Mar (the day after St Patrick’s Day)

Chemo and MRI results Friday 19 Mar

Chemo Friday 26 Mar

Rest Palm Sunday to Easter

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Next posting o/a 20 Mar.

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RKS

Another Clean MRI

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Three in a Row

Michele had a MRI Wednesday and received the results Thursday.

The MRI did not show any indications of renewed cancer growth. This is as close to remission as GBM cancer gets and may not be remarkable, but is certainly unusual. She has been on Avastin / CPT11 for almost six months now -- since 20 August 2009.

We will continue the same Avastin / CPT11 three-week cycle -- two Thursdays of treatment and one resting / recovery week.

The next MRI will be in about nine weeks -- on or about Wednesday, 17 March, St Patrick ’s Day -- that will be over a year after her first surgery.

RKS

With Help from Our Friends

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Ode to Michele on Her 65^th

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She tried her best and in the past harassed us,

But she just couldn’t slip December 2^nd past us. [Bill]

No way Michele, c’est vrai, forget it,

Here’s something even tous can’t edit. [Julie]

--- ---

At Passover time, we’ve been asked to tell

How our ancestors in Egypt used to dwell. [Sandy]

Then life with Pharaoh began to unravel,

And the Jewish folks were forced to travel. [Marshall]

Michele’s clan offered a similar story,

Though not quite the same in stature or glory. [Sandy]

From Egypt Michele was forced to flee

And now the rest is history. [Marshall]

From Cairo to London to Hong Kong she wandered.

Why not NYC and San Francisco she pondered

Around the world, from many lands she reported.

She moved so often you’d think she was deported. [Kim]

Along the way on her various stops,

She perfected her journalistic chops. [Andrew]

She worked in Vietnam -- sans bon bons,

But left when we let Saigon be Saigons. [Ken}

The war in Asia filled her with strife,

Then Paris offered her the good life.

But there was much more to see,

So off she was to Tel-Aviv.

Someone told her Rockwall would be great,

But there are far better places in this state.

So Austin is now her home sweet home,

With so many friends, never again to roam.

--- --- ---

At the paper she wrote news, features and shorts.

She did everything else, except for sports. [Andrew]

Michele ruled over the business desk domain.

With her in charge, it was never quite the same. [Kim]

In Washington her prowess grew.

She wrote a column, front pagers, too. [Ted]

She was our expert on topics like NAFTA.

She quit smoking then, she knew she’d hafta. [Debra]

She returned to Austin and the Legislature,

Always working hard because it’s her nature. [Ralph]

Green card in hand she wanted more,

Hoping to be counted in the electoral score. [Barbara]

Because Michele is nobody’s fool,

She knew her citizenship could be dual. [Ted]

She called a congressman, one of San Antone’s.

Became a Yank, saying “Let them eat scones.” [Ken]

She conquered Austin, then took on the Capitol,

Where she found the bastards all so laughable. [Ross]

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She loves kids, but carolers made her jangle.

When on deadline their tiny necks she’d strangle. [Renee]

Among her good friends is ex-Mayor Bruce Todd,

But even he should not sing “Feliz Navidade.” [Elizabeth]

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Since she was good at telling others what to do,

Consulting was a natural thing to pursue. [Bruce]

George Dubya Bush and Karen Hughes,

Soon others were seeking her vociferous views. [Renee]

Cornyn and Carole and the GOP,

But enough politics, it was time to flee. [Bill]

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So once more, it was back to the paper,

And the big pink dome for a final caper. [Linda]

And soon, she recalled, this took a lot of meds.

So she fled down the street, until she got to St. Ed’s. [Ross]

Nobody who went there had ever talked faster,

So in no time at all, they declared her a master. [Sharon]

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In front of her class, she stood 4 foot 10,

And all of her students wanted to sign up again. [Bruce]

She had the kid reporters all in a tizzy.

Michele barking orders would make anyone dizzy. [Mary Ann]

But she remade the program until it was stellar,

Leaving her mark on every girl and feller. [Elizabeth]

----- ----- -----

She taught everyone from far and near,

And along the way married an engineer. [Ralph]

We’ve seen lots of weddings, but her’s was a treat.

Not often do you see a couple that sweet. [Mary Ann]

We grew to know Robert as a really great pal,

And all know for certain he picked the right gal. [Linda]

Their home is up on the mountain of cat.

Where friends always find their welcome mat. [Ted}

Through all the years and all the hard work,

Her family and friendships she never did shirk. [Barbara]

She’s always made time to see that we feel

Her love and kindness, and know that it’s real. [Debra]

We’ve bragged on Michele, though we all have our flaws,

Thank goodness for flexible immigration laws. [Ken]

----- ----- ----- -----

So today you’ve reached 65 years.

Happy birthday to you, and to Britney Spears! [Julie]

　

　

　

Thankful

Thanksgiving 2009

What am I thankful for?

Michele, Michele, Michele, Michele, Michele

I am thankful that she has broaden my horizons

and has shown me a world that I would have

never known without her.

I am thankful that she inspires me.

I am thankful to have her to love.

I am thankful to be loved by her.

I am thankful that she has changed my life.

Although life may not turn out exactly as hoped,

I will always be thankful for Michele.

RKS

NYT Article on GBM

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NYT Tue 17 Nov

Here is a new piece on GBM from the New York Times. Avastin is one of the drugs that Michele is taking every three weeks by infusion (IV).

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/health/17tumor.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=gbm%20%20denise%20grady&st=cse

RKS

Brief Report

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Another Great MRI

(My resident managing editor has directed that this posting be brief.)

Michele had a MRI on Wednesday, 11 November.

It was clean and showed no evidence of cancer.

Dr. Chadha, her oncologist, has extended the MRI interval from six to nine weeks.

Next MRI will be o/a Wednesday, 13 January.

She will remain on the same three week chemotherapy protocol indefinitely.

RKS

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