First off - what an incredible bummer, Victor!!! I really hope something much better comes along. And, of course, my condolences go out to Ric.
So, my news is that the cancer has returned. (not a big surprise to me, since I've been in pain since the surgery last October.) BUT, it appears to be again localized, and in exactly the same place as it was before. So, if I pass all the blood tests, ekg, scans, etc., I'll be starting in a study in a couple of weeks. It's a vaccine that uses a protein that's found in 95% of all tumors. They've had an 85% success rate in the lab - but that may or may not translate into a comparable success rate in actual practice. Basically it trains your immune system to attack the cancer cells. The study's duration is 6 months - so I expect to be at JoniFest. So, believe it or not, I'm not as worried or depressed as one might assume. (but I'm grumpy today because the FDA says I have to have a CT scan and I hate having to drink all the contrast dye - yuck!) Just keeping you all updated, since you've been so incredibly supportive to me. I really love this big "family" of ours. And the recent Joni discussions have been terrific! lots of love Anne
