Holy $@#& Batman!!

"Holy Shit" aren't exactly the words you want to hear your oncologist utter to you in reference to your recent MRI. However, at Phil's follow up visit to review his MRI with Dr. Kossman this week those were precisely the words we heard. In point of fact, Dr. Kossman was actually quoting the neuroradiologist who had read the images and was reporting to us their combined surprise at finding Phil's MRI so dramatically improved.

The edema and swelling is significantly resolved as is the left to right shift of the brain. In terms of the hematoma and residual activity in the left frontal lobe, it is about 50% improved and most significantly, the basal ganglia (deep brain area) is about 30% improved from the previous scan. I think it is fair and accurate to say that we go into these appointments now with no expectations, not knowing what we're going to hear. Well, this was definitely the unanticipated and better than either of us imagined. So, after such a long run of hard knocks we've all been enjoying doing a little coasting.

Phil continues to slowly gain weight and enjoys eating seconds and occasionally thirds without thinking twice. Even though he hasn't had much of a sweet tooth and he's tightly controlling his blood sugar, he's not been one to turn down ice cream. He'll continue to receive Procrit weekly to build up his RBCs and he's contemplating a more regular walking routine to build his stamina. Ultimately, as he recovers from surgery and all that's complicated his fight, he's making use of this partial remission to strengthen himself for what's to come.

He'll be re-staged for the lymphoma in about 3 weeks with a CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis and we'll have a better understanding of where things stand with that then. Until then it's gratitude, savoring each day and living in the moment.