SO FAR SO GOOD

Bob has finished his first cycle of chemo and had his week off. Tomorrow it starts again. Except for some minor tiredness and major hair loss (still an ongoing annoyance) everything is going well. The hair is everywhere; it flies around like a shedding cat's fur. It's in my nose, food, eyes. Bob refuses to shave it all off and mourns each hair's demise like a beloved pet. I can't wait for it all to be gone so we can concentrate on more important stuff. The mustache is also shedding and will probably disappear too.

We saw the oncologist after the cycle and he was typically upbeat but noncommittal too. He did measure the swollen lymph node on his neck that started the whole thing and it has shrunk by 50%. That has GOT to be good, right? The lymph node was never considered cancerous, just a symptomatic response to the cancer in his throat, but still, we are taking it as a good sign. After the second cycle is completed, the ENT  will re-scope to see how the throat carcinoma is responding to the chemo. That should be around January 27th so I am hoping for the BIGGEST birthday present of my life!

Bob and I are always optimistic, with brief spells of despair. Luckily, the spells are short-lived and, so far, we have not had them simultaneously, so we are able to boost the other's mood. We have even made plane reservations for Florida in late February for a week in Boca preceding the all-important next Petscan.

We read every card and email with great delight. Keep 'em coming.