Sunday 4 February 2018

Clinical trial and renewed hope

It’s been a rough 6 weeks since I began chemotherapy round #2 in mid November. I’m not going to lie, it’s been a terrible experience filled with extreme fatigue, poor mobility, leg and back pain, and stomach issues. It’s been impossible to plan anything because one day I’m feeling OK, but then the next I’m back in bed again unable to function. I’ve cancelled quite a few events and meetings, even missed my kids' hockey games - the worst example being missing the Toronto Maple Leafs vs New York Islanders hockey game on January 31 at the Air Canada Centre which Shayne and I were supposed to attend. I got the tickets at a Bracelet of Hope event silent auction, and after the intense bidding battle with a tough competitor that went right down to the wire, was so happy to get these tickets. We really looked forward so much to the game. It was heartbreaking that we missed it but the way I look at it now, it ended up being a donation to a great cause (http://www.braceletofhope.ca/).

I just watched Tom Brady of the New England Patriots miss his "Hail Mary" pass in the last seconds of the Super Bowl, and hoping that my new "Hail Mary" in the form of this clinical trial at the Juravinski Cancer Centre will have better results.

I’ve had some great news and we’ve begun the process of having me participate in this fresh new prostate cancer clinical trial at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton. I may have to do one more chemo session but I’m inclined to decline this final session and just wait for the clinical trial to begin, which would be a few weeks away. In any case, it now appears that both chemotherapy rounds have not helped as my PSA continues to go up. I still need to have some tests done and get a few things confirmed and genetic details matched up, but at this point, I am hoping that sometime in March/April I will start the clinical trial, which the oncologist who is running it is extremely optimistic about and believes will give me up to a 70% chance of good results based on what we know so far. For the clinical trial, the drugs are in the form of pills and do not have the typical negative side effects that chemotherapy has. So, to be in the position of getting into this trial that has minimal side effects and has a great chance of helping me is fantastic news for me and another clear example of how incredibly lucky I am. I still need to pass through a couple of hurdles for it to become reality, but keeping my fingers crossed.

On another happy note, we now have a date confirmed for the Manhattan’s Music Party on Sunday, March 25 at Manhattan’s Pizza, Bistro, and Music Club in Guelph at 951 Gordon Street. It's going to be an afternoon open-mic/jam type event something like 1:00pm - 5:00pm (to be confirmed) and drop-in type thing. You can get great food and drinks there and sign up if you want to get up and sing or play. Instruments will be provided.

I will keep you posted with news on the event on Facebook as well as here on this web page:

http://www.twoinsix.com/

IMPORTANT: Please make sure you check this above link before coming in case I have to cancel last-minute, which is a possibility based on my health and what I’ve experienced in the last few weeks.

I apologize to everyone whom I’ve had to cancel on in the last few weeks (it's a long list) but I promise that I will make it up to you in the coming weeks as I start to feel better.

Thanks for the food deliveries, kind messages, thoughts and prayers - as always, much appreciated!

So for now, mark your calendars and hope to see you all at Manhattan's on Sunday March 25!