As of last night, I took the last of my Temodar to reach the 6-month mark which is the official “standard of care” if you will.  I guess it’s a meaningful milestone in that most of the brain tumor centers including UCSF will recommend this regimen because patients have had the highest degree of success addressing their brain tumors by first having surgery if possible, then b) utilizing IMRT radiation or some other form as appropriate and then c) chemotherapy.  For me as you might have read in previous posts, I had surgery which resulted in only a biopsy due to the location of the tumor (straddling the primary motor strip) and then followed that up with 5 weeks of concurrent IMRT radiation and chemotherapy using Temodar.  I then took 4 weeks off and subsequently started pulse therapy using Temodar on an alternating weekly schedule (7-days on / 7-days off). 

I have another MRI today so could again use your prayers.  I have continued to be asymptomatic.  I had a strange episode about a week again with my vision – an object (my dress shirt hanging in the bathroom) seemed to suddenly “zoom in” although I was 5-6 feet away from it.  I had to grab on to the wall to maintain my balance.  It was a little bit strange but I’m not sure I can really attribute it to anything.  Taking the Temodar and also anti-convulants, etc. – it’s hard to say.  But this is why I have MRIs so close together.  We need to track everything.  It’s been stable all along so we’ll continue to look at it. 

I will likely continue on Temodar for another 6 months.  On one side of the coin, it seems difficult to take chemo for the same amount of time in front of me that I’ve already been taking it.  However, this is what is going to help me manage this for now so I look at it positively.  The only drawback is it does take its toll.  I believe there is a cumulative effect that builds up over time and you become increasingly more fatigued.  What can you do though!  You accept it, you keep going.  But, you have listen to your body.  I was very tired this weekend.  I needed some time to just rest.  I slept a lot at night – like a full 10-11 hours and sometimes that is just what you need.  I’m pretty tired today too.  I kind of go through phases like this.

We’ll see how everything goes later today – it’s in God’s hands – all of it has been and will be.  I have an appointment with my Neuro-Oncologist tomorrow and will review the MRI in detail but I typically get a prelim before that. 

More to follow!  I hope all of you had a great Easter.

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