This is a short note to let my readers know that the drug that has the best chance of making a dent in this spine tumor, Cabozantinib, arrives via overnight shipping tomorrow! I will begin taking a 60mg daily dose of this powerful drug and we’re hoping that it will begin to kill the tumor in my spine and pave the way for me to be able to get better. Whether or not, a smaller tumor would make it possible for another spine surgery to remove the screw from the tumor and restabilize my spine, is still up in the air. We will likely go soon to University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas for a surgical/radiation consultation, so that they’ll be onboard with my case in the event surgery/radiation becomes a viable option.

I know that there are side effects with all of these drugs and this is one I haven’t taken before, so like we’ve done so many times before, we’ll be Star Trekking it. Going boldly where we’ve never been before. Based on my research, the combination of this promising drug, Cabozantinib, and a solid surgical/radiation plan will provide our best hope for me to return to health. I have purposefully avoided the list of side effects of this drug. I’m sure it’s not pretty. Please bear with me in the upcoming days and weeks. I’m sure there’ll be some physical changes like hair color and weight loss. I’m sure there’ll be some GI issues, too, so don’t stand too close. I may throw up on your shoes.

We are thankful that Dr. Pippas was able to make my case with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and we’re getting a shot at this drug. It has shown remarkable results in a lot of folks with kidney cancer. While I’m being thankful, let me say again how much Jill and I and our family appreciate all the love, cards, encouragement and concern as we embark on yet another chapter in a our lives, living with cancer.