Subject: Lesley Update - 5/18 Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 13:38:46 -0400 From: David Baldauf Round 6 of the chemo has come and gone. The neuro oncologist gave us the goahead on May 4th. Lesley's blood counts were excellent. We discussed lowering the Decadron, but because Lesley has not improved any in her aphasia and may be getting a bit worse, he wanted to wait to decide until after he sees the results of the MRI to be taken on the 26th. We meet with him on the 30th. Lesley has been doing pretty well. The chemo knocked her down a bit more this time than it has in the past. She had no nausea, but had lower energy in the afternoon and early evening and more eye aches, including behind the good eye (right eye). She's also been taking naps in the afternoon. But when she's up she's in pretty good spirits, laughing and smiling at jokes, puttering around the house, entering stuff in Quicken, playing Freecell, making her lunch, making the kids' lunches at night, doing some of the dishes at night. It's just that compared to previous rounds, this has not been a breeze. She's steadily improved in her energy level since the end of chemo. On day 3 of the chemo we went to our local amusement park, Canobie Lake Park, from noon to 6 PM. Lesley did not want a wheelchair so we did quite a bit of walking (although not at a fast pace and with plenty of rests sitting in the shade). She did fine, even going on the log flume ride with the kids. (I actually went with Kim on a corkscrew rollercoaster!) About 4:30 she got tired so we put her in the van with the windows open and with soda and an apple to take it easy (it was about 85 degrees). Before you go yelling at me, she wanted to go with us to the park! If I pushed too hard for her not to go she would have been upset that I wasn't letting her do anything. So there!! As far as the eye ache, it's nothing major - 2 extra strength Tylenol knock it way way down and it's not that terrible to start with. She's not in real pain as she was back in October/November/December. So, a pretty uneventful couple of weeks. We'll take it. Dave --- Dave Baldauf, h/o Lesley, gbm, dx/srg 8/99, rad 9/99, rad completed 10/99, debulk srg 10/99, bone flap removal srg due to infection 11/99, started Temodar 12/99, completed 6th round of Temodar 5/9/00 mailto:dbaldauf@alumni.brown.edu Improved web site! http://www.davebaldauf.com