Subject: Lesley Update - 6/7
Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2000 11:36:55 -0400

Not a whole lot has changed since the last update on May 18th.  We
completed Round 7 of the Temodar this morning.  Lesley is doing pretty
much the same as she was last month.  Extra fatigue while undergoing her
chemo, but generally in good condition and in good spirits.  She's on
the treadmill right now.  Her eye continues to bother her but not too
much and is controlled with Tylenol.  She still has the aphasia and it
might even be a little worse, but her memory is great.  At her early May
appointment she wore her Grindelwald sweatshirt and the doctor talked
about Switzerland and Grindelwald.  When we left that appointment Lesley
and I agreed that she should wear her Interlaken sweatshirt to the
appointment on the 31st.  Who do you think remembered to wear it?  :-)

We had an MRI done on May 27th and met with the doctor on May 31st.  The
doctor was pleased.  This scan reads
about the same as last time so things are stable.  He says that stable
is good.  After April's scan that showed shrinkage, we're not as excited
as we should be.  It's like hitting a double after you hit a home run.

Lesley's blood counts were very good - she's tolerating the chemo better
than most patients.  I also asked the doctor about putting a plate or
something in her head to cover her soft area.  (I had read that after 6
months they will sometimes do that.)  He recommended against it for the
reasons we anticipated - not enough reward for the risk of surgery
(primarily infection risk).  We don't feel strongly enough about it to
press.  Lesley is doing fine with it the way it is.

On a more sobering note, I found out that one of the Air Force guys I
used to work with was diagnosed with the same type of tumor as Lesley
(Glioblastoma Multiforme) in April.  I've been in touch with him and
he's aggressively researching and pursuing his options.  We wish him
well.

All in all, it's been a good period for Lesley.  We hope to keep 'em
coming!

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 7th round of Temodar 6/6/00
mailto:dbaldauf@alumni.brown.edu
website: http://www.davebaldauf.com