17 December 2012 Update

Gentlefolk,

I'm afraid I haven't been very diligent with my postings lately, but the good news is that no news, in this case is good news.

I am well along with the Avastin treatments, and have had no side effects, other than limiting my alcohol intake.  A bit.  We will not know until my next MRI in January how effective it has been/will be.  I still get a regular dose every two weeks, and will continue apace until more data are in hand, positive or negative.

Further slight good news on the steroid front:  the docs continue to taper me down from the higher doses I had been on to regain some stability.  As I have complained, however, the price for that stability at least initially was a great deal of muscle loss, especially in the legs, and shoulders.  Doesn't help with the stability either.  There is also the fuzziness that comes during the course of the day, but it really just gets in the way of initiative.  I am up and about, but I do tire as the day wears on.  My expectation is that the steroids will be gone very near the first of the year.

By the way, for those of you who have nursed an older loved one who is/was on Prednazone, the steroid I'm on is in the same family and has similar kinds of side effects.

We have continued to be very active: concerts, short trips, visiting friends.  A busy life, but in the company of friends and loved ones.  What could be bad about that?

Off to New York and dinner and concert with Polly and John tomorrow.  And its not supposed to be very cold either.