[Magdalen] Good News

[Jim Guthrie]

From: Eleanor Braun

>My results are also good so far.  I'm half way through chemo, and my cancer
>antigen is down by 2/3.  Blood counts are good, and virtually no side
>effects.

That antigen number is an interesting one -- my doctor says it's good news when 
its down below 5, as that's within the range of people with no signs of cancer 
at all. But its only meaningful in the context of everything else that may be 
going on.

They also noticed the damaged gene that has caused the Wagner-Stickler eye and 
joint problems, passed  along for generations. The wonders of modern Science!

How does the Doctor know you're halfway? Mine says we continue as long as it's 
working, making adjustments along the line if it doesn’t work anymore. It 
continues until remission or until the worst happens and further chemo treatment 
is futile.

I am in my cocoon state right now, with the Fluorouracil bottle in a sling 
around my waist and connected the the Mediport on the upper chest. Albert will 
remove it tomorrow when it's finished -- we have syringes of Saline and Heparin 
to inject to keep the internal tube clean, and then he pulls the needle out.We 
are required to bring the bottle back to MSK to be disposed of properly.

Let me add that I told of my predicament to a good friend and fellow anthracite 
researcher when he was here at Christmas. Taking my advice, he had a colonoscopy 
last week, and they found cancerous cells. He has a full CT scan scheduled next 
week. Albert finally decided he'd better have one as well -- his is Feb 4.

Jim