And the envelope, please....

My first six weeks on Brivanib are finished which in Clinical Trial land, accounts for 2 cycles of medication, each cycle lasting 3 weeks. I was nervous all day. To quote the Beverly Hillbillies, I was as jumpy as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. The weather today was warm and sunny and I was hoping that would be a good omen as I pretty much prayed all the way to the U of C saying to myself "Please let there be stability. Please let there be stability." The fact that I was sitting in traffic waiting for road crews to finish filling pot holes didn't help. I just wanted to get there, collect my bad news and leave. Oncology wasn't quite so crowded today and I had my blood drawn fairly quickly and only waited about 10 minutes. My BP was high and my heart rate was elevated. No shock there. Sat in the office and waited for about 10 minutes going over the various scenarios in my head. Then I heard the voice of the trial nurse down the hall saying "I'll go get cycles 3 and 4" HMMM.. I would be on cycle three and four. The Dr. walked in then, asked me how I felt and cut right to the chase.

EVERYTHING SHRUNK AT LEAST 20%!!!!

I was soooo happy.. I got up, I hugged the trial nurse and the Dr. while practically crying because I've gotten such limited good news since this whole adventure began in 2006! Of course I realize that I have a long way to go. Of course I realize that there are bumps, dips and rocky roads in cancer but today, is a good day. Today it is something to celebrate. I left as soon as I received cycle 3 and 4, tipped the valet extra just for being there on this marvelous, fantastic, beautiful day and drove home.

I'd like to thank the academy, Joe, my sister Kris, my dad and the rest of the crew in Arizona, Nonalee, Lynne and all others in Team Iowa, Nita, my Aunts, cousins and my Grandma out there in Czech land who doesn't know I have cancer, my cyber friends and sarcoma friends who I have met during this adventure, Aubree, Elsa and her friend Michelle whose blog I read, "Card Blue" who I check on from time to time, the Sarcoma Alliance, The Sarcoma Foundation for attempting to bring awareness to the masses and support to the patients, to Liddy Shriver and Jennifer Hunter Yates and all those who are no longer with us but whose stories inspired family members resulting in fund raisers for clinical trials, may their memories continue to inspire and hopefully someday find a cure and thanks to all those that prayed for me, sent me emails, and read my random stupid thoughts out here on the internet... I was going to call you all Commie, homo loving, sons of guns but that line was already taken by Mr. Penn.

As it's Ash Wednesday, it's our customary tradition to have Long John Silvers. I stopped at church on the way home. I'm sure God fell over when he saw me there. It's been awhile but I keep in touch. I got my ashes and stayed for mass. It was Emily's first time in church and she was very good. Cassie asked where the Holy Water was because she wanted to see if it would burn Emily. HA HA HA...

Meds for another 6 weeks. Here's hoping and praying and working towards another 20% reduction...or better yet, that elusive NED status that I haven't seen in awhile.