Update- April 19th- Round 2 Chemo Over!!

Hello All!!

It's Sunday afternoon and Bob is flipping the channels back and forth between the PGA, the NBA and the MLB. He finished Round 2 of chemo on Friday and is beginning to feel better. The flu-like symptoms usually show up at the end of day 2 and dissipate about 4-5 days later. He says he is feeling better by the hour but he is quite tired and he is still looking for the Mack truck that ran over him last week.

He's down about 33 pounds from December and, as he says, he is back to his "fighting weight."

Over the past month, a few new tumors appeared in his leg, and one was removed in outpatient surgery. The good news is that the margins around the removed tumor were biopsied and were found to be negative for more cancer. Also, Bob and Shelly have noticed a shrinkage of the tumors that he can feel in his leg, since the chemo began. And, the oncology doctor said all his blood work prior to last week's chemo looked really good. So... there are some encouraging signs pointing his way.

As far as work is concerned, Shelly is now officially retired and Bob has submitted all of this early retirement papers to the District, as well as his disability retirement application for the State Teachers Retirement System. STRS asked for all of his medical records, and, knowing what he has been through, that 2 week process took over 5 weeks to complete, but we finally got 'em in this week.

Well, that's the latest. Round 3 chemo starts around the 12th of May. The oncologist said the chemo will continue as long as he can tolerate it, so he can receive its maximum benefits.

We'll update again if anything new comes up.

Thanks again for all your help and support,

The Freemans