Welcome to our 'Hopeful Spot'

Dear Family and Friends,

We look forward to sharing Ian's medical progress and our family's journey with all of you.

This is where we will do our best to keep you up to date on Ian's medical condition. This is how the story started:

In August, 2007, Ian developed what started out like an itchy fly bite on his right shoulder. Within two weeks it was about 8 mm in diameter, raised, red and extremely itchy. It was excised, and found to be a "stage IIB malignant melanoma". This was followed by a wide excision down to muscle, skin grafting, and what is called a sentinel node dissection. Radioactive material is injected in the original site, and all lymph nodes that accumulate the material are removed, presumably the lymph nodes that drain the original tumour.

As this tumour had aggressive features, the risk of recurrence was estimated at 30%. A search of the literature revealed several prominent names, including Dr. Lawrence Flaherty of Wayne State in Detroit. I emailed Larry, who emailed me within an hour, and called me later that day, talking for an hour. He recommended that I consider a year of high dose interferon alpha. This appeared to reduce the recurrence rate by 25-30% - ie in my case maybe to 20% from 30%. I took the drug IV at home, in Joan's hospital, and by self injection for 11 months.

I began in March to have upper abdominal pain. When the maximal treatment for a peptic ulcer had no impact, an ultrasound, followed by a CT scan revealed that I had multiple area of tumour in my liver (about 10 or so, 1-2 cm in size), an 8 cm mass of lymph nodes just outside my liver (porta hepatis), and a 2 cm right axillary lymph node. Undoubtedly the cancer had spread from the get go.

After a whirlwind of emails to experts (Larry Flaherty, Teresa Petrella, and Jeff Weber of Detroit, Toronto and Tampa respectively, as well as Paul Chapman of Memorial), an opportunity suddenly arose unexpectedly. Jeff Weber had an opening develop in a then closed study of a drug that for him looked quite exciting. Like most of the treatments of melanoma being investigated, it is an immune modulator, that helps the immune system attack the tumour. I had to be in Tampa in 36 hours to be screened. This drug is given IV over 90 minutes every three weeks. Responses are delayed. Imaging to assess response is not done for 12 weeks. Some dramatic responses have occurred much later. The main adverse effects are fatigue, diarrhea, cramps, and a rash.
I was screened on June 5th, and hope to start the drug on June 9th.

Your interest in our journey is a comfort to us. Please sign on as a follower, so we know you are there. Add a comment as you wish. If you would like, email Ian at dr_i_reid@hotmail.com.

We also want and need to hear your news. It will be affirming for us to know that we continue to be an important part of your lives.

In addition to access to the best medical resources, we are most fortunate to be blessed with all of the ingredients in the recipe for a positive outcome. We are surrounded by love... and so grateful for our closely knit family, our many precious friends, our caring community and our nurturing church family. We share a deep and abiding faith that God is walking this difficult path with us.

Please take comfort in knowing that for us, this is a journey of hope. While we are well aware of the seriousness of our situation, we wish to focus on our blessings and strengths, celebrating each day to the fullest.

Remember, continuing to include us among those who share in your joys and sorrows... sending us your messages of encouragement, faith, hope and love... and keeping us in your thoughts and prayers are the most important things you can do to support us.

Blessings to all of you,

The Reid Family


Monday, December 21, 2009

Blessings to your family from ours this Christmas

Dear friends. This Christmas will be like none other. In May, I had a 15% chance of survival, and an 85% chance that this would be my last Christmas. Now that I am so much improved, fear no longer hangs over this season. It is replaced by a new sense of gratitude, and a desire to live in the moment. Time has new meaning. Most things are "small stuff". My family will all be together as of today. We have traveled a difficult journey together, each in his or her own way. The journey is far from over, but no longer permeates every day. We have not been alone.

Today I chatted with Cathy and Carla about my return to work January 4th. We are all looking forward to it. It means some return to normality, to structure and routine. It is only two weeks away. It will be good.

I work regularly with Steve Mallet, a personal trainer at the Spa, as I work to regain the strength and stamina I usually enjoy. It is a good pain. I have a long way to go yet.

As we all gather with family and friends this Christmas, let us remember what is truly important. Let us be kind, thoughtful and merciful to each other. Nothing stays the same. Let us enjoy and relish the moments of joy and fellowship, as at some time their memory will be a great comfort. Carpe Diem (seize the moment).

May the true love, peace and joy of the season surround all of you that have joined me on this journey. Thank you. May 2010 be a good year for all.

Ian
Posted by Ian at 9:07 PM

3 comments:

  1. "Merry Christmas" Ian, Joan & family
    We all speak of mircles around this time of year and I could not help think when I saw you tonight at the Christmas service with your family what a wonderful mircle we all had with us tonight.All good wishes to you in the new year for continuous health and happiness. Shirley & Fred Bagnall

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  2. May 2010 be a year of continued good health. Thank you for taking us on this hopeful journey with you and your family.

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  3. It will be nice to see you back at work, and again so happy to hear things are on the up and up. I work on unit 2 as an RN and have looked after many of your pts and called you numerous times re those pts,whether it be during your working hours and even through the night when you have been on call, and as always very professional! you probably don't know me by my name but I am sure when we meet againyou will recognize me! take care, I am off myself right now as I had surgery just before xmas but am looking forward to seeing you in Feb or early March, Jackie Byrne

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