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


Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Turning a page

I have just returned from my fifth trip to Tampa, Florida, this time for 12 hours. I flew from Toronto arriving at 11:30 pm, had bloodwork at 7:00 am, saw Dr. Weber at 8:00am, and was flying back to Toronto at 11:30 am.

My CT scan has showed further improvement in all areas of the disease in and near the liver. Dr. Weber and I am convinced due to some persistence of side effects, that the hyper-immune response due to the drug ipilumumab continues, although not as intensely as in August when I was in hospital. There are plenty of examples of continuing effects for months.

I am off all medication for pain, and for colitis. I am pain free.

I am now much closer to normal, likely 85-90%. It is time to turn the page and plot a strategy to return to a more normal life. This cancer journey will likely continue for some time. It is time to move on. I need to, I want to, and I am going to.

I will return to practice in January. It will be at a less frenetic pace than in the past, and at a sustainable and healthy level. I also have some work to do in 'reconditioning' as I am rather 'deconditioned'. I am certainly not ready to play squash well, run the floor refereeing basketball, or skiing. I am determined to do all of these this winter.

I will need a CT again in two months, at the end of January. If I am fortunate, further treatment may not be necessary. Even if so, there are options, even including further ipi if it is released by the FDA and Health Canada.

Thank you all for your love and support during the past six months. Look after your health, it is your most valuable asset. Do not ever take it for granted. Look after your closest relationships, as nothing is more important at crunch time.

See you soon.

Ian
Posted by Ian at 11:17 PM

3 comments:

  1. What wonderful news that things are going well and you will be returning to the Clinic in January. We will all look forward to having you back.

    Take care and hope you enjoy the holidays.

    ReplyDelete

  2. I asked Alan and Zelda Morrison, earlier on how you were doing and they advised me that i could check things out on the website. With all kinds of help from my daughter I was able to get the good news today that you have recovered real well after along tough battle. I will be down soon with vegetables. Always thinking of you and your family.
    Hilton Shea

    ReplyDelete

  3. Encouraging news continues. Wonderful! Merry Christmas, and may God bless you Ian.

    Judy & Lloyd

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)