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


Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The Hopeful Journey continues

Today, July 7th, is almost exactly the one year anniversary of my first trip to Tampa, and my first dose of ipilumumab. It is my 6th CT scan, and the fifth to show further improvement. The remaining mass outside my liver is now about 13 ml in volume, compared to over 700 ml a year ago. This is a further 30% reduction from the 18 ml size on the April CT scan.

With this continued trajectory of improvement, I am less anxious about these CT's, but cannot escape the stakes that each one represents.

I feel very well, and am more physically fit than in years. My family are well. Pat is off in September to New York for a year of study, performing and composing, thanks to the Canada Council. Steve is working for Island Hospice, developing a youth bereavement program. He did very well on his MCAT and will likely have choices of med schools for next year. David is in Montreal, having been selected with his quintet to play at the Montreal Jazz Festival, on Canada Day. They performed out in front of Place des Arts for an hour, in front of over 1,000 people. Joan continues to be well, although some dental issues have made things miserable.

We hosted the Canadian Urological Association, with some 850 people here last week. With the music of Rawlins' Cross, and the food of Chef Michael Smith, it was one of the best CUA's ever. I was co-chair of local arrangements. It was not an onerous task, and for the most part, a pleasure.


Great day. The sun is beautiful. The strawberries are in. There is so much for which to be thankful.

Thanks again for the support of so many of you. No one can thrive, or even survive in isolation. I am always feeling the comfort and care of so many.

Blessings,

Ian
Posted by Ian at 2:05 PM

1 comments:

  1. Glad you're doing well. Just read Christopher Hitchens' very personal, honest and eloquent account of his own recent cancer diagnosis, and thought it might interest you.
    http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/09/hitchens-201009

    ReplyDelete

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