NOT BIRDBRAINS

Grammar, you may be surprised to know, is more than a system designed to bedevil humans. Click on the title and you'll be surprised.

THE SCHWANNOMA EXPLAINED

A few people have expressed interest in the oddly named schwannoma. Here's the poop: a schwannoma is a benign tumor of the nerve root that reads as malignant on PET scans. The long shot for me is that I get them---I've had one in my spine twice and one on my leg. So this latest thing might be another. That's why they're checking. But the negative is that schwannomas grow very slowly, and this suddenly appeared on a PET scan. So unless the earlier scans missed it, it's probably something with a less funny name. But I'll know soon.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

So I just heard from my doctors, and now they are waiting a week for radiation, so that a neurosurgeon can check and see if the latest tumor on my tailbone is a benign schwannomma. It's a long long shot, but great news if true. Of course Sandy and I have to decide all this, and who knows if it's the right decision. But we keep deciding and hoping for the best.

THE LATEST AND THE WORST

Got back from my first day on Avastin/Tarceva and a talk with the nice therapy lady. Tomorrow I go for a dry run with the radiation machine. I feel pretty good all in all, and plan to just live my life as if it will continue. I've got a little project that keeps me busy, and enjoy keeping up on things. For example, click on the title and you'll find out what (or who) really has it bad.

THE DAY OF THE DOCTORS

Just got back from seeing my oncologists. I'm now officially Stage IV cancer, which is not good news. However, Robinson is starting me on Tarceva + Avastin, which is supposed to work wonders for some. And I saw the radiation oncologist, who was going to postpone treatment as useless until she saw I only had one tiny spot on my tailbone, and decided to zap it next week. So I'm now tattooed and ready to go. Other spots may show up---she thinks they will. If they do, I'm in deep doo doo. However, the Tarceva/Avastin may prevent that for a while. And so I soldier on! Sandy and my wonderfully upbeat daughter Elena were with me today, and helped immensely. With the right attitude and the new medicines, and a bit of radiation, as well as everyone's support, I may be around for quite a while yet.

NOT GREAT NEWS

I just got a call from Dr. Robinson, and the MRI confirms that the cancer has spread to my tailbone. Yikes. It means radiation treatments and no surgery. It also means my survival chances are on the way down. On the plus side, it's one small spot, and maybe they can keep it in check. But I'm still caught in the world of the sick with no escape on the horizon.

MRI 4 ME

Had an MRI yesterday to see if my sacrum is cancerous. Since I have no pain or tenderness, it probably isn't, but let's see. If that's O.K., there's very little on the PET scan to indicate a problem other than my lil' tumor, which seems to stay the same size. But I am short of breath, which is troubling. So how am I doin? as Mayor Koch used to say. Who the hell knows. Still, going off in late May to Anguilla for a vacation. Need some warmth for my old bones, cancer or not.

GETTING MY BOOK-- ON SALE

My little mystery novel, Alive Again: The Launay Case, is on Amazon and other online booksellers. Free shipping if you buy something else. The review from Kirkus ends: "An engaging mystery with a likable cast of characters, a beguiling dash of historical romance and a fresh take on detective-story conventions.” And a producer in London is interested in perhaps making a TV show or film out of it!
Anyone who buys the book and wants it signed, just let me know and I'll send you a sticker with a personalized dedication. If you read it, feel free to post a customer comment on the Amazon page. Just go to Amazon and type "Alive Again: The Launay Case" in the search box. And check out the April 6 New York Review for an ad.
Barnes and Noble.com is offering a sale price on my book--- 3 bucks off. (That's because Barnes & Noble is part owner of the publisher, IUniverse). Here's the URL: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=vb0IVruCDy&isbn=0595375537&itm=1

In either case, under twenty bucks will buy you a good beach read, with a nice colorful cover.

A HOLIDAY TUNE

Here's a little holiday ditty, courtesy of Barry. Click on the title and start dancing!

SCARY

This is a well documented article that is both scary and pretty convincing. The Republicans won't declare Bush "el Supremo", but otherwise....(click on title)