Hospital Stay

Hi all,

More good news to share today. Laurie has made remarkable strides in recovering relatively quickly from her major surgery. After a few days in great pain and mainly only wanting to groan and sleep, she woke up like a wilted flower that finally got watered today--full of renewed energy. She's up and walking and eating for the first time and it looks like she'll actually be discharged tomorrow morning!

Dr. Watkins, her surgeon, told us that a CT scan from yesterday confirmed that it seems the operation went well. There will be more information that we will get in the next several weeks and six months (upcoming CT scans) that will let us truly know the impact of this week's events, but we are excited to have taken this step.

There are more hurdles to come (including 6 more months of chemo beginning in about another month), but this procedure at the very least effectively keeps Laurie in the race. And after 25 marathons and with a fighting and enjoying life spirit, that's lots to feel positive and hopeful about in this moment.

As always, thanks for your great support and love, so take a breath and then keep it coming!
with love,
Neal

Surgery in a few days

I am having nano knife surgery at stony brook university hospital this coming Wednesday. I will be in the hospital between 5 and 10 days. As I am not able to get the whipple surgery, this appears to be a hopeful alternative. Following my surgery I will need at least six months of chemotherapy. Again, thanks so much for all of your love and support.
Love, Laurie

meeting with Dr. Yu (post radiation)

Hi all,
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC!!!! Those were the words Dr Yu at Sloan used to describe Laurie's newest cat scan. The tumor shrunk a little, it appears that it has not spread to any organs, and has moved away slightly from some of the blood vessels. He will talk w/ the surgeon and get back to Laurie about the option of surgery. In the meantime, Laurie has an appt. at Mt Sinai w/ a surgeon who has been very supportive of the surgery option this Wed. So we got the best possible news this morning and now ready to go to the next step!!!! Marathon next Nov., is on the table!!!!!!!! Will advise you all of the latest updates, it is a possibility that Laurie could be in surgery within the next 2 weeks!!!! Keep the good thought coming!!!!

The Best to all,
Robin

Support Cancer Support Community

If anyone is interested, this is my local cancer support organization. I would like to participate in this with "Team Laurie". Please contact me so we can be a part of this event:

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN!!!!! Time to join the CSC STRIDES for HOPE 2012 TEAM! - Run the NJ Marathon (Raise $500) - Run the Long Branch Half Marathon (Raise $300) - Enter as a team and do the relay! (Raise $300 per team) SO MANY OPTIONS FOR YOU! RACE DATE = MAY 6, 2012 comeraderie! fun! get in shape! make new friends! Support the Free Programs at the Cancer Support Community! JOIN TODAY - TRAINING BEGINS JANUARY 30th! Dear Friends - JOIN OUR 2012 STRIDES for HOPE team! No prior running experience necessary! We will train you to finish whatever event you choose to enter! Here are just some of the benefits you get by joining our team (in exchage for MINIMAL fund raising to support our free programs for peoiple with cancer): - Paid entry fees - Personalized training program - Running attire - Group training runs - MANY, MANY perks on race day!!!!! E-mail me today if you are IN! ilene@cscjerseyshore.org JOIN TODAY!!!!!!!! Training begins the week of January 30th! Our first get-together as a team will be a VERY special EVENT at Road Runner Sports in Shrewsbury - JUST FOR US!!!!!!! DON'T MISS OUT... JOIN THE TEAM TODAY!!!!!! Ilene L. Winters CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY - The Diney Goldsmith Center 613 Hope Road Eatontown, New Jersey 07724 (732) 578-9200 www.cscjerseyshore.org

Notes from this week

These are the notes taken by Robin at Laurie's last appt

Hi All,

.Treatments will start Jan 3rd, but on Dec 30 th 5:00 appt. to get schedule
. Treatments should be 15 min, on the table, but whole process should take an 1- 1 1/2 hrs..check in, blood, etc
. Chemo will be Tues/ Fri or Mon/ Thurs
. Go to 53 rd St for chemo rt after radiation treatment
. Use Cream daily over stomach/ Pancreatic area to protect skin from radiation, but the dr. does not expect any burning!!!
.Side Effects of radiation ..... Fatigue, Nausea, Heartburn, Bloating; 30% of people know after 1 st or 2nd treatment if they will have a bad reaction

.MOST IMPORTANTLY THE TUMOR IS STABLE...DID NOT SPREAD INTO OTHER ORGANS!!! Ie liver.

meeting with Dr. Yu

Neal's notes from yesterday's meeting:

Laurie was given some suggestions today to make this 5^th round easier in terms of side effects (especially nausea) than the 4^th.

The plan is for one more chemo treatment after today on 12/12 and then to begin radiation and chemo on 1/3/12 for five weeks. It will be another 4-6 weeks after that (late March to early APRIL) uNTIL A NEXT ct SCAN WILL GIVE US SERIOUS FEEDBACK. dR. yU WAS CLEAR THAT lAURIE IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE IN A LIFE-THREATENING STATE DURING THIS TIME.

dR yU ALSO REAFFIRMED THAT IT IS EXTREMELY UNUSAL THAT cHEMO ALONE IS ENOUGH TO SHRINK A TUMOR AND ALLOW FOR SURGERY. tHUS THE NEXT STEP OF RADIATION IS THE NORM.

lAURIE’S TUMOR MARKERS WENT DOWN LAST TIME AND IF WE FIND OUT THEY ARE DOWN AGAIN THIS TIME (SHOULD FIND OUT BY TOMORROW) THIS IS A VERY GOOD SIGN. fINGERS CROSSED.

aLL IN ALL (EDITORIAL OPINION) MORE POSITIVE NEWS THAN NOT.

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