Day Three

We got to the radiation waiting room and were intercepted by the doctor, who sat with us and told us that Manford's CTscan from last Friday showed two new, small tumors near the old tumor site. The tumor is a very active kind, with 30% of cells growing, according to the pathology report; that is very high. The neurosurgeon thinks it would be more risky than not to do surgery at this point, particularly as it would delay the radiation/chemo further. They are replanning the radiation at a higher dose and slightly larger area, for three weeks instead of six. He will continue the temozolomide. According to the doctor, the aim of the radiation is to stop the tumors growing; the chemotherapy has a chance of shrinking them.

We are still processing this unwelcome news; Manford seems to be doing ok; they have increased his steroid dose a bit.

That's all I can say at this point. There is no poetry here at the moment, but I suppose it will come.
Carrie