Matthew Slater

Meanwhile, typing and writing is getting difficult. As is playing the piano or guitar, though it's still possible (if a little painful). I've definitely lost a lot of dexterity in addition to getting a general numb / tingling feeling in my hands and feet. Hopefully the new treatment will help a bit.

Neuropathy update: Had a few sessions of acupuncture; no change (worsened actually, but I don't blame the treatment). Trying treatment at a clinic 30 minutes away that feels more familiar (to me) — we talked about neurons and capillaries rather than meridians. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Back from Portugal on Sunday. Great trip. Lisbon and Porto are some striking cities. Some photos here: www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/...

Now it's back to my chemo reality. Will have to work back up to 12k+ steps a day. . . .

Made it to Lisbon — a very vertical city. Feeling good and also exhausted from all of the walking! Weather is perfect.

Interesting phenomenon: my resting heart rate (consistently around 62 before chemo) has been varying on the same biweekly schedule during chemo. Oddly, it's lowest during treatment weeks and goes up the week after.

In other news, platelets are up slightly. So . . . "yay" treatment tomorrow is OK.

#chemo session 13 today. Back to the irinotecan, avastin, 5FU combo. Last week was pretty decent, side-effect-wise, though my peripheral neuropathy progressed a bit (despite stopping oxaliplatin after session 11). Looking into complementary treatments for that (viz. acupuncture). 🤞

I celebrated the non-renewal of cold sensitivity by making myself an afternoon affogato. Will see what the 5FU pump does over the next 40 hours. . . .

#Chemo 12 in the books. We held off on the oxaliplatin (as promised) plus, as a bonus, I also got a break from my sworn enemy irinotecan, given that my platelet count was back down. So it was a delightfully short time in the chair (~2 hours) and feeling markedly better than usual at this point.

Also not sad to be dropping the oxaliplatin from my regimen (neuropathy in my fingers starting to creep in...). Saves two hours of treatment, cold sensitivity, and who knows what other side-effects. Look forward to finding out!

Unreasonably excited that my MSKCC oncologist cleared me for a two week chemo break in July so I can attend the ISHPSSB conference in Porto. Tacking on some vacay with Laura in Lisbon first.

Back from the Mayan Riviera in time for a (one-day-delayed) #chemo treatment. #11: ONE LOUDER! (actually, 10% less because of my low platelet count). Vacation was *very* relaxing and badly needed.

CT scan showed disease stability. Not as good as reduction, but not bad either. I'll take it.

I know! Especially since I've had contrast that just tasted like plain water. Why not that?!

Ah, yet another hour spent with my Big Gulp of disgustingly grape flavored contrast solution for another CAT scan. 🤢 Hopefully this one will be more informative than the last.

Had a delightful weekend in NYC (great weather for hanging in Central Park), including dinners with good friends and seeing killer guitarist Julian Lage at the Vanguard. Now back for round 10 of #chemo. Leaving off the irinotecan agin so I can have a more pleasant next week when we're in Mexico! ☀️🌴🏖️

#Chemo round 9. GI symptoms last week were a little rough, but at least they're predictable. I've noticed that some of my early rounds' symptoms (like the hiccup thing) have largely abated. Now I'll get a hiccup when I drink something at all quickly. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Back in the hot seat for #chemo round #8. 🫠😵‍💫 Mowed the lawn for the first time this season yesterday — sign of the times and probably the most exercise I've had for a month.

. . . or at least a mild reprieve from the string of bad news I've been getting. (On that note, the last CT also turned up some DVT along my mediport catheter — so yeah blood-thinners!) Let's see if I can build on the good streak for a change.

So the present plan is to do at least a few more rounds and retest and evaluate for efficacy and next steps. I have mixed feelings about this. Part of me was relieved by the prospect of being done with chemo, even if that meant a shorter life expectancy. Still, it's "good" news, I suppose. . . .

The plot thickens. The huddled experts say that it's too soon to conclude that the chemo isn't working. It's maybe not working *well*, but there was a two month lag between my initial CT scan and the start of chemo, so some of the worsening disease was likely what occurred between Nov and Jan. 🧵....

Actually, I suppose that Avastin is a mAb (perhaps?). But it's not specific to my tumor genetics, just inhibits angiogenesis.

Not so far. The genetic profile apparently wasn't one that would respond.

Trouble is, we've already got our chemo guns full-on a-blazing as it is. There's nothing stronger. So we're huddling up with the expert oncologists and surgeons to consider alternatives. 🤞 for relevant clinical trials or an effective surgical intervention, possibly in the nearer term.

Back in the #chemo chair today (#7), sporting my stylish f*ck cancer socks. Feeling oddly nostalgic, as this might be my last treatment for a while. That's the good news. The bad news is that it's because it doesn't seem to be working. CT scan last week showed worsening disease. [short thread...]

Got a little heat.

#chemo week 6 of 12. A bit jarring to go back to the full four drug combo after a lighter week, but at least I'm on the downhill slope of this particular regimen now. Thanks to the mystery person who sent us some cans of non-alcoholic cocktail (no note in the box). Cheers!

Also managed to get a mini hike in at Anza-Borrego State Park. On our way home now. It's been fun, SoCal.

Stone Brewing

Switchbacks coming up!

After a few days of San Diego fun (IPA Heaven at Stone, for example), we headed over the mountains to take in a few days of tennis at Indian Wells ("the 5th slam"). Probably saw more than 10 matches over two days.

It's been a long, hard winter. Really appreciating these SoCal spring vibes this week.

I've gotten to the point where I basically know all the staff at the clinic — everyone's been so kind and helpful. Still feels a little odd to walk up to a medical receptionist and not have to give one's name, though.

#Chemo Round 5. They're giving me a break on the Irinotecan this week, since we're off to CA for some vacation next week and this should help reduce some GI side effects.🤞for a bit of a lighter week.