September 8, 2011 — Update from UCLA

Wednesday was a long day — up at 4 a.m. to make a 7 a.m. flight from SFO to LAX — home at 10 p.m. This was Rob’s fourth week on AUY922, and he had a full day of blood work, ECGs, an appointment with Dr. Garon, and a PET scan. We left for LA feeling somewhat discouraged — Rob’s cough has been more persistent than ever, he’s been very fatigued and keeping weight on has been a problem partly due to a lack of appetite. However, we left feeling more optimistic thanks to Dr. G.’s explanations. First, he told us that the cough isn’t necessarily a barometer for cancer progression — weight loss and pain are better indicators. Good news, since Rob has no pain, and his weight seems to have stabilized despite his lack of appetite.  He now has a prescription for Marinol (synthetic THC) to boost his appetite as well as a prescription for medical marijuana that he’s been reluctant to use.  As for the fatigue, it’s hard to determine where it’s coming from — it could be the AUY922, the codeine he takes for the cough, or the cancer.

However, Rob was encouraged to continue to stay active, and continue to hike, bike and sail, even if less vigorously. He went for a short walk yesterday, and is going out with Hank momentarily on the trawler to watch the Big Boat Series. Just holding on out there when it is blowing 20+ against an ebb is a form of exercise! However, it’s bittersweet for him to just watch, as he loves the regatta after sailing in it about 20 times. Rob was able to join Hank and the rest of the Yucca crew for the Jazz Cup last weekend. He was exhausted when I picked him up in Benicia, but it was great for him to be out on the water with great friends.

The downwind Jazz Cup is the perfect race for Yucca.

I sat at the end of the Pinole Pier with my long lens and watched them go by well ahead of their competition.They handily won their division and were 14th overall in a fleet of 101 boats.

We won’t have any empirical evidence as to whether or not AUY922 is working until Rob’s next CT scan in two weeks. The PET scan was required by the trial protocol for research purposes and is unlikely to provide definitive information about progression. So once again we’re playing the waiting game, which is always stressful. My job these days is to keep Rob interested in eating, and I’ve been developing all sorts of new high calorie, high protein smoothies and other healthy food. We even had steak and potatoes last night!! Of course I seem to be gaining the weight Rob has lost…

February 7, 2011 – Eat Your Broccoli

I’m very pleased to report that Rob’s cough is essentially gone! While this is certainly a leading indicator that the criz is working, we will know for sure on Thursday when Rob has his 6-week CT scan. We are also happy that Rob’s mom Marge and sister Marnie, who will arrive for a 5-day visit on Wednesday, will be here for the news in person rather than 3,000 miles away in the frozen tundra of  New England.

We’ve had an uneventful last few weeks. Rob’s been hiking again, and has now logged over 70 miles this year despite taking 10 days off due to re-spraining his ankle. Yesterday he, John and Jo Ann took the West Marin Stage Coach (aka ‘the chairlift’) to Pantoll and hiked 9 miles back to the house. On Saturday, Rob sailed on Yucca in the Golden Gate Midwinters. The weather here  has been spectacular recently; in fact, it has been nicer than it normally is during the summer!

Stepping back a week, I drove Rob, Emmet, Charlie and Al up the Delta to Rio Vista so that they could help Emmet return his Bertram 31 to the Bay.

We stopped for coffee at the Striper Cafe.

It's easy to guess what the main activities are in Rio Vista -huntin', fishin' and drinkin'.

The Legends - Rob, Charlie, Al and Emmet

After they pushed off, I had a great day exploring the area, heading toward the Cosumnes Preserve to hunt for sand hill cranes. On Woodbridge Road, near the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve / Sandhill Crane Reserve I was rewarded.

Sandhill cranes mate for life and stay together year-round. They can live to be 20 years old.

Sandhill cranes are omnivores, and route around in the barren fields for grains, insects, and small vertebrates and invertebrates.

There were other birds as well -- this Great Egret had a lot to say.

A peregrine falcon searches for its next meal. Note the blood at the base of its breast.

And now for the real news. You’ve always heard that broccoli was a very healthy vegetable, but now researchers at the University of Illinois have new evidence that broccoli is a potent cancer fighter. Eat three to five servings per week, but overcooking destroys the cancer fighting component.