/28/2007 A suspicious Lesion on the Trunk of my Back

A couple of days ago, Dee noticed a spot on my back and asked me if I had been picking at it. I said “No!!!” it is reddish in color and looks like an open scab. So, here we go again. I called the Dermatologist, Marc Brown, and will be seen Monday April 2. I’ll let you know if it is the big C has returned.That is it for now.

Jimmy B.

3/6/2007 Why Interlukin-2 Therapy is so important to me

“Interleukin-2 (IL-2) — IL-2 is a form of immunotherapy. It has been found to help some patients with metastatic melanoma when given in high doses. Although significant benefit is seen only in a minority of patients, long-term follow-up of patients treated in early high-dose IL-2 trials confirms that this benefit can be long-lasting. As an example, in an analysis of 270 patients treated in all trials involving high-dose IL-2 conducted between 1985 and 1993 and subsequently updated with follow-up through December 1998, 16 percent (about one in six) of all treated patients had a shrinkage in the size of their tumors with treatment, and the average duration of benefit was about nine months [2,3]. However, sixty percent of those who achieved a complete response (that is, no remaining tumor was evident after IL-2 treatment) remained progression-free at seven years. In addition, no patient responding for longer than 30 months had progression of their melanoma, suggesting that some patients may actually be "cured".These encouraging results, though limited to a minority of patients, led to the approval of high dose IL-2 for patients with metastatic melanoma. However, because high dose IL-2 can produce serious and toxic side effects, it is generally reserved for patients who are otherwise healthy (with good heart and lung function) are treated in centers that specialize in its use.”

Take Care
Jimmy B.

3/06/2007 Update: Response from Pittsburgh!

Just wanted you to know that we shared the good news of your CT scans with Dr. Kirkwood. He was equally excited as well. He wants you to have repeat CT scans in 2 months and return to see us at that time. Given the cardiac events that you encountered during and after your last admission, he does not want to do more IL-2 at this time.

Hope you are having a great week!
Take care,Heather
So it looks like I have 2 months off for good behavior. I would rather be continuing some sort of treatment. Be a little bit more proactive. But, He is the expert.

Take care
Jimmy B.

3/2/2007 Good News!!!!!!!

I got good news late Friday afternoon. I got a call from Heather Blair. She had gotten the results from the CT Scan and the MRI. The decease is regressing. The 40 + nodules in my lungs have decreased to 2. And the other ones on my back and side have shrunk in half. It was such great news that I took my wife and son out to dinner to celebrate. Things are starting to look up. I hope they continue to shrink and disappear. I have to wait and find out what the next step is. Dr. Kirkwood and staff will review my case either Monday or Tuesday.

I got a late e-mail from Melissa DeMark, my Physician Assistant down in Pittsburgh. Here is what she said:

YUIP YIP YIPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEE i'm so happy I almost cried!!!

Melissa DeMark, PA-C, MPAS
Hillman Cancer CenterDept of Hematology/OncologyMelanoma
Centerpager: 412-958-4287

I can’t wait until Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take care,
Jimmy B.

Farewell!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Friends and Family,
I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I’ll be leaving my position at Eastman Kodak Company as of March 9, 2007. I will be starting a new phase of my life trying to win this battle of cancer. My short term disability ends and the long term starts.
I have enjoyed my 25 years there and I appreciate having had the opportunity to work with each and every one of you. Thank you for the support, guidance, and encouragement you have provided me during my time at Kodak. Even though I will miss my colleagues and the company, I am looking forward to this new challenge and to starting a new phase of my life. Even though the paths are many, I must go down each one to find the “Yellow Brick Road.” With your support and encouragement we can beat this disease together.

Please keep in touch,

I can be reached at my personal email address (dbreitfe@rochester.rr.com) or at home, 585-467-2851. I will try to maintain my carepage as long as I can.

Thanks again for everything.

Yours truly,
Jimmy B.

3/1/2007 Waiting to hear the results of the CT and MRI scan

When I went to Science Park to have my scans done, I met a couple that is going through the same ordeal. Their names are Bill and Amy and they have two little girls. In talking to them, I found out that Bill is seeing Dr. Kirkwood and lived a few towns over where I used to live on Long Island. I guess we both had to much fun in the sun at the ocean.
Anyway, what a small world. I hope we both have good reports coming from our scans. I will contact my PCP, Dr. Marino to fax me a copy of this report on Friday if it has been dictated.
All we can do is wait and wait and wait.

Take care
Jimmy B.