New Therapies Coming up
How's Dave Doing?
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2y ago
We've been hearing quite a bit about a new therapy called Ibrutinib (eh-BRU-teh-nib.) It's a BTK inhibitor, not chemotherapy, and it is administered in pill form instead of infusion. We hope to learn more about it in February at the Emerging Therapies Conference. But for now, here's a little preview from the ASH press conference on this drug ..read more
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Treatment done, for another 5 years?
How's Dave Doing?
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2y ago
Dave finished 6 rounds of chemo (Dexamethasone, Treanda, and Rituxan) in November and his hematologist/oncologist said he should be good for another 5 years. That first dose, in June, was a doozy - with a severe "shake 'n bake" reaction, followed by a pneumonia that landed him in the hospital. But since then, he tolerated this regimen much better than the Fudarabine/Mitoxantrone that he got back 2007. We're hearing some very exciting news about new therapies in clinical trials and hope to get more details at the annual Emerging Therapies conference, in San Francisco, in February. And I just ..read more
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Round Two
How's Dave Doing?
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2y ago
In two weeks I start my second round of chemo therapy. It's been five years since round one and I'm due. The treatment will be Treanda/Rituxan once a month for four months. Looking forward to shrinking lymph nodes an getting my energy back. Photo: ©2012 David W. Sumner ..read more
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Kicked to the Curb by Kaiser
How's Dave Doing?
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2y ago
Dave has been a Kaiser member for 17 years, via two different workplaces. The company he was recently working for went belly-up so now he's looking for full-time work and looking for health care. We knew things weren't going so well at Dave's last company, and knowing he had two life threatening chronic health problems, I tried to call and get another health care option lined up ahead of time. Which was useless. Everyone I talked to told me to call back after Dave was laid off and after his health insurance had expired. Until then, they wouldn't answer any questions. After we got a notice in ..read more
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More and More
How's Dave Doing?
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2y ago
It seems as if each year is busier than the last. That's very good in a way: I have the energy to keep up and I actually add items to our calendar. After quite a few years of constantly feeling run down and so out of shape, it's amazing to be able leave the office after a day of work and head downtown, meet a group of friends, go gallery hopping, then out to dinner and enjoy long debates and discussions about art and photography and publishing. When I do find myself slowing down it's because I've spent so much time on my feet and my aging joints are screaming. I enjoy walking and I've been ..read more
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Celebrating What Counts
How's Dave Doing?
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2y ago
5 months of chemo 5 blood transfusions 2 years of Rituxan therapy I never stopped shooting. Photo: Anna L. Conti ..read more
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David W. Sumner
How's Dave Doing?
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3y ago
David W. Sumner: 1958-2017 Dave passed away, at home, on March 25, 2017. He collapsed, in his photo studio, on March 21st, was taken to the ER, admitted to ICU, and then back home on hospice on the 24th. As mentioned in the previous post, his spleen was bleeding, as well as his liver, and he went into kidney failure after more than 20 transfusions. I know it's a cliche to say that your spouse was your best friend, but it was true in this case. Both of us have many good friends and Dave was the best friend a person could hope for. To the vulnerable & defenseless, he was a hero. To ..read more
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ICU
How's Dave Doing?
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3y ago
The IvG was infused, but the red blood cells continue to fall and the source has been identified as a leaking spleen. His clotting factors are worse than last week, so he's not a candidate for surgery. He was admitted to ICU last night and they're trying to treat him with FFPlasma, Red Blood cells, vasopressors and lots of IV fluids ..read more
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Still Hanging In There
How's Dave Doing?
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3y ago
The Coombs test was negative, so his sudden anemia is not hemolytic. There's also no obvious signs of bleeding, in spite of a PT INR of 6.1, so the loss of red cells is still a mystery. All signs point to a bad infection, but cultures are still pending. He's still in bed 24/7, and feeling every kind of lousy. I thought he looked a tiny bit better today, and the doctor & nurses agreed. Dave is not so sure. Still waiting for insurance approval for his IVIG infusion ..read more
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No Good News
How's Dave Doing?
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3y ago
Update on Dave's condition: We still don't know what's going on, but whatever it is, it ain't good. His condition has deteriorated rapidly in the last three weeks and he spends about 22 out of every 24 hours in bed. He's in pain, he can't sleep, he can't eat much, and if he tries to do anything besides rest in bed, his lips turn blue and he starts gasping. We saw the oncologist today and he ordered a boatload of more tests. The working hypothesis today is that he has hemolytic anemia as well as some kind of systemic infection. But that's still a guess, at this point. None of the labs that wer ..read more
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