Archive for January, 2012

Starting radiation with good news on the cancer front!

Published January 29, 2012 Uncategorized 13 Comments

Today (Sunday) I’m off to check into the hospital for my first week of combined radiation and chemo. I’ll be inpatient until Friday evening, getting radiation twice a day and a constant infusion of 5FU and Taxol. This drill is scheduled to repeat every other week for five repetitions. I can’t say that I’m looking forward to it.

The good news this week was that on the most recent CT scan the doctors were unable to find any sign of the primary tumor at all. The chemo has apparently melted that tumor away, which they say happens in about 10-20% of cases. That will allow the radiation area to be smaller and more focused, which should help minimize the side effects.

Our friend Mauri is here from New York this week, so she’ll be keeping me company in the hospital while Michele is working and Mo is at school. And I’ll keep working remotely in between getting zapped.

We went to see the Descendants last night – a terrific, sad yet hopeful movie. Great acting! Now I’m arming myself by downloading TV episodes, podcasts, and music to take to the hospital. Along with the huge pile of books on my bedside table (not to mention all the work I’ve got on my plate), I should be able to occupy my time in the hospital and at home in the coming weeks.

Cancer Update

Published January 8, 2012 cancer 7 Comments

I’ve now had three chemotherapy infusions.

The first one, on December 20, was an all-day affair that involved three different chemicals (Cetuximab, Cisplatin, and Taxol), along with an assortment of anti-nausea drugs, benadryl, and steroids.

While I felt fine immediately after the treatment, the next week or so was mostly characterized by tiredness and lack of focus, along with some minor stomach issues.

The two treatments since then have only been one-drug affairs (cetuximab) and have gone better, though I did develop a bad acne-like rash, which is one of the common side effects of that drug (since treated with antibiotics).

I’m also participating in a clinical trial that is evaluating the use of Everolimus in treating squamous cell tumors in the head and neck – so I’m either taking that or a placebo every day.

I did manage to make it out to Seattle for a long New Year’s weekend between treatments. It was great to see everybody, and especially to help celebrate my father’s 90th birthday with the assembled family (though I missed the family trip to Semiahmoo, which was too bad).

Things have been busy at work, as I try to hand off most of my operational responsibilities to colleagues to handle while I’ll be mostly out of the office during the upcoming combined radiation and chemo treatment, which starts January 29.

I am tremendously grateful for the willingness of people who are already very busy to take on the extra burden – thanks to Byron, Tom, Klara, and Alex! I’ve also been working out with Klara a bunch of tasks I can continue to work on whether I’m in the office or not – all very interesting work where I can continue to contribute even if it’s remote. I am really bummed out to be missing this coming week’s CSG meeting, though – it’s a great set of topics this time and I’ll miss seeing the gang.

I’m heading in for another full-day chemo infusion on Tuesday (Jan 10). We’ll see how that goes!

2011 Favorite Listening

Published January 7, 2012 Music Closed
Tags: ,

Here, in no particular order, are my choices for the 2011 releases that I keep coming back to.

tUnE-yArDs – WHOKILL

Merril Garbus weaves her African influence, her loop boxes,  and her DIY spirit into something totally new and compelling. A big, bold voice with something to say.

Gillian Welch – The Harrow & The Harvest

I didn’t see a lot of live music in 2011, but Gillian Welch and David Rawlings in Chicago was a real highlight. This album is full of great songs that sound as if they could have been written any time in the last 75 years.

Deep Blue Organ Trio – Wonderful!

Soulful groovin’ organ trio from Chicago, playing Stevie Wonder tunes with fresh new interpretations. Jazz comfort food!

Fountains of Wayne – Sky Full of Holes

I’m a sucker for intelligent, literate pop music, and this filled the bill this year. Raymond Carver meets the Ray-Beats.  Recommended for fans of Squeeze.

James Farm

A terrific new quartet with rising stars Joshua Redman on sax and Seattle native Aaron Parks on piano. Great compositions and thoughtful improvisation. Take a listen even if you think you don’t like jazz.

Larry Goldings – In My Room

A lovely, contemplative, (mostly) solo piano set from Larry Goldings.

Miles Davis Quintet – Live in Europe 1967

Miles’ great quintet captured at the height of their power – 3 CDs and a DVD. One of the high water marks in all of jazz.

Bernstein Goldings Stewart – Live At Small’s

Another fine example of the modern organ trio. This long-standing grouping plays empathically together.

Ry Cooder – Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down

Who better than Ryland P. Cooder to take on the role of Woody Guthrie for the 99%?

Sunna Gunnlaugs – Long Pair Bond

Two years in a row for Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs on my list. This record rewards repeated listening!

Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’

The best of new soul, where Raphael transcends the retro act to produce a new and joyous sound.

The Decembrists – The King Is Dead

In which Colin Malloy and company leave the pretension behind and make great rock tunes.

 

Just getting into:

Youth Lagoon – The Year of Hibernation

Van Hunt – What Were You Hoping For?

subscribe

xml

Pages

Latest tweets

interesting links

What I’m listening to

January 2012
M T W T F S S
« Dec   Feb »
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.