It is with a broken heart that I write this last Cliphoma post. After an incredibly brave fight, Cliff passed away late last night. He was at home, with his family and his sister by his side, just as he wanted it. I just want you all to know how much your love and support meant to […]

Quick GREAT news: Ben was accepted to Stanford! What a relief. He will still apply to CalTech but seems inclined to join Jordie up North.  Wow!!!!!

The Update So, it has been an eventful week, but it looks like I’m back where I started as of the last post. To Summarize: The Lymphoma has started to advance again, evidenced through symmetric pain throughout my lower body I am back on intra-spinal chemo injections, but have moved to a long-acting version that allows a 2 […]

Cliff’s CNS Relapse Situation Keytruda isn’t working: paralysis of my eyelid and left side of my mouth which started yesterday, make it clear the Lymphoma is attacking the brain stem I am starting chemo today: the chemo has been effective in the past at slowing/halting the progress of the Lymphoma in the CNS. I can only […]

THE UPDATE I feel like me. I’m not looking up through a dark cloud. I can think about the future. I’m ready to start working these legs back. AND I HAD MY FIRST DOSE OF KEYTRUDA TODAY.  In-and-out 30 minute IV. No real side effects. Not chemo. But not a “miracle drug”, not with data […]

A quick really good update. I feel human again! The last 2 days have included: all the numbers going in the right direction (blood, etc) wanting to eat (when did I last really want something?) wanting to eat ANYTHING (I was only able to really work myself up to soups and smoothies) sleeping! (I don’t […]

THE UPDATE Short version: heart is stable and working fine. Seeking sources of infection(s) while being treated with broad spectrum antibiotics and anti-fungals. Turned a corner a couple of nights ago, out of CCU, and feeling much better. More After the last post describing what was going on last Weds, they made sure my heart […]

THE UPDATE I’m off the steroids. We’re counting down the week until I can start my Keytruda trial-of-one. The details are nailed down. I’m weak, but can walk. I get what feels like waves of “bone pain” (which I’ve felt from the Lymphoma before), but it’s manageable. I spike a fever, but it goes right […]

Just a quick update: I’ve been tapering off of the steroids so I can start the experimental drug regimen (Keytruda) Target start with Keytruda is now Mon 11/17 – and we have the drug available I’ve been getting over chemo side effects as the chems (somehow) leave my spinal fluid I’m getting weaker either due […]

THE UPDATE We met with Dr. Omid Hamid at the Angeles Clinic today, thanks to the introduction of  my childhood friend, Rachel Humphrey, who continues her amazing career at the top levels of Immuno-Oncology research in the world’s leading companies. Dr. Hamid was fully engaged in my case, took time with us, and, though he was clear […]

THE UPDATE Guess that things are pretty much more the same: As I get into narrower-and-narrower sub-groups (i.e. Central Nervous System Relapse after Autologous Stem Cell Transplant and other prior chemotherapies and radiation), there are less “standard protocols” and less relevant and statistically-valid volumes of data to decide what to do next for *me*. All […]

THE UPDATE After getting MRI images of the rest of my spine and brain, and analysis of my spinal fluid, it looks like the current “infiltration” of the Lymphoma into my spine is confined to the lower (Lumbar/Sacral) part. No evidence of spread up the spine or into the brain. No evidence of cancer cells […]