Update on Leo

Just thought I'd post Leo's last update on my blog for those of you who don't have access to his carepages account.

"There have been some good days and some bad days. I am still doing OK on the medicine. I did have a run of bad headaches and arthritis type pain a week or so ago, but they have subsided. Now I have a cold. In fact the whole family (except for Tyler) just came down with either a cold or some kind of pink eye. But we are on the mend and hopefully will be back into action soon.

I got a new prescription which may work better on the arthritis pains. So far I think it is working better. Once I get over the cold I will be able to be a better judge.

A positive thought from a fellow patient: "Dr. Akerley says that so much research work is going on into new drugs for melanoma and there is so much excitement in the medical community that he thinks our Zelboraf drug will not even be around in 5 years. It will be replaced with better drugs. They are understanding more about the pathways of this disease and that suggests new ways to combat it, to cut it off and kill it."

I have had similar thoughts but was putting the time frame around 10 years. I like the 5 year outlook better.

There was a little bump under the skin in my leg. I had the doctors check it and they are quite confident it is not a tumor because it is softer and different than a tumor. I agree now they they explain it, but it had me worried enough to ask them. The next CT scan will be in about 6 weeks, and that will bring more confidence.

There are no other signs of recurrence, so that is good.

My eye is still bothersome, but not too painful. I think I might have pink eye (like most others in the house), but it is still pink from the surgery, so it is hard to tell from looking. I am doing the drops as well just in case and will see Dr. Carver on Wednesday. My sight doesn't seem to be getting better and the cornea is still cloudy."