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Blogging in B Minor

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Blogging in B Minor is a blog maintained by singer/songwriter Mark Miller and contains thoughts, information and discussion regarding songwriting and the business of music-making. From the craft of songwriting to the business end of the music industry to

Recent Posts Tagged With 'temodar'

• 7/28 MRI Results

  Posted on Thursday July 31st, 2008 at 13:18 in blood brain barrier, Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, glioma, God, MRI, mri enhancement, oligoastrocytoma, radiation oncologist, radiation therapy, survivor, temodar

  My MRI was on Tuesday and I had an appointment yesterday with my Neuro-oncologist.  Overall the news was good.  The size of the tumor has not changed which is great news, again.  There has been an ...

• Chemotherapy Is Over…For Good

  Posted on Friday July 18th, 2008 at 16:45 in absolute neutrophil count, Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, lymphocytes, lymphocytopenia, lymphopenic, temodar

  I’ve come to the end of the road with chemotherapy.  As you know from the last several posts, I was off chemo (again) for nearly 6 weeks and just hopped back on the wagon and completed my first...

• First Week Back on Chemotherapy - In The Bag

  Posted on Wednesday July 16th, 2008 at 11:25 in Brain Tumor, brain tumor survivor, chemotherapy, oncologist, temodar, tumor, zofran

  I finished up the first week back on chemotherapy last night and overall it went very well.  As I mentioned, I think my body wasn’t ready for it on the first night but by night 2 and 3 I was pr...

• First Night Back On Chemo

  Posted on Thursday July 10th, 2008 at 12:09 in absolute neutrophil count, Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, chemotherapy; zofran, my story, temodar, white blood cells, zofran

  After nearly 6 weeks off of chemo because of my low blood counts, the first night back on chemo went ok.  I will have to say though - how quickly I became used to a “normal” life absent c...

• Blood Count Down Further - No Chemo

  Posted on Wednesday July 2nd, 2008 at 13:40 in absolute neutrophil count, anc, blood count, Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, lab work, neutrophils, temodar, white blood cells

  I received my lab work results and the ANC has dropped down to 858 from last week’s score of 964.  Obviously this is in the wrong direction!  On the positive side, there is another count calle...

• Pausing Chemo Again

  Posted on Sunday June 15th, 2008 at 12:30 in Brain Tumor, chemo hints; brain tumor survival stories, chemotherapy, fatigue, temodar

  Happy Father’s Day to all of the father’s out there. I will be picking up the phone to talk to my dad a bit later but am not feeling so well today unfortunately. I have ended up with a n...

• Kennedy Treatment Plan - Sounds Familiar

  Posted on Monday June 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 in Brain Tumor, brain tumor research, brain tumor resources, brain tumor survivor, chemotherapy, dr. allan friedman, duke university, gbm, neurosurgery, radiation therapy, temodar

  I just read a story on MSNBC regarding the treatment plan for Senator Kennedy.  It really just underscores the standard of care today with regard to malignant gliomas.  As you know if you are a cons...

• Pausing Chemo

  Posted on Tuesday May 6th, 2008 at 11:09 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, MRI, my story, pet scan, temodar

  I believe I’ve mentioned that I’ve been feeling a lot more fatigued lately than before.  I have also picked up some type of flu - pretty much just hit me head on so I didn’t start c...

• UCSF Preliminary Info

  Posted on Tuesday April 8th, 2008 at 21:58 in Brain Tumor, brain tumor research, chemotherapy, dr. mitchel berger, oncologist, primary motor cortex, temodar, ucsf

  Although I am still waiting for formal documentation, I had a discussion with the Department of Neuro-Oncology at UCSF on Friday evening.  After going through all of my information they are in agreem...

• MRI Today - 6 Months of Chemo Completed

  Posted on Monday March 24th, 2008 at 11:17 in Brain Tumor, brain tumor survivor, chemotherapy, fatigue, imrt, MRI, oligoastrocytoma, prayer, radiation therapy, temodar

  As of last night, I took the last of my Temodar to reach the 6-month mark which is the official “standard of care” if you will.  I guess it’s a meaningful milestone in that most of ...

• The Complex World of Brain Tumor Treatment

  Posted on Sunday March 2nd, 2008 at 08:50 in astrocytoma, Brain Tumor, brain tumor research, brain tumor survivor, Cancer, chemotherapy, gbm, glioma, imrt, my story, oligoastrocytoma, radiation

  One of the most difficult aspects I have faced as a brain tumor survivor is making decisions around how to treat my tumor. In the beginning, there are a million different alternatives thrown in your ...

• Chemotherapy Plan

  Posted on Thursday February 28th, 2008 at 14:49 in astrocytoma, Brain Tumor, brain tumor research, brain tumor resources, chemotherapy, gbm, MRI, oncologist, radiation oncologist, temodar

  After a long discussion yesterday with my Oncologist, I have decided to stay on the alternating 7-day on / 7-day off chemotherapy plan. I had somehow mistaken (or for you Roger Clemens fans, “m...

• Quick Post

  Posted on Friday February 22nd, 2008 at 13:00 in astrocytoma, Brain Tumor, brain tumor survivor, chemo hints, chemotherapy, chemotherapy; zofran, my story, oligoastrocytoma, temodar

  Last night was most interesting. I was very tired and went to bed at 9pm. I took my dose of Zofran (anti-nausea medication) around that time as per usual and then…..I drifted off to sleep! I ...

• 5-Day Chemo Regimen

  Posted on Friday February 15th, 2008 at 15:04 in Brain Tumor, brain tumor research, Cancer, chemotherapy, gbm, glioma, my story, oligoastrocytoma, oncologist, radiation, radiation therapy, temodar

  Well, I have decided that when I am finished with cycle #5, I am going to try the 5-day chemo regimen. With this schedule, I will take Temodar for 5 days and then be off of the drug for effectively 2...

• Next Steps & Enjoying Life

  Posted on Saturday February 9th, 2008 at 16:18 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, glioma, my story, oligoastrocytoma, temodar

  In discussing my scans with my oncologist, there were no revelations of course.  However, I did get into a lengthy discussion about the 6-month decision point.  I also talked with her about my fatig...

• MRI Results - 02/04/07

  Posted on Tuesday February 5th, 2008 at 13:52 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, MRI, my story, prayer, temodar

  Stable disease! I feel so blessed to have had multiple imaging studies now showing a stable tumor. Needless to say we are very happy. I don’t know why but I was a bit more anxious about this ...

• Cycle 4 MRI Check and Small Group

  Posted on Wednesday January 30th, 2008 at 08:24 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, christian, Church, MRI, My Music, my story, recording studio, songs, songwriting, temodar, tumor

  It’s been a bit more difficult to get to the blog with so much going on.  Work has been really busy for me which is a good thing!  I’ve been really busy - in fact, this is busier than th...

• Chemo - Compounding Effect

  Posted on Monday January 14th, 2008 at 15:19 in Brain Tumor, brain tumor research, brain tumor resources, chemotherapy, my story, temodar

  There is a certain compounding effect of chemotherapy that seems to be taking place the longer I am on Temodar.   I believe I have mentioned before in this blog that at the end of a 7-day “on&...

• MRI - Stable and Unchanged!

  Posted on Friday December 7th, 2007 at 14:02 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, MRI, my story, oncologist, temodar, tumor

  The preliminary MRI report came in and the Brain Tumor is unchanged and stable! This is great news for me. As I’ve mentioned before, shrinking a grade 3 tumor is unlikely so management is the ...

• December 07 MRI / Deja Vu’

  Posted on Wednesday December 5th, 2007 at 15:38 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, gbm, MRI, oligoastrocytoma, oncologist, radiation therapy, seizure, temodar

  It’s time for my 60 day check so I will have an MRI tomorrow morning at 8:00am. As per usual, I’ll hand-carry the films for an 11am meeting with my neurosurgeon and oncologist so we can d...

• Giving Back…

  Posted on Monday December 3rd, 2007 at 15:43 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, MRI, my story, radiation therapy, temodar

  It has been really nice receiving emails from so many people finding my site. I feels good to give back. I’m at a point in this journey where I can give back now that I have gone through surge...

• Back on Track - Chemo, Diet and What Works For Me

  Posted on Monday November 26th, 2007 at 15:14 in Brain Tumor, brain tumor resources, chemo hints, chemotherapy, diet, my story, nutrition, temodar

  I’m definitely back on track now and it’s such a relief. This weekend was the best weekend I have had in over 6 weeks. It was great because I felt more more myself than I have in so long...

• Chemo Holiday…Holiday!

  Posted on Friday November 16th, 2007 at 12:16 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, my story, temodar

  I’m glad the holidays are here and I just finished the first week on in chemo #2 on Wednesday night so last night I slept much better - yesterday I felt better and today I’m feeling pretty...

• Chemotherapy Strategy

  Posted on Monday November 12th, 2007 at 13:55 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, my story, temodar

  This weekend turned out no better than the last unfortunately. This notion of Radiation recall is starting to fall to the wayside for me and I’m starting to believe that my condition is really...

• Moving On - Cycle #2

  Posted on Wednesday November 7th, 2007 at 17:21 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, keegan, my story, oncologist, temodar

  I met with my medical oncologist yesterday afternoon and I was very tired as we met. People have told me they just see this tired look in my eyes and that I don’t look the same. However, both ...

• Fatigue and Fatigue

  Posted on Tuesday November 6th, 2007 at 15:14 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, temodar

  Well, I am in the exact same place I have been with the added component of one of my medications used to control seizures, topomax, adding some additional fatigue. I’m trying to dig myself out ...

• Oncologist Appt and UCSF Film Review

  Posted on Wednesday October 17th, 2007 at 23:41 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, MRI, radiation, radiation therapy, temodar

  For some reason I hit a wall yesterday. I’m not sure why but it is eerily reminiscent of the way I felt on several occasions while going through Radiation and taking daily chemo. I feel fatigu...

• 7 Days On - UCSF Brain Tumor Center

  Posted on Monday October 15th, 2007 at 16:20 in Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, temodar

  I haven’t written for a few days - it’s been quite busy and I’ve been getting used to this new program. The first few days were a bit trying. The good news for me is that the dose ...

• Chemotherapy Set

  Posted on Thursday October 11th, 2007 at 00:24 in Brain Tumor, brain tumor research, brain tumor resources, Cancer, chemotherapy, imrt, radiation therapy, temodar, tumor

  It’s late so this is going to be very quick. Yet another change in the chemotherapy but this is how it is in the world of brain tumor treatment. I had a final set of research studies reviewed ...

• Chemotherapy Research / Regimen

  Posted on Thursday October 4th, 2007 at 11:53 in anaplastic, Brain Tumor, chemotherapy, gbm, glioma, temodar

  Quick post - I talked to my medical oncologist and we are reconsidering our approach with the pulse therapy. I mentioned in my previous post that we were moving forward with Temodar - 5 days on per m...