Skip - detailed update :)

Rob Barron · 21-01-2008, 16:48

Hi everyone,

I know you can't access Skip's special blog without registering so I have permission to post his latest update here for you all to read. I am delighted to say it is very positive and we look like getting our old Skip back very soon

Thanks all,
Rob

Message reads:

Hello everyone.

I haven’t posted in awhile but I wrote a long post several days ago, it timed out after 45 minutes and I lost the whole damn thing!

So here we go again.

I finished my chemo and irradiation Dec. 27th, and returned home on the 28th. It was great to be back home and in warm weather. A few days later though, my speech became very bad and my mental function deteriorated, so I saw the neuro-oncologist here who started me on low dose steroid. Everything came back pretty quickly and I am now tapering the dosage, on a smaller one now and should be off of it in a couple weeks. My speech is about 98% normal now, and my mental function is nearly back to my usual whackiness. I have slight ups and downs during the day, but generally am 98% great.

Every day is an improvement. I am walking about a mile outside or on a treadmill every other day, doing some arm weights and intend to return to the Fitness Center maybe this week to start a bit more exercise, slowly increasing.

My friends and family has been incredibly supportive this whole time. My sister and brother-in-law drove 24 hours each way from Dallas to see me and help Robbie and I. Pam has been here this weekend, also a great help and a chance to really talk. Of course Jennifer has been incredibly supportive and helpful the past 3 months! With everyone’s help, the past 3 very hectic weeks are starting to settle down a bit so that is good.

Tomorrow, I get my first MRI after all the treatment. I suspect that it will show nothing right now. Then the end of next week, I am going to Duke for a second opinion consultation, but I intend to work with the doctors at Johns Hopkins and a local oncologist to keep me healthy. The first of Feb or so, I start a 5 day course of double dose chemo, and continue this monthly for at least 6 months. There is some white cell and platelet decrease, but hopefully I won’t need transfusions or cells over this period. If it is not a major problem, then we will do a bit of traveling, first in Florida then expanding from there.

The doctors and the internet all say that sometime the cancer will recur. It could be in 3 months or 5 years. There are probably other meds for chemotherapy then to prolong life and keep the quality of life, but I have a very positive attitude and am looking at for at least 5 years or more. In the meantime, something like this really focuses your thoughts and feelings and makes some things like family and friends really important and a lot of other stuff just chaff. You figure out what is chaff. J

We are all going to check out sometime, so we have to have a great time, and do good and important things while we are on this earth.

So everyone, I am feeling great, am positive in my outlook, and thank you all a million times for your support.

Skip

***Dave*** · 21-01-2008, 16:55

Great to see that sense of humor back in Skips writing

Very good advice about the chaff

Gary Bagshawe · 21-01-2008, 17:12

Good to hear he's on the mend. Close calls really do focus the mind.

**Dabhand16** · 21-01-2008, 17:23

That is the best New Year pressie for me

I so hope that Skipper can keep well and continue to fight the illness.

Thanks for the update Rob

**Sonsey** · 21-01-2008, 18:02

Thanks once again for the update Rob, it really is great to recognise Skip in his writings again... may his recovery continue unimpeded!

P-E · 21-01-2008, 18:26

Good to hear.

stupot · 21-01-2008, 20:59

great news, thanks rob

WOODY · 21-01-2008, 21:35

GREAT NEWS, SKIPS ON THE MEND

THANKS FOR THE UPDATE ROB.

**Angela** · 21-01-2008, 21:51

I find Skip's post incredibly humbling. I faced a non-life-threatening cancer a few years ago with much less aplomb than Skip is facing this much more serious cancer.

It's good to hear that he doing so well and looking forward to the future

silkstone · 21-01-2008, 22:00

It's great that he has such a positive attitude and is improving day by day, and he really deserves every ounce of luck available.

simpbow · 21-01-2008, 23:27

Great news Skip & thanks Rob.

j sotelo · 22-01-2008, 02:00

good to see skip doing better

emmettleffel · 22-01-2008, 18:04

Thanks for the update Rob, good news

skipper954 · 23-01-2008, 21:24

Hi everyone.

Took a few minutes to get back on here.....couldn't remember my bloody password! lol

Any way, I just wanted to tell you guys how much I appreciate your support and thoughts. It makes me feel great, keeps me upbeat, and yes, hope to get my heavy camera in hand soon, and even if the images are not my usual ones

it will be fun.

Thanks again for everything.

skip

ps....if you feel like emailing me, cool. iz4u954 [at] gmail.com. That is just for friends and family, no trash or spam, so please do share this addy only with friends.

Skip, I have edited your email addy's format so that the automated email scammers don't pick it up. I am sure everyone that is human can work out to remove the spaces and replace the [at] with @

Cheers
Steve

21-01-2008, 16:48	#1 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,204	Skip - detailed update :) Hi everyone, I know you can't access Skip's special blog without registering so I have permission to post his latest update here for you all to read. I am delighted to say it is very positive and we look like getting our old Skip back very soon Thanks all, Rob Message reads: Hello everyone. I haven’t posted in awhile but I wrote a long post several days ago, it timed out after 45 minutes and I lost the whole damn thing! So here we go again. I finished my chemo and irradiation Dec. 27th, and returned home on the 28th. It was great to be back home and in warm weather. A few days later though, my speech became very bad and my mental function deteriorated, so I saw the neuro-oncologist here who started me on low dose steroid. Everything came back pretty quickly and I am now tapering the dosage, on a smaller one now and should be off of it in a couple weeks. My speech is about 98% normal now, and my mental function is nearly back to my usual whackiness. I have slight ups and downs during the day, but generally am 98% great. Every day is an improvement. I am walking about a mile outside or on a treadmill every other day, doing some arm weights and intend to return to the Fitness Center maybe this week to start a bit more exercise, slowly increasing. My friends and family has been incredibly supportive this whole time. My sister and brother-in-law drove 24 hours each way from Dallas to see me and help Robbie and I. Pam has been here this weekend, also a great help and a chance to really talk. Of course Jennifer has been incredibly supportive and helpful the past 3 months! With everyone’s help, the past 3 very hectic weeks are starting to settle down a bit so that is good. Tomorrow, I get my first MRI after all the treatment. I suspect that it will show nothing right now. Then the end of next week, I am going to Duke for a second opinion consultation, but I intend to work with the doctors at Johns Hopkins and a local oncologist to keep me healthy. The first of Feb or so, I start a 5 day course of double dose chemo, and continue this monthly for at least 6 months. There is some white cell and platelet decrease, but hopefully I won’t need transfusions or cells over this period. If it is not a major problem, then we will do a bit of traveling, first in Florida then expanding from there. The doctors and the internet all say that sometime the cancer will recur. It could be in 3 months or 5 years. There are probably other meds for chemotherapy then to prolong life and keep the quality of life, but I have a very positive attitude and am looking at for at least 5 years or more. In the meantime, something like this really focuses your thoughts and feelings and makes some things like family and friends really important and a lot of other stuff just chaff. You figure out what is chaff. J We are all going to check out sometime, so we have to have a great time, and do good and important things while we are on this earth. So everyone, I am feeling great, am positive in my outlook, and thank you all a million times for your support. Skip __________________ Rob Barron robbarron@aol.com If you look down on other people, don't expect them to look up to you!

21-01-2008, 16:55	#2 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,909	Re: Skip - detailed update :) Great to see that sense of humor back in Skips writing Very good advice about the chaff

21-01-2008, 17:12	#3 (permalink)
Gary Bagshawe Rep Point Winner 07 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sheffield UK Posts: 2,232	Re: Skip - detailed update :) Good to hear he's on the mend. Close calls really do focus the mind.

21-01-2008, 17:23	#4 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 9,000	Re: Skip - detailed update :) That is the best New Year pressie for me I so hope that Skipper can keep well and continue to fight the illness. Thanks for the update Rob

21-01-2008, 18:02	#5 (permalink)
Sonsey Pixalo Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: N. Ireland Posts: 7,242	Re: Skip - detailed update :) Thanks once again for the update Rob, it really is great to recognise Skip in his writings again... may his recovery continue unimpeded!

21-01-2008, 18:26	#6 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,505	Re: Skip - detailed update :) Good to hear.

21-01-2008, 20:59	#7 (permalink)
stupot Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Dorset Posts: 1,319	Re: Skip - detailed update :) great news, thanks rob

21-01-2008, 21:35	#8 (permalink)
WOODY PLEASE NOTE I TYPE USING CAPITALS DUE TO A DISABILTY THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ORPINGTON KENT Posts: 1,180	Re: Skip - detailed update :) GREAT NEWS, SKIPS ON THE MEND THANKS FOR THE UPDATE ROB.

21-01-2008, 21:51	#9 (permalink)
Angela Pixalo Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wimbledon Posts: 5,851	Re: Skip - detailed update :) I find Skip's post incredibly humbling. I faced a non-life-threatening cancer a few years ago with much less aplomb than Skip is facing this much more serious cancer. It's good to hear that he doing so well and looking forward to the future

21-01-2008, 22:00	#10 (permalink)
silkstone Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Silkstone Common, Yorkshire, UK Posts: 3,416	Re: Skip - detailed update :) It's great that he has such a positive attitude and is improving day by day, and he really deserves every ounce of luck available.

21-01-2008, 23:27	#11 (permalink)
simpbow Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.Ireland Posts: 2,502	Re: Skip - detailed update :) Great news Skip & thanks Rob.

22-01-2008, 02:00	#12 (permalink)
j sotelo Feet under the table Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego, Ca. Where the Surf meets the Turf Posts: 1,719	Re: Skip - detailed update :) good to see skip doing better

22-01-2008, 18:04	#13 (permalink)
emmettleffel Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Banbury,Oxon Posts: 770	Re: Skip - detailed update :) Thanks for the update Rob, good news

23-01-2008, 21:24	#14 (permalink)
skipper954 Feet under the table Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southeast Florida USA Posts: 1,721	Re: Skip - detailed update :) Hi everyone. Took a few minutes to get back on here.....couldn't remember my bloody password! lol Any way, I just wanted to tell you guys how much I appreciate your support and thoughts. It makes me feel great, keeps me upbeat, and yes, hope to get my heavy camera in hand soon, and even if the images are not my usual ones it will be fun. Thanks again for everything. skip ps....if you feel like emailing me, cool. iz4u954 [at] gmail.com. That is just for friends and family, no trash or spam, so please do share this addy only with friends. Skip, I have edited your email addy's format so that the automated email scammers don't pick it up. I am sure everyone that is human can work out to remove the spaces and replace the [at] with @ Cheers Steve

23-01-2008, 21:36	#15 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 9,000