Very routine visit this time. Lab work, regular visits with Neurology Team and Melanoma Team followed by immunotherapy infusion. Lab results stable...still some anemia, (caused by bone marrow depression from the chemotherapy) which causes Rusty some fatigue and weakness, but it is slowly improving. Both neurology and melanoma teams are pleased that Rusty is doing well. Neurology team will see him again in three months and Melanoma team will continue to see him every 28 days to assess him for immunotherapy infusion.
The clinics at MDAnderson compete for best Christmas Tree...this is the Infusion Therapy Clinic tree themed "Journey to Mars."
You probably heard last month that Jim Allison, Ph.D., an MDAnderson immunologist, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine. He is responsible for the development of immunotherapeutic agents which are now prolonging and saving the lives of many cancer patients, including Rusty. MDAnderson is celebrating this humble scientist, and so are we!
We plan on staying in Houston for a few days to absorb some of the Houston Christmas culture, to spend a day with Cadge and Bob at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and to see the Houston Symphony production of The Messiah.
We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year...our family and friends are truly gifts in our lives, and we are sincerely grateful for each of you, your support and your love!
