Zometa done, more radiation coming up

The Zometa went just fine and I'll do it again in about a month. So far no side effects, but they may crop up in the next day or so.

Dr Margolin looked again at the melanoma behind my ear, which is seeming to grow at an aggressive rate. After examining it we agreed that some radiation there is called for, to try to get it under control before it does something nasty like break through the surface (ugh!). The radiation doc was right on it, and I have a 1:00 appt. Friday at the UW to consult with Dr Rockhill again and start blasting the little beasty. Don't know how long this session will be, but probably at least two weeks as with my back. Fortunately I've got almost a month before my cruise, and the rest of my visits and travels are local and short. Since I responded so well from the back radiation we're hopeful this will be successful to the same extent. I'm also experiencing some swelling on the right side of my neck, so it's probably in nodes there now, too, but there really isn't anything to do about that at this point.

This does set back the start of IL-2 to the 6th of October at the earliest because I've got to recover from the radiation and then go thru all the pre-IL2 tests and a full new set of scans to see exactly where else it is. We're in this odd position of needing to do a lot of things, some of which are mutually exclusive, time-wise, but it looks like my choice of trip is just right. It will give me time to fully recover from the radiation and then onward.

I'll post again after I meet with radiology on Friday. Weather is perfect here in Seattle, got a nice bike ride in (back and forth to the pharmacy refilling percoset). Grilling on the deck with friends Friday, so I'm sure keeping busy at least. Hope all of you are having a fun summer so far.