Team Tom Update -- Kick Cancer's KRAS

Hey Team Tom,

Just taking a moment to put out a real-life update. Things are mostly good here, but there is also a touch of bad as well.

The bad:

Mom's not doing so hot. We think she may have had a stroke a couple days ago, and this could be the beginning of the end. She's lived a good, long life. We'll have to see what happens next. We were able to gather around her as a family yesterday and let her know how much she is loved and appreciated.

The good:

The big news is that my doctor was able to send the remains of my last biopsy to a genetic sequencing company and actually find my best cancer mutation match. So, we throw out the RET and FANCG results, and now I have KRAS G12A and TP53 results. What does that mean to the common human? That means, we continue doing what we're doing since the treatment I'm on currently is working; however, if things ever go south again, then we have new options.  There are three clinical trials that I would be a good candidate for.  So, no change in treatment, but at least the mystery is over.

I wrapped up another session of music therapy on Friday, which was fantastic. I was able to play a bit of floor tom along with my therapist and her intern. It was a groovy little jam with a guitar and a synth organ. Overall, it just felt very happy and carefree. I'll take happy and carefree, and playing along with a couple of talented musicians is always great. I miss jamming. It left me with a smile on my face during the infusion that happened afterward.

Reppin' ninja pigs in the infusion center!

To those ends, last Friday was my fifth immunotherapy infusion of what is sure to be something I lose track of eventually as this now becomes my new normal. I'll be getting one of these infusions from now until, idk, forever? I'm not complaining though. As long as the tumors are shrinking or stable, I'm happy, and my tumors ARE shrinking or stable, so, I'm happy!

In other news, Government shutdown woes are well past us, and I've been back at work trying to adjust schedules and catch up to where we left off. I guess we'll see if this happens again in February? And . . . Thanksgiving was great, and I was happy to blend my family with my sister's family and have a quality celebration. My sister cooked an amazing turkey and we brought some stuffing, cauliflower Mac n Cheese, fresh Cranberry sauce, and a pie to share. We also managed to play a fun game of Poetry for Neanderthals. ME LIKE GAME NO USE LONG WORD OR GET BONK ON HEAD WITH TOY CLUB.

AND FINALLY, I haven't cut my hair since, like, February and wrapped up my "no shave November" look.  I feel less like an actual neanderthal now.

That took off a couple pounds and about 10 years

Happy Dueling!