Happy New Year 2014

Here it is  December 31st 2013 and it has been a challenging year  to say the least.
Though I hate to recap here it goes.the year started  we me getting outpatient maintenance immunotherapy,but unfortunately my follow up CT scan In May showed Bilateral lung nodules. subsequently had surgery to remove the  left which unfortunately revealed metastatic Melanoma the good new was it did test positive for the BRAf 600 mutation.the Right  lung nodule was left in to use a  marker.In July I had my mediport placed and over the next 4 months  I underwent in patient high dose Interleukin therapy.It was rough but with the support of my friends and family and an occasional trip to the west coast thanks to  my sweetie Richard Tash the time went by quickly.My follow up CT scan in November showed  some shrinkage of my right lung nodule yeaaaa.So here I am back on my ZELBORAF the oral gene blocking therapy.Though the side effects are annoying ,chronic  joint and muscle pain  its a small price to pay . With G-Ds help will keep my Cancer from progressing  and any way its nothing that  Ibuprofen can't relieve some of the symptoms.The year ended with  the most awesome Birthday weekend  celebrated with my family  & friends.
  Wishing all my friends and family a less stressful,successful, and healthy 2014.

The last Full Week of 2013

There have been a lot of ups and downs this past week.Last shabat was quiet  but lovely went to shabbat dinner at the Elsons which the company and food was great.I ended up staying home shabbat morning secondary to a "gout" attack ,and discomfort  and had a quiet shabbat  lunch for 1 but that was more han fine.Sunday went to my great nephews Azriels 1st birthday party he is just sooo yummy.
 The work week was uneventful and  fairly quiet secondary  to so many people being on vacation.Woke up the 25th feeling woozy and still with a fair amount of pain so unfortunately I had to cancel going to the movies with Ilene & Grace  and the traditional take out Chinese food. Yossi & Resa Fogel stopped by and they ended up getting me out of the house for a little bit.
  Looking foreword to shabbat lunch at my sisters with rafi,Yael Moshe Arona & Motti.
So I'm feeling a lot better today more energy less pain so I decided to cook for  Shabbat and thanks to my friends Dvora & Perry Krevat it will be lively shabbat table.
 So of course had to start a bit of cooking and baking frenzy here my menu.
 home made challah and gluten free rolls,chicken soup,tachina,roasted beet salad,roasted cauliflower  and asparagus,gluten free turkey sechzhuan meatballs,roasted herb butterflied chicken,potato  kugel,
and last but not least for dessert poached pears and gluten free pumpkin cupcakes with an orange vanilla glaze.
   Really looking forward to this shabbat and weekend celebrating my birthday with family and friends  though my two sons & daughter in laws from  Israel   and my honey in Oakland  will be missed

Another week gone

 Here it is Friday morning Dec 20th and the year is winding down. it's been a great week at work and home as with everyone else it had it's challenges. Snow last shabbat & then again during the week always adds stresss and and requires physical endurance I wasn't sure I had,though no complaints here my kids in yerushalaem had many more challenges to overcome. the 2 feet of snow that  fell.
 i dis make an awesome Gluten free pumpkin bread(cake) with an orange vanilla glaze for  Paul's birthday(resident).
  Every time I get a new ache or pain i worry it may be secondary to my Zelboraf  or even the melenoma but thank g-d this week that wasn't the case and it's more of an annoyance than anything else'I have a stye  on the inside of my left lower eyelid so it almost looks like I have a shiner on my left eye ,It is improving daily with some antibiotic ointment . I did have a follow up visit with DR Pecora yesterday all is stable and I'm to continue the oral gene blocking therapy .I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend  & שבת with friends and family

Hunkering down for the next wave of snow

Here it is  another week at work finished ,great week at work even with Paul (junior resident) on vacation.though I am feeling stronger every day the aches and pains in my hands  are still a real brother but I'm taking ibuprofen which at least takes the edge off. these are. Side effects from my Zelboraf (my gene blocking therapy)but for the first time in weeks ,I really felt like cooking so I invited my next door neighbors for lunch tomorrow .
   I baked gluten free carrot cupcakes and a small bunt for my sister & brother in-laws anniversary  32 years and still going strong,chocolate chip cookies.for lunch gefilte  fish, home made purple slaw oven baked BBQ & fried chicken.a a couldn't done the old fashion way on the stove ,perfect for a snowy day.and of course I have a couple good books to keep me company.

Chanukah and Thanksgiving

I know it been  a couple of weeks since if posted nothing .It's benn  a very busy couple of weeks.
I have been on my zelboraf for the last few weeks at first the side effects were horrendous,all my large joints were killing me just going up and down the steps were a real chore,with little relief from Tylenol I had mistaken thought I redeveloped my allergies to ibuprofen.but the discomfort and pain eventually eased up.
  Work has been really rewarding and satisfying .The first night of Chanukah was lovely since Motti got out early I  walked into my house the the smell of latkas  wafting from the kitchen.I was really looking forward to my trip out to the west coast.
 I was at the airport by 6am tea lines fairly long even though it was Thanksgiving because of the bad Weather on Wed.the flight to Chicago w uneventful,the flight from Chicago to Vegas was fun someone actually proposed to his girlfriend on the flight it  was really sweet.Thanksgiving in Vegas was lovely no real time to do anything.Flew from Vegas to Oakland  Friday morning.The weekend and Shabbat in Oakland was wonderful and the weather could not be nicer mid to high sixties.got to see some real improv.Sat . Night and back to San Francisco Sunday and Union square.I could not have asked for a lovelier weekend ,thanks to Richard .
 Got back Monday evening and had a really good week at work.feeling stronger every day,and even though I still have the myalgias and neuropathy of my hands I've gotten used to it.My follow up appointment with Dr Pecora  on Thursday went well and my labwork looks great.So now it's just continue with the current course of Zelboraf and follow up appointments and labwork.