Re: Clinical Trial Update -- To Joe

September 30, 2005

Dear Joe:

I am so sad to read your email. I cannot accept that this is the beginning

of the slide downhill. I know this was a clinical trial and that you have had

this disease for awhile but I nevertheless won't accept this news.

Where are the tumors at this time? I assume that they have tried other

drugs and you are not responding - is that true? Surgery is out?

Thirty pounds lighter is huge. Why is the fluid building up now? I had an

abscess on my liver after my surgery and spent all of May and half of June in

the hospital as a result. My body was FULL of fluids. The interventional

radiologist couldn't believe it. He had to routinely drain my abdomen, chest,

lungs, liver, etc. Huge liters of fluid were removed from my lungs over and

over again. Somehow I came through this. I am wondering now when I read

your post. - Why can't they control this?

Joe: how long have you been fighting this? Are you sure this is time for

hospice. God bless you. You have been such a fighter and your attitude is

wonderful. I am praying for you now and hope that this can somehow turn

around.

in California

Well, I had to drop out of the clinical trial. My health started a

rapid decline and I didn't have the energy to travel to and from San

for the treatment.

Worse yet, I started accumulating fluid in my system to the point of

overload. I called an ambulance on Saturday and went to the hospital

where I was drained with Lasix and then had fluid taken from my lungs

and abdomen. When I left the hospital on Wednesday I was 30 pounds

lighter. They took 8 liters of fluid from my abdomen alone.

Well, to make a long story short, my oncologist says this is the

beginning of the quick slide downhill. I signed up for hospice care

and am putting things in order. The nurse and other staff from the

hospice have been great to me. I feel pretty weak and can no longer go

to work; but I still have the computer working great.

Thanks for your well wishes and support in the past.

-joe-

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