Message from the Family Nurse:

As you all know, Bob has had a re-occurence of the Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. This isn't the news we all wanted to hear but fortunately Bob's physician is taking aggressive action. Your phone calls, cards, good wishes and prayers are all appreciated. Bob and Tammy have asked me to relay medical updates on Bob's treatment and his condition. This prevents Bob and Tammy from having to continually repeat the latest medical updates and they can focus on positive, fun and uplifting correspondence with you. We hope you all understand our reasoning and respect their request so that they can go about life as normally as possible right now, and focus on Bob's recovery. So...... providing you with medical info is my job and I'm honored to be helping in this way.

Bob started chemotherapy on Monday, 4/26. The oncologist has him on a new regimen specifically formulated for the re-occurence of the cancer. The treatment is call RICE and each letter stands for a different type of medication in the combination of chemotherapy agents. Bob will receive treatment 4 days this week followed by a booster agent on Friday. He will then take two weeks off. This regimen will repeat itself two more times and will take up to nine weeks to complete. The treatments can take hours to infuse so Bob will have lots of time to read your cards, emails etc. Yes, he will lose his hair again and we don't yet know how his body will handle the medications. Please keep Bob in your prayers so that his body will be strong and side effects minimal. At the end of nine weeks, Bob will undergo tests and procedures to prepare for the bone marrow transplant and then will be hospitalized for several weeks. All of this makes for a lousy summer. However, Bob's oncologist is very optimistic and Bob is maintaining his great sense of humor and positive attitude. More details to follow.

Leigh