A Message Of Love For Bill  & Denise

Bill's Newsletters To Family & Friends

13th Newsletter -

Hello All,

Once, again, time has gone by quickly without an update. Denise and I hope that everyone had a great and healthy summer!!!

As of the last update that I had sent out at the beginning of May, I was still continuing on with chemotherapy treatments with my HCG being down to 161 from 1.4 million. Chemotherapy continued to be quite successful in their being able to reduce my HCG value to the 20s by the beginning of August, when I had to go back to San Diego for continued treatment, unwillingly. Health Net, my medical insurance provider, would not authorize the recommended stem cell transplant to be performed in Texas as this recommended service is only covered as “in-network”, according to my insurance company. We appealed their decision with Health Net and the state of California, multiple appeals, but to no avail. So, since the beginning of August, we have been back in San Diego creating a whole new medical team to perform this procedure “in-network”. However, by the time this new team was created and in place by the end of August, the new medical team would not recommend a stem cell transplant at that time, but wanted to wait to see if my previous chemotherapies would bring my HCG down to zero. It got down to 8 before going back up aggressively. Without getting into additional frustrating details, I am now (i.e. Oct 15) preparing for a stem cell transplant, but only after my HCG is climbing fast (currently at 196) and a new tumor developing in my brain, which we are rushing to address with pin-point radiation, all within the next two weeks. Not great news, BUT… the prognosis stills looks good even though there is significant risk associated with having these procedures (and with continuing to do nothing). Bottom line is that I have no choice!!! So, lessons learned… as difficult as it is to fight cancer, it is also very difficult to fight the bureaucracy and red tape associated with our medical care system. “GOOD”… now I feel better:)

So, Denise and I still remain optimistic in our current plan for going forward with my doctors from Texas being aligned with those in San Diego… finally!!! This whole process is now progressing feverishly as we have doctor’s appointments, treatments, and hospital stays scheduled for just about every day until Christmas. What a nice gift we should have after all this is done!!! Needless to say… Denise and I are already looking forward to a Happy New Year 2015 after this past year!!! Your continued (and constant) support will continue to be appreciated during this difficult time!!!

All our love and appreciation,

Bill and Denise