A busy week in June

Patty & Phil at The Villages visiting Don & Carol Marder

On June 12th, I flew down to Ocala, FLA with my daughter Sarah and her husband, Thomas for the purpose of attending my father-in-law's memorials. When we arrived, we met up with the rest of my family (Patty, David, and Nathan) who also came in for the same reason. It's a strange combination of feelings that you go through attending these things. It's very sad for all of us to have lost Dick Rohde even at his advanced age of 83. Dick was a WWII hero whose ship was sunk by the Japanese and a beloved family member. But at the same time, it was wonderful seeing relatives that we rarely see in person. On Tuesday, June 16th, I flew back to Indiana with Patty, Sarah, and Thomas. Then, on Friday, June 19th, Patty and I flew to Chicago for my Avastin treatment which went flawlessly. Saturday, June 20th, was my wedding anniversary. Patty and I have now been married 39 years. We went to Palomino's in Indianapolis to celebrate. Nothing beats their crab and artichoke dip. Finally, yesterday, June 21st., my daughter Sarah and son-in-law, Thomas came over to our house in Indianapolis for a wonderful Father's Day dinner including T-bone steaks and a cake that Sarah baked for us.
All-in-all, a very busy week, indeed.

Slide show of our visit to Ocala for Dick's memorials: HERE
Slide show of my father-in-law, Dick Rohde: HERE

Early June Update from Phil

Hi everyone. On Friday, June 5th, Patty and I went to Chicago for an appointment with Dr, Nicholas and an Avastin treatment. The news on my condition continues to be good with a positive report on my condition from my doctor. (M. Kelly Nicholas). I told him that I was so happy to have chosen their group for my treatment and he told me that he was very happy to have me in his study. He told us that he was using my case as an example for his new GBM patients, partly because of my progress and partly because of my willingness to travel to Chicago every two weeks for treatment. On this day, we flew up on Southwest making it a one-day visit. We will return for more Avastin on June 19th and then again for an MRI on July 1st which tells the real, anatomical story. Our trip was tempered somewhat by the recent passing of my wife, Patty's father, Dick Rohde, the day before we went to Chicago. To see a short essay about my father-in-law and a photo slide show remembrance, click on the following link:
http://philmarder.com/marderhomepage/

A perfect day (for me) in Indianapolis

It was one of those days that I was happy to still be walking on planet Earth.
It was a beautiful spring day with cool temperatures and sunny skies.
I played golf in the morning and much to my surprise, I chipped in hole #9 for a birdie. This was my first birdie since discovery of my tumor and it felt mighty good. My final score wasn't great (97) but the beautiful weather and the birdie raised my spirits. I went home, took a shower and dressed for attending a service at our Synagogue (Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, IHC). It was a special night there with a tribute to our Cantor, Janice Roger for serving our congregation for 30 years. This was also my first night to attend services at IHC since my diagnosis. It was great seeing friends there including our Rabbi, Jon Adland. After services, we went over to Elaine and Bob Sandy for a wonderful home-cooked dinner that we shared with them and Sally and Jeff Seidenstein and the Sandy's son, Steven along with his girlfriend, Courtney. All-in-all, it was a superb day and one that I was happy to feel physically strong enough to enjoy thoroughly.

Trip to Chicago for Avastin with family and friends

Phil's son David stayed with him this past week while his wife Patty tended to her parents in Ocala, Florida










Phil standing alongside his good friend, Terry Gladman outside the hospital in Chicago.

It was that time again: time to get another dose of Avastin in Chicago but this time in a little different scenario. My loving wife Patty is in Ocala, Florida tending to her ill father and my son, David has been with me for the past week in Indianapolis. On Friday, May 22, David and I flew up from Indy to Chicago on Southwest Airlines to Midway airport. Patty and I had done this before and it simplifies things by making it a one day ordeal. My
daughter Sarah and her husband Thomas watched our puppy, Chaim. Upon arrival at Midway, we took a cab to the University of Chicago hospital. We had some extra time before my scheduled 9:30 AM Avastin infusion was to begin so I called my good friend and flow cytometry colleague, Jule Auger for a 10 minute get-together where she could also meet David. As always, it's great seeing Julie. David and I also ran into the lead nurse on my case, Jean, and I introduced David to her. At 9:30 AM we went up to floor #6 for my infusion. David sat with me for the whole hour while the magic liquid dripped into a vein in my left arm. As before, this went without incident. Finally, at 11:30 AM David and I met up for lunch at the hospital with my good friend from my Ohio State days, Terry Gladman. We were lucky to be able to see Terry as he spends much of his time working for Novartis in Switzerland. Again, we had a fine time talking about new and old events. After an hour or so, David & I got back in a cab for the ride back to Midway Airport. We caught our flight on time and met with Sarah and Thomas at our house in Indianapolis and then went out together for a sushi dinner at Ocean World.
Best wishes to all of my friends and family. Phil Marder

Avastin working for me and others

Avastin working for me and others

We just returned from Chicago after our visit with my oncologist, Dr. Nicholas and getting a new MRI scan and an Avastin treatment.Although I hate getting the MRIs (45 minutes in a small confined area with a loud pulsing noise in the background, I realize that it is necessary to see how and if my tumor is spreading. I had the MRI taken late Thursday (5/7) afternoon. This morning we met with Dr. Nicholas. First of all he pointed out to us that Avastin had just been approved by the FDA for some recurrent GBM disease. See article here after reading this email.http://www.webmd.com/cancer/brain-cancer/news/20090506/fda-oks-avastin-for-glioblastoma
Dr. Nicholas read my MRI from yesterday and put the scan up on the computer for all of us to see. He pointed out that there was a great improvement in the scan compared to the last one I had. He said that there was a definite decrease in tumor "activity" with less swelling and spreading than had been evident before. I guess you could say that there was some shrinkage. Clearly the Avastin is working for me. Patty & I were very encouraged after today's visit.

Thanks again go to Sarah and Thomas for watching Chaim for us during our 2 day trip to Chicago. We go back for another Avastin treatment on May 22nd.

best regards to all of you,
Phil

Avastin is doing its thing

(Left) the Marders at their Passover Seder.

We just returned from Chicago from my bi-weekly Avastin infusion. I also met with my oncologist, Dr. Nicholas who did a neurological evaluation of my brain function. The good news is that the Avastin has had a very positive effect for me. It appears that my brain swelling has decreased as judged by an increase in my peripheral vision and overall affect. Dr. Nicholas was extremely positive in his evaluation of how he thinks that the Avastin is helping me. Also, the infusion this week went well and was speeded up to last only 30 minutes in total. I experienced no side effects at all during or after the infusion.



To see a complete slide show of the Marders Passover seder click HERE

Home for Passover

The Marder family all together for Passover. (Upper left to right) Thomas, David, Phil. (Lower left to right) Patty, Chaim, Sarah, and Nathan.

More puppy pix after 2nd Avastin treatment

Patty holding Chai on the back porch

Chai poses for the camera

Phil holds Chai up for his close-up

At home with our new puppy

Phil with Chai'm on his lap. This is a lap dog for sure

Patty holding Chai'm. This puppy loves to be hugged.






Our puppy, Chai'm feeling secure in a box

Back in Chicago; first dose of Avastin

ON THURSDAY, March 12, we drove back to the University of Chicago Medical center. That afternoon, I HAD AN MRI taken of my brain. After THAT, WE CHECKED INTO OUR HOTEL AND HAD DINNER BEFORE RETIRING FOR THE NIGHT. Bright and early the next (Friday) morning, we met with Dr. Nicholas. Dr. Nicholas was very positive about how he thought that the Avastin would help me. At around 11 AM, I began receiving the Avastin infusion. THis first infusion took 1.5 hours an went without incident. I had no side effects during or after the infusion. Following the infusion, we had lunch at the food court and then drove back to our home in Indianapolis.