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Tom Cross: A Road Less Traveled 
Welcome to my SURVIVAL page. I was diagnosed in late Dec.'03 with stage IV lung cancer. Never a smoker, this news came as a great shock and with the news that the cancer was considered to be inoperable; no cure; a terminal condition and that I'd likely be dead within 6 - 10 months.
Well, here I am nearly 5 YEARS later and full of hope, determination and resolve to share what I have learned.
PLEASE SEE www.neversmokers.com FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LUNG CANCER AND NEVER SMOKERS!
Journal
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 11:04 AM CDT TOM CROSS UPDATE 9-9-08: Worth the wait
Right to the point. The NY exit a the end of August went well with welcome and helpful visits and assistance from various points afar - Sarasota, France and Patti’s return from FL to aid the in packing and drive back to FL, which was uneventfully accomplished while all the while watching the “As the Huricanes Turn” news updates. Fortunately none caused us any problems.
Before exiting NY we were waiting to see if - and when – my platelets would recover enough to continue treatment. After a 3-week wait, they were still too low and hence postponed another week. Counts when checked in late August still teetered on low and the decision was to wait until the return to FL to try again. The last thing I needed was a platelet blow-out and bleed out somewhere on I95.
The return to FL found counts acceptable and treatment of 80% Alimta and 50% Avastin was administered Sept 3. Side effects have been a doozy so far (sinus problems, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath.) BUT, scans of Sept 8th show me to continue to be boringly stable. Maybe slight improvement with near complete resolution of a tiny brain lesion and near disappearance of pleural effusion fluid around the right lung. We’ll take it!
Next scans in 3 monthes; next treatment in 4 or 5 weeks.
Today brings a fun day at the hospital for a flurry of safeguard checks to be sure the breathing side effects are just that and not a blood clot of something nasty.
The ride is not often fun, but it does continue. I’m holding on tight and thank one and all for keeping my seatbelt tight.
As always,
Tom
And don’t forget the release of a new poster for sale on my website for $10. Measuring 12 x 18". Printed on high quality poster stock. Signed by the artist. What a bargain! Have sold enough o contribute $500 so far!
http://tomcross-artist.com/osCommerce/product_info.php/products_id/665
Proceeds from sales will benefit the Lung Cancer Alliance
http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/
Onward.
Tom
*and remember, you can always keep tabs on me and leave a message at the Caring Bridge site.
http://www2.caringbridge.org/fl/tomcross/
Oh, remember that at any time you have had enough of my blabbing and would like to be removed from receiving these email updates, just send a return email to this and put REMOVE in the subject field.
Read Journal History
Links: http://www.tomcross-artist.com tom's home page about his art
http://www.neversmokers.com lung cancer online registry and info. for never smokers
http://benefitshow05.tomcross-artist.com/indexnew.html Online & ongoing art show fund raiser
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