Don MacLeod
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  • Holliston, MA
  • United States
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Don MacLeod's Discussions

Starting Jan. 1, 2013, FSAs will have annual limits of $2,500 per year.

Started this discussion. Last reply by Martha May 14. 1 Reply

Each year for eight years running we have incur my catastrophic healthcare deductable currently $5K/year. We paid that unavoidable cost using a Flexible Savings Account (FSA). An FSA allows people to…Continue

Tags: Costs, FSA

What is the context to being disabled?

Started this discussion. Last reply by Jeannie Moore Apr 24. 2 Replies

A physical disability is easy to see but I've known dedicated deaf, blind & wheel chair confined co-workers. So any physical handicap invoked by my sickness won't easily measure up. However an…Continue

Tags: disability

Beyond protocol Chemo

Started this discussion. Last reply by Don MacLeod Feb 17. 8 Replies

Got chemo yesterday,  My oncologist is unhappy with my erbitux rash & is considering changing  antibiotics,   I tried to start a discussion about my 31st Folfiri treatment.  We're past the…Continue

Tags: erbitux, rash, protocal, chemo

 

HOLD FAST

Latest Activity

Don MacLeod posted a blog post

Sunday's MRI confirms lesion growth & notes future concerns that need to be watched.

So far everyone is willing & thinks some palliative local intervention is worthwhile. I met with the ablation guys yesterday, They'd hit the tumors with microwaves but due to vein involvement acknowledge they're unlikely to get a clean kill. I'm just back from meeting with the embolization guys. Chemo embolization isn't of interest but Sir-sphere embolization (see Link ) seems a winner. Both groups will report their findings & recommendation for Dr. Russell & Dr. Kiddis' consideration but I asked the Sir-sphere guys to work me into their schedule. None of this is curative. I'm just hoping to knock down my tumor load & sustain quality of life.Hold Fast, special thanks to Karen Shanahan for going firstDon MacLeodhttp://youtu.be/_a7Wtm-871sSee More
May 16
0 Comments
Don MacLeod posted a blog post

Met today with Dr. Russell, my surgical oncologist, at Brigham & Women's Hospital

I'm having an MRI Sunday @ noon to better assess my liver & lung tumors. We'll then be getting ablation, embolization & oncology 2nd opinion consults. I have a surprisingly high quality of life but with a non-curative cancer that, now going on eight years, has seen & survived all available standard treatments. The remaining treatment options gamble with that quality of life. Since I'm otherwise healthy, Dr. Russell didn't like the math. It will be interesting to see what the different disciplined consultants have to say about the odds & optional interventions. Fortunately, the goal is simple. I want to postpone the nastier options, so I might have as normal a Summer as possible.Hold FastDon MacLeodSee More
May 10
1 Comment
Sue Drost commented on Don MacLeod's blog post Got yesterday's CT scan report.
"Praying for all the best, Don! I had the sir sphere treatment. In my case, it didn't go as planned, but I know it's been amazing for many patients."
May 2
Don MacLeod posted a blog post

Got yesterday's CT scan report.

My liver tumors have seen all standard chemo treatments but continue to grow. I'm seeing Dr. Russell, my surgical oncologist at B&W, on May 10th to explore the radiological options. SIR SPHERE EMBOLIZATION would be high on my wish list. My oncologist's plan B would give in-patient treatment with FOLFOX. I'm deathly allergic to Oxaliplatin, it kills your taste buds so there is no joy to food & anything I drink or eat that's below room temperature gives me the sensation of swallowing sand. I don't care much for plan B.Hold Fast Don MacLeodSee More
May 2
2 Comments

Profile Information

City:
Holliston
State:
Massachusetts
Relationship to disease: [select only one]
Patient/Survivor
Race and Ethnicity: [select only one]
White (non-Hispanic)
(Patients/Survivors Only) Type of Cancer: [select only one]
Colon Cancer
(Patients/Survivors Only) What stage were you diagnosed? [select only one]
Stage 3
(Patients/Survivors Only) Diagnosis Date:
March 24, 2005
(Patients/Survivors Only) Chemotherapy Received:
Fluoroucil (5-FU), Xeloda (Capecitabine), Avastin (Bevacizumab), Camptosar (Irinotecan/CPT-11), Eloxatin (Oxaliplatin), Erbitux (Cetuximab)
(Patients/Survivors Only) If you have metastates, please note where:
Liver 3 tumors
6x3cm RFA'ed with multi 3cm passes
1.3x1.1cm RFA'ed to 3cm
12x12mm RFA'ed to 3cm

Left lung nodule 15mm x 15mm
About Me:
One Monday morning a driver fell asleep and hit my truck head on. It messed my guts up… Until...

3/24/05 Discovery of a unknown colon tumor, Sigmoid Colostomy and FOLFOX. (Sigmoid Adenocarinoma, 5.9x5.0x2cm, Moderately Differentiated, T3N1M0) With shadows on liver metastases couldn't be ruled out.
3/05/07 Stage IV Liver metastases with a mid-operation cancelled resection and the RFA consolation prize.
3/10/08 New liver tumor activity that led to palliative Xeloda which for the moment seems to have my tumors in check. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy24PE8dPK4
3/11/09 Today’s CT scan found my liver tumors, with a little growth but nothing else. We've added Avastin to my Xeloda.
3/24/10 starts my sixth year with cancer. At the moment I am between treatments. I am realizing that getting to the milestone goal of five years gave me some protective comfort from thinking too much about what’s next. I finally put in my papers for a disability retirement & gained approval on 6 May 2010.
3/29/11 Completed 12 cycles of FOLFIRI. Liver tumors have shrunk so we're taking a needed break, will rescan 5/24/11 and then plan the next phase of treatment.
3/24/2012 Today starts our 8th year dealing with cancer. I'm still receiving maintenance chemo of Folfiri & Erbitux every other week.

I was never sick with cancer. The diagnosis was a surprise.

I don’t know what is next but I am definitely starting to hate March.

Hold Fast
Don MacLeod



http://techtv.mit.edu/collections/kochvideos
Link to Koch Institute Symposium Videos
http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/3242-2009-koch-institute-symposium---ann-chambers
http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/3243-2009-koch-institute-symposium---sean-morrision
http://techtv.mit.edu/collections/kochvideos/videos/3245-2009-koch-institute-symposium---tyler-jacks-and-richard-hynes
http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/178-why-cancer-drugs-stop-working

Hold Fast
Don MacLeod

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Comment Wall (1 comment)

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At 8:47pm on April 19, 2012, Michael Carver said…

Don, thank you for your comments and concerns sir. If it isnt one thing its another seems that way at least for me. I will "over come" this issue as well. Have a great evening sir :).

 

Don MacLeod's Blog

Sunday's MRI confirms lesion growth & notes future concerns that need to be watched.

Posted on May 16, 2012 at 12:30pm 0 Comments

So far everyone is willing & thinks some palliative local intervention is worthwhile. I met with the ablation guys yesterday, They'd hit the tumors with microwaves but due to vein involvement acknowledge they're unlikely to get a clean kill. I'm just back from meeting with the embolization guys. Chemo embolization isn't of interest but Sir-sphere embolization (see Link ) seems a winner. Both groups will report their findings & recommendation for Dr. Russell & Dr. Kiddis'…

Continue

Met today with Dr. Russell, my surgical oncologist, at Brigham & Women's Hospital

Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:07pm 1 Comment

I'm having an MRI Sunday @ noon to better assess my liver & lung tumors. We'll then be getting ablation, embolization & oncology 2nd opinion consults. I have a surprisingly high quality of life but with a non-curative cancer that, now going on eight years, has seen & survived all available standard treatments. The remaining treatment options gamble with that quality of life. Since I'm otherwise healthy, Dr. Russell didn't like the math. It will be interesting to see what…

Continue

Got yesterday's CT scan report.

Posted on May 2, 2012 at 11:30am 2 Comments

My liver tumors have seen all standard chemo treatments but continue to grow. I'm seeing Dr. Russell, my surgical oncologist at B&W, on May 10th to explore the radiological options. SIR SPHERE EMBOLIZATION would be high on my wish list. My oncologist's plan B would give in-patient treatment with FOLFOX. I'm deathly allergic to Oxaliplatin, it kills your taste buds so there is no joy to food & anything I drink or eat that's below room temperature gives me the sensation of swallowing…

Continue

UNHAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Posted on March 24, 2012 at 3:28pm 3 Comments

Today starts my 8th year with cancer. I'm receiving maintenance chemo currently Folfiri & Erbitux every other week . Quality of life is good with just 3 treatment days of flu like symptoms. Longevity gained knowledge of other, many now gone, Stage IVs. My path would be darker but for those who gifted light during their own journey.



I'm increasingly unsure as how best to help the more newly diagnosed. Stage I, II & III's come here in crisis & when it's behind them…

Continue

My life needs a 1 minute delay.

Posted on February 10, 2012 at 11:35am 3 Comments

Living in the moment isn't easy.  My 1st reaction to most anything is usually negative & can be aggressively mean spirited.  I know it's a problem & given the chance my thoughts do come around to being more constructive. But I'm finding our world to be full of people who don't listen, can't wait & will too quickly unsettle what is for me a precarious balance.  Honestly, I just need a minute.

 

Hold Fast, while I wrestle my 60 second demons

Don MacLeod

 
 
 

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