Jon continues to feel better than he has in months. I really think the appetite stimulant has been helpful, (megesterol not pot!) he is eating well and regaining his strength.

We drove to Seattle in the snow early this morning for a blood draw and follow up appointment with Dr. Lin. His blood work was all good and his calcium levels were normal. Dr. Lin was able to graph the calcium levels since late January and determined that they were already on the rise throughout February. He concluded that the hypercalcemia was from the hormones produced by the tumors as Jon had been out of treatment since December and the protocol he had received was ineffective. As a result Dr. Lin would like to retry the Xyloda and Celebrex telling us that there has never been a case of hypercalcemia reported with those medications but to proceed cautiously. This makes me a bit uneasy but Jon is still in his "guns blazing" mode and wants to start asap.

During our drive this morning Jon was lamenting that he wanted to go outside but couldn't take the cold weather and thought he would take a trip to a warmer climate. We brainstormed on some destinations and finally concluded that a visit to Howard and Kay Brown in Arizona was his best and most enjoyable option. He left this evening on Alaska Airlines and has arrived moments ago. It will be good for him to have some time with his extended family and enjoy the sun and warmth. Staci may be coming over to visit with him as well. I expect him back by mid-week and Dr. Lin wants him to hold off on the Xyolda til he's back and do a follow up appointment after he's completed a week of the oral chemotherapy.