Friends and family -

Short version: The medication continues to hold the cancer at bay. My visit to the cancer center last week went well. My blood work looks fine. My tumor markers were the same as last month (48.1 vs. 48.6 November). I have some achy joints and mild discomfort in my back and right hip. Overall, I feel pretty good.

Longer version: After they took a biopsy of my tumor last summer they sent it off to a company called Foundation One. This company does genomic testing. The idea is to see if there are any mutations in the tumor that might help determine particular treatment. I learned that there are no mutations that would influence my treatment. They will keep the information on file and when I need to find a new line of treatment, there might be clinical trials that would match. I don't know whether this is good or bad news, just information I guess.

My insurance is refusing to pay for this testing because they have deemed it "medically unnecessary." I'm trying to sort out that battle now. It's very challenging to deal with insurance companies since they are only really interested in profiting, actual health is secondary. Health care is horribly broken in our country on multiple levels.

I took my first work trip since the diagnosis. I was in San Francisco for a day (yes, 18 hr. trip). It went as well as expected when you are flying in and out of a city 1,000 miles away. I do have another work trip in early January. Because of that trip in January (and kid activities), I've decided not to attend the AMS Annual meeting in Boston the following week. There is a ceremony where I would have received recognition as an AMS Fellow. Glen will go to the meeting and receive an award for his work reviewing manuscripts for journals. I'm very disappointed not to go and see colleagues and for the award ceremony. I'm in a different phase of life now though and there are a lot of disappointments; I have to focus on other things.

We decorated for the holiday, made cookies and did our annual trip to the Nutcracker Ballet. We will drive to Wisconsin for the Christmas holiday and include a trip to Chicago for Evelyn's birthday. We are looking forward to seeing as many people as possible. Cross your fingers the weather continues to look good!

Much love,

Donna & Glen