Trip to Dr. Sipahi Office

Follow Up with Dr Sipahi from Recent Scans 12/19/07

• Met with Dr Sipahi who has really been doing some research on Tykerb and Xoloda.
• GREAT NEWS!!! Our Christmas prayers have been answered now that the scans showed the brain "tumor" has been reduced by 75%! ) The kidney cancer cell has also been reduced in size! 8)
• Both the lung and liver have increased in size a little - the liver went from 3.6 to 4.2 cm and the lung went from 3.0 to 3.2 cm (I think it is because we are still early with treatments of Xeloda and Tykerb)
• Another good note is that the lung is no longer a round mass; but, it appears it has been broken into a "C" shape (probably because it is being attacked with a vengeance by the chemo pills, don't you agree?)
• Gina also had her Zometa treatment again today ("super glue" for the bones) so she's a bit sore in the joints right now BUT looks as beautiful as the 1st day I laid eyes on her!
• We are going to continue with the Tykerb, Xoloda and Zometa as we are just starting the 3rd round and are hopeful that it is kicking the @#@! out of those bad cells!
• We are going back to see Dr Sipahi for blood work on January 10, 2008
• We are also going back to see Dr Olapade and Dr Knight at the University of Chicago on January 14, 2008 (I will keep you posted)

Take care and keep up those PRAYERS as they are stronger than any medicine!

GOD BLESS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR WARM THOUGHTS, NEVER DWINDLING PRAYERS AND LOVE AND SUPPORT THAT HAVE GOTTEN US THIS FAR!

Trip to University of Chicago

12/17: Follow-Up with Dr Olapade and Dr Knight at UCMC

• Follow up after completing the 2nd round of Chemo pills - Tykerb (brand new) and Xoloda. The doctors complemented Gina several times about how good she looks, especially since the last visit! Gina has stopped taking all other prescription medications EXCEPT for the chemo pills.
• All of us here at home agree with the doctors diagnosis that Gina is doing and looking WONDERFUL! In case you haven't seen her doing so, Yes, Gina has been driving for a few weeks now (so you do not have to call me and ask if I knew 8) !).
• The next step is scans CAT or MRI to see how the chemo pills are doing (I believe that GOD has been erasing away all the negative and replacing it with SUPER health cells).
• Gina is also still doing the Zometa IV ("super glue" for her bones) every 3rd week here in town at Dr Sipahi's office

More to follow later!

Dr. Knight Visit at UCMC

Monday, October 29, 2007 trip to University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC)

• Met w/ Dr Knight and, get this, a Dr. Gina M (for Mauer) because Dr Olapade was out of the country trying to get back.
• The plan was that since Gina's Breast cancer is HER2 positive, we are going to start two new types of Chemotherapy - in a pill form.
• The first one will replace the Herceptin IV she was starting to get and is called Lapatinib (Tykerb) and is five tablets taken daily at once.
• The second chemotherapy pill is called Xeloda and is taken three pills at a time, twice daily
• Both types attack only the 'bad' cancerous cells and attach to them and destroy them - without harming the good cells (like traditional Chemotherapy does)

Also had another MRI of her brain, as it has been almost two months since the Gamma Knife Radiation so we had the scan with and without contrast (dye) injected.

• A follow up with Dr. Nicholas is scheduled for this Thursday, November 1, 2007, which just happens to be All SAINTS Day - GOD's presence again working for us! 8)

UCMC Visit

Monday, October 29, 2007 Trip to See Dr. Knight

• Met w/ Dr. Knight and Dr. Gina Mauer (Gina M just like my Gina) who said they have a plan for treatment.


• Since they are HER2 positive breast cancer cells, we are going to start two new treatments of Chemotherapy - both pill forms


• The first will replace the Herceptin IV treatments we were going to get every three weeks and is called

Dr. Olapadpe Visit

Dr. Olapadpe and Dr. Knight (Dream Team) at UCMC on Oct 8, 2007.

• Dr. Olapadpe was truly a blessing from above - she is world renowned and a very uplifting person to be around


• Dr. Olapadpe was accompanied by Dr. Knight and they said there were many backup plans they could do if one type of treatment doesn't work


• Gina was told that she has HER2Positive breast cancer and it is a stage IV (but all breast cancer that comes back is labeled that way, no matter where it comes back at)


• Waiting on pathology slides from Riverside from original breast cancer in 2002 for treatment plan from Dr. Olapadpe


• Started Herceptin - a new breast cancer drug that targets HER2 cells and keeps them from growing! (see attached video clip) Herceptin is basically an IV that is given every three weeks, and, for Gina, lasts around 90 minutes, with little to no side effects!


• Also, started a "monthly" IV of Zometra (a.k.a. "super glue for the bones") lasting about 30 minutes.

Benefit at VFW

Gina Mason Benefit on Saturday, October 6, 2007 from 4 pm - 10 pm

• Held at VFW in Bradley
• U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E !! (No words can quite capture the emotions or inspiration that you guys gave to Gina and our family)
• This was a truly awe-inspiring event that gave Gina's spirit a lift and showed her (and the rest of us) just how many people are out there supporting us each day through prayers, kind words, gestures and gifts.
• In my entire life, I have never witnessed so many people come together just to show how much love and support they have for us! There were so many beautiful baskets, thoughtful donations and supportive volunteers that made this night a truly unforgettable, life-altering event for me and my family. THANKS TO ALL and GOD BLESS! 8)

I hope you all had a chance to see our tiny Thank you message in Sunday's paper (10/21/07).

Dr. Swale Appointment

Dr. Swale @ Riverside for Eye appointment on Oct 4, 2007

• After discussing Gina's vision problems (double vision, blurriness) she was referred to opthamologist (Dr. Swale)
• New eye glass prescription for those big, beautiful blue eyes with prisms in glasses that allow her to see more clearly with less problems

* Radiation starts today and continues every day (except weekends) for nine total treatments by Dr. Schwartz office. The girls there were GREAT! 8)

Bone Scan of Whole Body

October 3, 2007 @ Riverside Medical Center

• Dr. Peabody from Univ Chicago Med Cntr ordered a whole body scan of all bones
• Riverside did scan by injecting Gina w/ dye @ 8 am then did scan later at 11 am
• Dr. Peabody said should be only @ 3 more weeks on crutches and all looked good

Radiologist Visit at Riverside Annex

TUE, October 2, 2007 - Visit with Dr Schwartz

• Mark Gina for Radiation treatments to leg and discuss how many treatments (possibly 15, or 3 weeks worth)
• Dr Schwartz said a total of nine radiation treatments to be given to right femur area

Follow-Up with Dr. Peabody at UCMC

Monday, October 1, 2007 @ 1400 HRS

• Met w/ Dr Peabody for follow-up from leg surgery
• Staples are finally out (all 27 of them) and it was virtually painless
• An X-Ray of right knee was done to check the swelling and some bruising where Gina said she had some pain there - all looked good from X-Ray and no cancer or anything out of ordinary was seen on scan
• Dr Peabody said USE BOTH CRUTCHES for @ 3 more weeks and gave "hands-on" demo of proper use of crutches
• A Follow-Up w/ Dr Peabody in @ 6 weeks
• A Bone San was ordered for WED, OCT 3, 2007 @ Riverside to make sure no other things show up (PET scan only went to lower thighs)

Back to Chicago to see Oncologist

Going back to UCMC to see what they can do to kick this in the butt!

• What more can I say... but, the man upstairs has sent us yet another miracle - an Angel by the name of DR Olopade! (8)
• This is the heavenly gift we have all been waiting for - DR Olopade is a WORLD-RENOWN LEADER in Breast Cancer and has numerous awards for devoting her life's work to this cause. (Featured in October Ebony magazine and numerous scientific journals)
• 30 years of research on Breast Cancer and Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics
  Director at University of Chicago Medical Center
• Gina (and the rest of us too) feel that this has been a truly Blessed day as DR Olopade has given us a feeling we haven't felt in over three to four weeks - HOPE!
• Her approach is very aggressive and compassionate and she is going to check not only the new biopsy from Gina's femur surgery, but, also, the biopsy from the breast cancer from 2002.
• We have a follow-up appointment in two weeks (Oct 8th) and should have a plan on what specific type of cancer we are dealing with and how to treat it!

Keep your PRAYERS coming and THANKS to all who have been with us along the way!!

Trip to Chicago Med Center

University of Chicago Medical Center 09/21/07 @ 1000 HRS

• Back to UCMC to check on "bruising-like" areas on back of right leg (where surgery was)
• Dr Peabody, Dr Angeline, Dr Avedian ALL met with us and said "bruises" are just from surgery and Gina's leg looks really good
• Removed surgical bandages and saw no abnormal swell ling and NO BLOOD CLOTS (Yeah!) 8)
• Gina had four incisions on right thigh from surgery with a total of 27 staples to close them
• Worried a little about losing blood from surgery and Gina being anemic so Dr Peabody had us check blood in lab - All blood tests came back good!
• See Dr Peabody again in a week (OCT 1) to discuss Radiation treatment and remove staples/check healing progress

Thanks again, from all of us, to all of the staff at UCMC - especially DRS: Peabody, Angeline & Avedian!

Leg Surgery Day

Surgery at University of Chicago Medical Center (Mitchell Bldg) @ 6AM

• DR Peabody and DR Angeline performed Bone Biopsy @ 0800 HRS
• Unfortunately, Carcinoma (cancer cells) were present in right femur 8(
• Gina then had a steel rod surgically placed into middle of right femur bone - four incisions on leg and then stapled closed
• Gina gets to go to Recovery room around 1530 HRS
• Family met with DR Peabody after surgery and he said operation went well - Gina has very STRONG bones w/ no fractures and very solid. DR Peabody scraped some Carcinoma from bone area and said Radiation/Chemotherapy would be administered for remaining cells
• Stayed over night and Gina went home next night after some Physical Therapy with her crutches (Of course she lived up to her image and was tough-as-nails)
• Next Follow-Up visit on October 1st w/ DR Peabody

The staff were Excellent (once again) and very professional and efficient! Thanks to all staff for your hard work and dedication! 8)

Visit to Dr. Peabody

Dr Peabody Visit at University of Chicago Medical Center for Advanced Medicine @ 1300 HRS

• Met with Dr Terrance Peabody and his associate, Dr Angeline @ 1300 HRS
• Once again, nothing more to say about visit other than UNBELIEVABLE!
• Upon arrival (10 minutes early), we were treated with utmost professionalism in a personal, "family" atmosphere
• Dr Angeline (note the last name starts with GOD's helpers) met with us first in doctor's office BEFORE scheduled time and our X-Rays and scans of Gina's leg were being looked at right away by the Radiologist
• Dr Angeline took Gina's personal information and then told us what to expect from visit
• Dr Peabody came in, followed by Dr Angeline and a visiting doctor and showed us the X-Rays and scans
• Dr Peabody said something showing up around outer bone of right femur and said it could be from Gina getting hit with that softball line drive in June OR could be the cancer starting
• Dr Peabody suggested we have an operation that would give him a biopsy sample which they could check in THEIR OWN LABS within @ 30 minutes and tell if cancer or not
• If not cancer, close up incision and send us home; If cancer present, then insert steel rod through hip bone into middle of Femur to strengthen it and secure with pin on each end, monitor Gina overnight and send home sometime Friday
• Dr Peabody had us scheduled for surgery THIS THURSDAY ALREADY at 6 AM!
• After surgery, if cancer was found, follow-up with Radiation

Visit to Dr. Sipahi

DR SIPAHI visit @ 1230 HRS

• Not the news we were hoping for today but we will get through this!
• The Liver Biopsy results came back as there being a tumor in the Liver
• DR Sipahi also believes that the scans are showing a very small spot on outer kidney and in right lung as well as the right femur bone.
• We are going back to University of Chicago on Monday to see DR Peabody about the leg
• DR Sipahi thinks we might need a steel rod put in for strength, although Gina is not feeling any pain in her leg right now.

Keep up those wonderful prayers and kind words because the FAITH in God and all of you is stronger than any medicine will ever be!

Thanks for everything to everyone and GOD BLESS!

Gamma Knife Surgery

The Neurologic & Orthopedic Institute of Chicago (Aka: Ravenswood Hospital) -Gamma Knife Radio static Surgery on 09/06/2007

** Let me start by saying you have all been nothing short of A-M-A-Z-I-N-G with all of your thoughts, kind gestures and mainly PRAYERS! The Love & Support we feel is one of the main reasons I believe Gina will not only be better, but completely cleansed by GODS Hands of any illness! -- Thanks so, So, SO MUCH (Bob)

• The surgery started this morning at @ 6 AM with consultation by DR Jimenez (Truly Gifted surgeon who was guided by Gods Hands)
• Next, came the installation of a metal frame that had to be attached to the skull to prevent movement during procedure (Very painful for Gina, but she is fine now)
• Next, another MRI on site with three surgeons (DR Jimenez- neurosurgeon, DR Schwartz - Radiologist and DR Levan - Physicist)
• Finally - GREAT NEWS!! The surgeons only found one tumor, turns out the other "activity" was an enlarged blood vessel.
• Planning for @ 3 HRS
• The actual Gamma Knife Radio surgery procedure (@ 1 HR) - all went well and doctors confident they killed all bad tumor cells (@ 1 PM)
• RECOVERY - Post Surgery (eat, rest (nap), and monitor activity - GINA, of course, passed with flying colors and gets to go home now (@ 3:45 PM)
• HOME SWEET HOME for Rest/Relaxation

Let me finish tonight's thoughts with the following comment - ALL of the staff from the receptionist and nurses to the three very highly recommended and skilled doctors were not only warm and personal but gave us all their full, undivided attention the whole day - Truly a rarity in today's fast-paced, you're-just-a-number-to-me attitude of most service providers! THANKS again for all of our loving friends, family and especially to the man upstairs who truly does guide our souls to the right places if we let him in! GOD BLESS to all! 8)

Dr. Sipahi Visit

Follow-up Visit to DR Sipahi 09/05/07

• Go over results from Liver Biopsy and discuss actions for treatment
• Dr Nicholas said Dr Sipahi should be prescribing Herceptin and some type of Chemotherapy

Dr, Peabody Visit

DR Peabody visit at University of Chicago's Center for Advanced Medicine @ 1 PM

• Consultation about right femur to discuss options to treat
• Expert in Bone treatments

The First Step....

Visit to Ravenwood Hospital on 09/06/07

• Gamma Knife Radiation @ 6AM
• Three Doctors - DR Schwartz (Radiologist), DR Jimenez (Neurologist), DR Levan (Physicist)- all plan and perform surgery together
• End Result? - NO MORE BRAIN TUMOR!

Dr. Nicholas Calls Us Back

DR Nicholas returned call tonight on 08/30/07 and had GREAT NEWS!

• The Spinal Tap showed NO CANCER IN SPINAL FLUID!
• There was only an enlarged blood vessel on lining of Brain and sounds like just the one lesion in middle of Brain.
• Dr Nicholas (after meeting with Tumor Board) said the consensus (including from the lead oncologist at RUSH Hospital) to go ahead with Gamma Knife Radiation in Ravenwood because Dr Schwartz and Dr Sipahi are both very well known and excellent in their fields.
• A follow-up with Dr Nicholas after Radiation is done was recommended to check progress

I Said A Prayer For You Today

I said a prayer for you today
And know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart
Although he spoke no word!
I didn't ask for wealth or fame
(I knew you wouldn't mind).
I asked him to send treasures
Of a far more lasting kind!
I asked that he be near you
At the start of each new day;
To grant you health and blessings
And friends to share your way!
I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small.
But it was for his loving care
I prayed the most of all!

Dedicated to my Beautiful Wife, Gina, from Bob

Dr, Nicholas Update

Update of visit to the University of Chicago (UCMC) on 08/29/07

• DR Nicholas was A-W-E-S-O-M-E! - genuinely concerned, caring, and very good bedside manner (One of GOD's angels without a doubt!)
• DR Nicholas and his two associates read the scans we brought and thinks might be something else, possibly in fluid of brain.
• DR Nicholas performed a Spinal Tap on Gina today himself and sent sample to lab before they closed today
• DR Nicholas is meeting with Tumor Board tomorrow @ 8 AM - a team of specialists in ALL areas of cancer (Radiologists, Chemo therapists, Neurologists, Oncologists) meet and discuss the BEST options to treat and cure
• We all think because of all your PRAYERS (keep 'em coming) that we were sent to DR Nicholas, his staff and the truly AMAZING Advanced Medical Center!
• Awaiting results of Spinal Tap and tumor board for next step to start treatment - DR Nicholas told us he has had many patients that are coming back every year to see him still

DR Ellis Thur 08/30

Visit to DR Ellis (Orthopedics) on 08/30/07

• View scans to upper, right leg
• Suggest possible treatment (Surgery to stabilize bone, Biopsy, Radiation)

** Update **

Visit was 3 hours long and we ended up with only a referral to University of Cicago (YEAH!) to meet with DR Peabody.

Liver Biopsy Update

Liver Biopsy at Riverside 08/31/07

• Riverside Medical Center @ 9 AM
• Gina's very sore but a super-trooper (chin's up and tough as nails)
• Seemed to go well, lots of rest for 24 HRS
• No results as of yet

Dr. Nicholas Visit

DR Martin Nicholas - Visit to University of Chicago 08/29/07

• Trip to University of Chicago - Center for Advanced Medicine @ 3 PM
• Dr Nicholas is the Asst. Professor of Neurology at University who specializes in Neuroncology and Brain Tumors
• Will read all scans to date and formulate a plan for treatment (CURE) of brain tumors

Good feeling about this! 8)

MRI Scan

MRI Scan 08/28/07

• At Riverside @ 4 PM
• Upper, right leg

Dr. Jimenenz Visit

DR Jimenez (Neurologist) 08/28/07

• Visit @ 1:30 PM Riverside
• Suggested 'Gamma Knife Radiation' at Ravenswood Hospital, Chicago
• Tentatively Set for next Thursday (09/06/07)

Dr. Schwartz Visit

DR Schwartz 08/27/07

• Radiologist visit @ 1 PM
• Reviewed all scans and suggested possible Gamma Knife Radiation @ Ravenswood Hospital, Chicago
• Scans showed "possible activity" in: Brain, Right Lung, Liver, Kidneys & Right Leg
• Possibly Chemo to: Lungs, Liver and Kidneys
• Possibly Radiation/Surgery to stabilize/Biopsy to Upper, Right Leg

HOORAY - finally a game plan!

Victory will be OURS!

We will BEAT this hands down! We have the guiding hands of GOD and the loving support of our family & friends to see us through this all. I LOVE MY WIFE UNCONDITIONALLY and WE WILL spend the rest of our lives together with our kids and grandchildren at our sides.

Don't forget to leave a prayer for us!!

Thanks in advance for all of your love and support!

Bob Mason II

08/27/07