I had my PET (body scan) and brain MRI on January 8.  I received the body results January 9 and the brain results January 10.
The doctors say they have never seen a more favorable response to stage IV melanoma treatment than they have seen with me.
To quote them “these are dream scans”.  With two months of chemotherapy there are no active tumors below the brain and all brain tumors are decreased in size.
They’ve seen it before, but never seen it so quickly as this.
I'm truly overcome with gratitude for the tremendous support that I enjoy.  My six siblings from around the country gathered with me for Thanksgiving.  I told them that I would never choose to have cancer, but it is astounding how you get to see the best attributes of your friends and family when you are in such an extremity.
As you know, I believe in keeping the blog concise, so I will close this update succinctly.  I will continue to take the chemotherapy daily.  My side effects from the chemo are vastly decreased.  In fact, my experience has already benefited another.  My body rash was severe and a side effect previously undocumented by Genentech.  it is now mostly healed.  Samples of my skin from scalp, leg, and abdomen were sent to Genentech.  An out-of-state MD recently had a patient with a rash reaction so severe that they were contemplating pulling the patient off the drug.  The MD called my MD.  My MD gave the treatment protocol, and they have kept the patient on the drug.
Again, thank you for your prayers.  I truly believe that I’m blessed by a miracle due to the many pleadings, faith, and hope of my family and friends.  Although I do not feel deserving of such generosity, I'm grateful for it.
Love,
Mark