Thanks all for the advise. Jack had his portacath put in on Monday and was supposed to start the chemo on Tuesday. They always do blood tests first. All of his blood counts (red cells, white cells, and platelets) dropped so much in the last two weeks that they didn't start the chemo. They now don't think they can use the taxol and carboplatin...too potent. They are now suggesting just cisplatin along with radiaion. Jack tried to talk the oncologist into trying it anyway. He wrote on his board, "If you don't kill the cancer, I'll die anyway." He did have his mask made and the simulation done Tuesday. They are going to hurry things along as much as possibe to get the radiation started. Jack is also going to have a sample of bone marrow extracted tomorrow to see if there is anything they can find there that would explain the drop in the blood counts. I am thinking of all kinds of not good things. Then I remember what our Danny Boy always says about it not being the C word until they say it is. I am sure glad the test is tomorrow and the results should be back soon. I don't want to wait.

We are considering getting a second opinion as lots of you suggested. We are both retired, so going places for a period of time is no big deal. I even think that several of the recommended place like M. D. Anderson are part of our PPO so insurance wouldn't be a problem.

What a roller coaster this is.

Lowanne