Update of Saturday, 12 March 2005

	My 25th and last proton treatment was Tuesday, completing the
overall set of 40.  Pictures of my certificate are in the web diary for
that day.   It was all a bit anti-climactic.  The weather was very cold 
and snowy so Candace and I did not go out to celebrate ... still haven't.
Perhaps the highlight of the day was NOT the las treatment but meeting a 
fellow "chordomite" and his wife whom we had first contact via my web site, 
then by phone and then, by chance, at my surgeon's office in NYC.  He was 
to start his proton treatments, just as I was finishing mine.

	I finished the series without any of the typical serious side
effects: throat and swallowing are pretty much normal; skin "burn"
is minimal and rapidly disappearing;  I still rest and sleep a lot, and
physically tire easily, but I would list my fatigue as "moderate".  
	The weakness in my shoulder, arm and wrist continues to 
improve, although at what seems a snail's pace to this impatient
observer.  But my physical therapist seems pleased and will write
up a summary for me to take to follow-up therapy back in the
Ithaca area.  It may be up to six months before all the muscles are
"normal".
	The nerve pain in my thumb and forefinger continues,
some days better or worse than others.  Typing certainly doesn't help!
Hard to find "triggers" or to even know if medication helps or not.

	I still wear the cervical collar when at the computer and reading;
it helps with posture which is supposed to help keep down inflammation,
which is supposed to help by arm weakness.  Now that radiation is over
I am to try to slowly wear the collar less and less.  The other time
it is worn is when traveling (car, bus, subway,..) or walking icy streets.
	It seems clear that I should not drive until I can travel without the 
collar.  When will that be?  Not clear.  The earliest would seem to be
mid-April.

	We return to Ithaca early next week, leaving Cambridge Monday,
the 21st, staying a night in Lenox, and arriving in Newfield on the
22nd.  
	Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers. It will be nice to 
be  "home".