March 24 Medical Update — John Drage | Living with Brain Cancer

We are in full swing doing cancer treatment here at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas. I have taken the chemotherapy Temodar pills 3 nights out of the 42 nights scheduled. I have had one Atezolizumab immunotherapy infusion, of the 26 I will have every two weeks for a year. I have had radiation 3 times, out of the 30 treatments during the next 6 weeks. My keto diet is in full swing as well, which is a super low carb diet to starve the cancer of its favorite food, sugar (carbs). I also hope to start exercising 5-6 times a week, which is an effort to stay ultra fit for the long fight as well as my fun to help distracted me some.

Look with me here at the 6 types of warfare we are waging on this Glioblastoma Cancer:

1. Heavy Aerial Bombing: The thousands of people praying

(This softens up the ground troops so the fight is easier)

2. Starvation Attacks: The keto diet

(Starve those little scoundrel cancer cells)

3. Chemical Warfare: The chemotherapy

4. Strategic Nuclear Attacks: The targeted radiation

5. Guerilla Warfare: The immunotherapy trial

(This is about getting my immune system to go fight the cancer behind enemy lines)

6. Strength Training: The exercise regiment

(My triathlon coach, Brad, is writing me workouts to prep for cardio strength and hopefully a couple races this summer. We know that if I stay strong, it helps with all kinds of recovery)

When I came up with this allegory, I got excited. We are fighting this enemy in 6 unique ways. But remember this - it is God’s battle!

John and Amy biking on their new tandem.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord.” Zechariah 4:6

I feel pretty good physically. I have had a small tummy ache from the meds at this point. They said fatigue could also happen. I am a little tired, but on the whole, I feel great!

We get back at it for another full week of treatment on Monday, March 25. Please pray for two specific outcomes: 1) that the warfare we are waging pushes back the enemy and kills it and 2) that the potential side effects of the poisons I am ingesting are minimal.

Thanks for your prayers, love, and friendship!