Mark on TV!

Skin cancer survivor (Mark) talks about the dangers of the sun.

http://www.katu.com/home/video/Skin-cancer-survivor-talks-about-the-dangers-of-the-sun-257330511.html?fb_action_ids=10152211157938778&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582

Creating Hope

Dear Friends and Family,

As you may know, Mark has received his cancer treatment at Providence, from the nationally-known and truly wonderful Dr. Walter Urba. We are so thankful for the care we have received, and continue to receive as new tumors are now evident.

We have been asked to share our story at the Creating Hope for Cancer Patients luncheon coming up on May 14.

Dr. Urba and his team’s sole focus at the Providence cancer research center is immunotherapy. In January of this year the journal Science identified immunotherapy as the Breakthrough of the Year! It is a new paradigm, “an entirely different way of treating cancer.” Immunotherapy takes advantage of a patient’s own immune system to battle tumors,  in a way that allows it to target and eradicate cancer cells, while minimizing damage to normal tissue.  In Mark’s case it is our only medical hope for a permanent cure, but much research is still needed. 

To show our gratitude and to support this cause, we would like to make a donation from us and any who would like to join in funding this critical cancer research.  We understand that there are many worthy causes that need support, and we cannot give to them all. Our purpose is to inform you of this need, so please only give if this speaks to your own heart. A donation to the Providence Cancer Center luncheon can be made by clicking the link. Please write “Mark and Ane Hornibrook” in the “In honor of” line. We will present this gift to Dr. Urba at the end of our remarks.  

We can’t begin to thank you enough for the support you have given. Your love and prayers have sustained us! The treatment Mark had been on was supposed to shrink the tumors, but they disappeared and have not returned in those original sites. That is a miracle!

With much love and appreciation,

Mark & Ane

Our Oncologist

IN THE NEWS

Walter J. Urba, M.D., Ph.D.: Cancer Warrior

The Oregon Historical Society has announced that Providence Cancer Center’s Walter J. Urba, M.D., Ph.D., will receive its 2014 Oregon History Makers Medal. In making the announcement, the society called Dr. Urba a “cancer warrior” and “a nationally-respected leader and pioneer in immunotherapy” for his work leading a team of more than 90 investigators toward the goal of curing cancer.

Dr. Urba is one of four recipients.The awards, given to individuals and organizations that are positively shaping the history, culture, and landscape of Oregon, will be presented this fall.  Read more.

Good News - by Ane

Yesterday we got the results of both the echo-cardiogram and MRI.  Both his heart and brain are tumor free!!! We also learned that the tumor in the adrenal gland is 2.6 x 1.8 inches, and there are about seven other small ones in soft tissue throughout his body.

So...it's been almost a week since we first found out about the new tumors. We're adjusting to our new reality and feeling more hopeful. We will move forward and pick up the 'goblet of gratitude' instead of the 'bottle of bitterness'!

Wish this was an April Fool's Joke! - Mark wrote

We thought we’d dodged the bullet and were done with the cancer scene, but alas, it’s not to be.

 Ane and I found out yesterday, through a PET scan and Dr. Urba that the old tumors are still gone but there is a new crop.  I have had gradually increasing pains in my abdomen over several weeks/months.  At first I thought it might be a pulled muscle or something like that, but it didn't go away. I became more concerned about the time we were finding out about the cancer deaths of two of my good work friends, Tom Londen and Fred Rockwood.  I couldn’t bring myself to mention it to Ane when she was morning their deaths from the same type of disease.  It stayed on and got worse.  I set up an annual physical and told our doctor.  Given my history he was not about to wait on getting it checked out so the next day I had a CT scan.  Our Oncologist got the results that day and set up a PET scan for the following day. Yesterday we met with Dr. Urba, had an Echo-cardiogram, will have a brain MRI on Wednesday and the drugs should be here in a few days – all of that within one week! This team is on it!!

 The PET scan showed one large active tumor in my left adrenal gland and six or so small ones in the soft tissues in my back, abdomen and legs. Since the BRAF inhibitor worked so well, Dr. Urba wants to use it again.  Although this time a newer version is available with fewer side effects and when used in combination with a MEK inhibitor has a better chance of positive impact, 75% instead of 50%, and the duration of response, 10 months instead of 5 months.  Now, last time with all of your faith, prayers and blessings we got over two years.  Hopefully we will get even more this time.  As you know, this drug is not supposed to cure, just stall, and we got a great stall!!  It did not come back in the same places, so those tumors appear to be gone!  These new ones seemed to sprout up like new plants from seeds that were not affected by the Roundup. 

 We are learning as we go and are so grateful for the new medications and the miracle of success we have experienced with them.  We hope and pray for the same wonderful results again.  We're grateful for the sweet feelings of love and faith it has brought us.  This will just extend all of that and remind us of how important you are to us.