Asking is a funny thing.   Some of you have sent me e-mails hoping that when time passes by and you don’t hear from me it’s because "no news is good news".   Well, with me it is indeed just that.   If and when things change, I will share the news with you.   I appreciate you sitting back and letting me dole out the reports with you on my own terms.   I can discuss cancer when I want, and then put it away on a shelf.  I also really don’t want to bore you with the day to day stuff or abuse our e-mail correspondences.   My life isn’t about cancer . . .  it’s about living.

My mother, not necessarily known for her comedic persona, has two sayings that she uses quite frequently.   I think actually, she uses them just to drive her children crazy.   If we would ask her about somebody, she would respond . . .  "I don’t know.   I don’t ask.   If someone wants to tell me something, they’ll tell me".   Other times we might tell her we didn’t know something about someone and she would respond, "Well ask . . .  if you don’t ask, you don’t know".   With answers like this we all still managed to grow up sane.   Well, almost.

So then, what I can say to you is . . .   thank you for keeping it simple with the love, concern and the sincerity that I’ve come to know, admire and recognize . . .   and yes, "no news is good news".

Well, we are once again heading in a positive direction.   I knew there would be bumps in the road along the way.   I did not realize we would hit one so soon.   I must admit, it was a hurdle, but we have leapt over it with great fortitude, resilience and staying power.   I am determined to stay on track and beat this thing.   I am looking forward to a road ahead with fewer bumps and fewer potholes.   I thank everyone who has written or called, sent cards or kept me on their prayer lists.   I think the news astonished almost everyone with the same shock and sadness but with the same resolve to fight and win.   It took Charlie and me a good five days to digest and internalize the information.   I realize it was probably the same with most of you as well.   Here in Saint Louis we had a few good strong shoulders to cry on and then we regrouped and repositioned ourselves.   We flew to NYC as soon as we could get on a flight and I got on the Sorafenib study at Memorial Sloan Kettering.   The chief doctor told Charlie that he thought it was good that we acted as quickly as we did.   There are other patients on the study with the same cancer as me, and to date over 50% have had a positive response with this chemo.   I have been on it a week now.   We will not allow this cancer to outmaneuver us.   The cancer does not fully realize just how strong I can be.   Believe me, it is a tough cookie as well . . .  I’ve just been around a lot longer and I plan to outlive it.

Currently my follow-ups are in New York, but I am trying to transfer the study to Evanston, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.   It is much easier for us to get to Chicago and we have the benefit of family there.   I will have follow-ups scheduled every two weeks.   Eventually it will be lengthened to every four weeks.   If it works well, I will be on oral chemotherapy indefinitely.   If it takes a pill every day to keep me healthy, so be it.

The website www.randyford.net has been updated. There are new paintings on it and soon you will also be able to hear Charlie playing the harpsichord as well.   Charlie is busy recording musical selections even as I write this note.   For those of you local in Saint Louis, the website is hosted and designed by Jim Privitor.   Jim has been working with me to load my latest paintings on the website.   I am very excited that you will soon be able hear Charlie play Rameau as you browse through the gallery.

I think we make a great team.

Randy