Update – August 2025
Hello fam! After meeting today with my medical oncologist, I want to provide an update on my status. Next week I’ll be starting my fourth and final cycle of chemotherapy on Tuesday. I’m about a week behind the original schedule, but the important thing is that we’re closing in on the finish line. This last cycle will likely be the hardest, since the side effects and fatigue tend to build over time. My lowest blood counts (and highest risk of infection) will come about a week or two after the cycle finishes, but then my immune system should start rebounding by early October. This cycle also overlaps with my birthday next Friday, September 5, but no worries—I plan to fully celebrate as soon as I am able.
Once chemo is complete, the plan is to do bloodwork and tumor markers (AFP, β-hCG, LDH) in early October, followed by CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. These will show whether the chemotherapy did its job on the lung nodules and lymph nodes that were seen earlier this year. The results will be reviewed by the Kaiser San Francisco oncology board, and that’s when I’ll get the most important answer—whether I am in remission or considered cancer-free. Depending on those results, I may also need a biopsy of the nodules in my right lung to determine if they are cancerous or just scar tissue.
Most patients begin to feel better week by week after finishing treatment, though it can take a few months before energy, appetite, and stamina are fully back to normal. For me, the biggest milestone will be mid-to-late October, when I’ll hopefully know where I stand with the scans and markers. Some long-term side effects—such as ringing in the ears, tingling in my hands and feet, or changes in kidney function—are possible, so those will be monitored in my follow-ups as well. Long-term monitoring for the first two years after chemo will include bloodwork every three months and CT scans every 3–6 months. From years 3–5, the frequency of scans and bloodwork will relax even further.
On the family side, Brinley is doing wonderfully. Her reflux has improved so much since starting Prevacid, and she’s feeding and growing well. We are also in the process of weaning her off Keppra (her anti-seizure medication), with a follow-up EEG scheduled in two weeks to confirm how she’s doing post-medication. Right now, she’s sleeping through the night and feeding with ease—something that feels like such a huge blessing for her and for us. She continues to make significant progress with her developmental and physical therapists, and we are hopeful she will be holding her head up and beginning to crawl in the coming months. Most of all, we are looking forward to her first birthday on September 14!
We also took an important step and met with Brinley’s ocularist, who will eventually design a prosthetic lens for her right eye. More to come on that in our next update.
We’re taking it one step at a time—both in my cancer journey and in Brinley’s progress—and we continue to feel lifted by the love and support of our community. Thank you for being with us in this.
The Baker Family Journey 