News Briefs(Archives):

October 30, 2007: Wedding News. Shannon now has a dress and shoes, flowers and a cake have been chosen and we're negotiating with a caterer for our intimate wedding on December 8th. Now we just need a suit for Lafe and an officiant.

October 27, 2007: Halloween Bash. We made it to the Halloween Masquerade Ball at the Cotuit Center for the Arts on Saturday and had a great time. Some people didn't recognize Shannon in her goth/vampire babe costume. For the pictures, click here.

October 20, 2007: Back from the Bars. Chatham Bars Inn that is. We got away for a few days of well deserved relaxation, room service and a good massage.

October 11, 2007: New Photos on Flickr.Shannon has uploaded some new photos of friends and family to her Flickr account. Click here to see...

October 10, 2007: Treatment Day. Shannon completed treatment 3 of 3(round 2) a day late due to illness yesterday. The worst side-effect of the chemotherapy is nausea and stomach upset. She hasn't missed any treatments but we have had to re-schedule a few. Our nurse Sherry recommended a new anti-nausea drug called Aloxi that is supposed to last 5 to 7 days but is only administered once at treatment time, like the Zofran. We'll keep you posted. Next week is an off week.

October 1, 2007: Treatment Day. Shannon had treatment 2 of 3(round 2) today and it went well. No Avastin in the third week so she gets a break but has been tired all day. (FYI: We're engaged! Read the July 31 entry for more :)

September 30, 2007: Guestbook Still Down. Wondering where the guestbook is? It was hacked, taking down Lafe's other hosting accounts with it. It took weeks to get everything behind the scenes back up and running in a more secure way but we haven't had time to build a new guestbook. Thanks for your patience and feel free to send emails of support to Shannon directly at: shannonkeefe(at)msn(dot)com

September 25, 2007: Another Treatment Delayed. Treatment 1 of 3(round 2) was delayed yesterday as Shannon wasn't feeling well but to she was doing so well today we even went out with Suzanne to the Roadhouse Cafe afterwards for a great meal and Sue treated. Thanks Sue! Shannon has been under the weather more often than not this month so we've been hibernating at home alot. We're hoping that will change soon.

September 22, 2007: House Party! We had a perfect gathering of supportive and happy people at our house Saturday night in lieu of the planned benefit concert which was proving to be too much for Shannon. This event turned out to be more supportive and invigorating than we had hoped, adding a much needed feeling of upliftment to our lives and home. Thanks so much to all the people who took time to cook, buy stuff and get themselves over to our house. Kristen and Matt win the distance award by driving from update New York!

September 20, 2007: Missing Dr. Herrick. We missed an appointment with Shannon's favorite doc, Dr. Herrick, today because Shannon wasn't feeling well. She's been more nauseous and tired on this protocol than we expected. Hopefully Dr. Herrick will have a wonderful vacation next week and we'll seen her soon after that.

September 17, 2007: Week Off! No treatment this week. Instead Shannon will be seeing Kate Billings for acupuncture twice and resting up for a house party this weekend. Shannon continues on the 24th with the "3 Mondays on - 1 Monday off" protocol and is happy to be free of the take-home infusion pump she used to wear for 46 hours twice a month. This protocol seems better on those levels, but it isn't providing the lessened side-effects we were expecting and it's been harder to find a pattern with this treatment plan.

September 13, 2007: Treatment Delayed. Shannon missed her treatment earlier this week because she wasn't well enough to go to Hyannis so we spent the day there today and she even felt well enough for dinner at Ying's in Hyannis. Hopefully having chemo this late in the week won't cramp her style over the weekend.

September 4, 2007: Treatment Two of Three: Went in for just the Leucavorin and 5FU today. Avastin is administered only on the first and third weeks. This should be a better week for Shannon and we're still watching for a pattern to see how to schedule our lives around this new protocol.

August 30, 2007: Gamma Knife Update. We just returned from New England Medical Center's where Shannon had her three month MRI and update with Dr. Mignano about her Gamma Knife procedure last winter. The scan was clean and the doc said after the next visit she'll be able to go longer between follow-up appointments. Good news all around, including a chance that a new machine will be up and running in a few months for similar procedures on lung tumors. We'll keep you posted.

August 27, 2007: New Treatment Protocol Begins. Shannon's first day on a new treatment schedule that will have us at the hospital one extra day a month but no infusion pack attached to her fro 48 hours afterwards, so it's really a net gain of 3 days in exchange for a bit more driving. This protocol is supposed to be easier on the body and we are hoping for reduced side effects so Shannon has more energy and appetite.

August 25, 2007: Home from Vacation. Just back from much needed time away in the mountain village of Bethel, Maine with Shannon's family. Good food, good fun and a lots of fresh air made for an enjoyable week away from it all.

July 31, 2007: Shannon and Lafe Get Engaged. We did it. A few years in the making, we finally decided to make it official while unpacking groceries in the kitchen. Thanks to Andy at Elfstone for a wonderful ring. We'll try to get pictures of it soon. It's a been a big hit so far.

July 13, 2007: A Visit & A Concert. We had lunch in Woods Hole with Tom and Cathy and then met Tara for a walk around Eel Pond. Later we joined Tara, Jim and Suzanne for an amazing concert with Diana Krall at the Melody Tent.

July 11, 2007: Dinner at Christine's. Lafe and Shannon had a wonderful evening and dinner with Christine and Michael. We discussed the details around Christine's plan for a benefit performance of her play Giant Women on September 22nd at the Woods Hole Community Center.

July 2, 2007: Chemo Round 10. Shannon starts round 10 of chemotherapy after clearing her bloodwork. She is informed by the doctor that the chemo will continue indefinitely and not end at the 12th treamtment as we had hoped. We go home and begin researching and implementing the alkaline/acid diet and other holistic approaches to treating cancer.

July 28, 2007: A Midsummer Night's Dream. Shannon and Lafe met up with Tom, Gina, Tara and Suzanne for a very fun and well directed version of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Cotuit Center for the Arts.

June 25,2007: Movie Night! Another fun and relaxing movie night with Dan and Jessica. This time we watched Night at the Museum. On the 11th we watched Lafe's favorite, Black Cat, White Cat.

June 18,2007: Chemo Round 9. No more Oxaliplatin for Shannon, which means no more peripheral neuropathy, which translates to mean she can swim, eat ice cream and have cold drinks whenever she wants.

June 12,2007: The Journey to Wakefield,RI. Shannon and Lafe drive out to visit her dad, Tom, and his wife Cathy for the day. We had a walked on the beach, toured their garden, and got to watch all the birds and fireflies after a nice home cooked meal.

June 8,2007: Radiation Reunion. Shannon has a one day radiation session on her right shoulder for a new spot discovered on May 30 during her second bone scan.

June 5,2007: Good News! Dr. Herrick calls and informs Shannon that her CEA blood levels (tumor markers for colorectal cancer)show a significant decrease from the last test done in January. Levels went from 72 down to 17 (down is good!)

June 4,2007: Another Round...of chemotherapy that is. Shannon goes in for her treatment and the Oxaliplatin is omitted for this round as the side effects were getting stronger and harder to bear... Next treatment session Dr. Casey will review my options and decide whether to go forward with this regimin or try another.

June 1,2007: Tattooed Woman... Shannon goes to Radiation for a planning session and more tattoos for one more radiation session next Friday to treat disease found in right shoulder.

May 31,2007: Be Our Guest! Matt & Kristen come for a visit. It's wonderful to have such beautiful people to spend time with... can't wait to see them again soon.

May 30,2007: Nuclear what now? Shannon goes in for a nuclear bone scan to check up on the progress. Over all much improvement is found, however one small spot is found in right shoulder.

Memorial Day Weekend Update: "Chillin' & Grillin'".
What can be better than hanging at home with great friends... cooking up yummy food and blending some frosty drinks? Nothing. We had a fun this weekend with Kari & Andrew and Lafe's sister Beckett who all stopped by for a cookout on our deck. Later in the night Andrew took out Lafe's guitar and played while Shannon and Kari sang. It was a great night and we look forward to more fun like that soon.

Lafe creates the “Health – tini”! (See picture at lower left) Using our juicer Lafe blended fresh watermelon, red grapefruit and finally pineapple and mint, to create three fabulous concoctions… a perfect ending to a hot, humid day.

May 23,2007: All Hail the VNA! Leslie came to disconnect the infusion pump around 11am. Always good to get rid of the “baggage” and see our favorite VNA nurse.

May 22,2007: Shakespeare anyone?: We are looking forward to seeing Tara's production of 'Midsummer Night's Dream' next month at Cotuit Center for the Arts which runs from June 14 to July 8. Rumor has it Rosie, Shannon's niece, has joined the cast...we'll keep you posted. Also we’re making plans to go as a group so please contact Shannon to join us.

May 21,2007: Manic Monday… Another round of chemo at the Davenport-Mugar Cancer Center in beautiful Hyannis, MA. Shannon came home with an infusion pump that she'll wear for the next 46 hours. Her blood counts were very good so no Procrit (red blood cell booster) shot today or next week.The Neupogen shots will start 24 hours after the pump is removed on Wednesday and go daily for four days (Thurs-Fri-Sat-Sun) so no road trips this weekend…

Side-effects came on before we even left the hospital and included muscle tightening in her calves, tingling/numbness in the fingers and extreme oral sensitivity to cold. After a quick bite of Thai food in Hyannis, she came home this afternoon and went right to bed.

May 20,2007: WWW. … Inspired by a site built for Shannon’s friend Cindy Tanaka, also newly diagnosed with colon cancer, Shannon suggests we build a website which will not only serve to keep friends and family up to date on her progress and fight, but also unite and inspire hope in both ourselves and in others.

May 18,2007: Stepping out! to see Woods Hole Theatre Company’s production of “Daddy’s Dying and Who's Got the Will?" We had the privilege of sitting up in the control room with the director and tech crew (it was the best seat in the house!). Shannon even had enough energy for a drink with friends afterwards at the Captain Kidd , but we were both exhausted Saturday morning. For those of you who saw the show, and read the program, we especially enjoyed performances by Lot Monsy and Olec Inaz. ;)

May 13,2007: A Family Affair We spent Mother's Day visiting with Lafe's family in Woods Hole for laugh therapy, story swapping and good food, which we enjoyed on dinnerware created by Ann Newbury(Lafe's aunt)of Newbury Pottery.

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