Happy New Year!!!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!   Ours was very nice!  All our kids were at our house along with all but one of our grandchildren.  Deanna had to work and we sincerely missed having her there.  It is always so good to get together with family especially during the holiday season.  We have so much to be thankful for and to celebrate!

We are here at CTCA on Thursday this time because we need to get our traveling home completed before the new years eve celebrating begins on the highways!!  Arnie is getting a treatment -- dozing as usual because of the Benedryl  they give him. We did not have to see the doctor or the physicians assistant today.  We just had to have the port access and now the treatment. 

In 2 weeks, we will be having scans and the complete blood tests, which will include the CEA.  I am not sure about the chemo treatment next time.  We are thinking that depending on scan and CEA results, we may be done with chemo after this treatment; but we may be having one more treatment next time because we need to complete all the treatments in this cycle.  That information is kind of unclear to us at this point, but in any case, after next visit here, we should be done. 

How good God has been to us through all this...many prayers have been answered!  Please continue to remember us in your prayers and keep in touch... I love to read your comments and emails.

Have a happy and safe and wonderful New Year!!!

More Good News!

Well, we are here again... at CTCA, Zion Illinois.  It is Friday and cold outside - there is some snow on the ground and life is good!!  We got news that is very close to the best news we could get!!  The CEA is down again.  This time it is 3.2 -- remember that 3 is normal.  Four weeks ago that reading was 3.9 so we are approaching normal!!

We saw Dr. Neelam today and she was encouraging to us as we talked about how things are and what the future looks like.  If everything continues to progress as it has, we are looking at a normal CEA in 4 weeks, which is when we see her again. Future chemo treatments are based on what we see on the scans which will be done in 4 weeks.  We have chemo today and again in 2 weeks.  Then 2 weeks later, we have the scans; and chemo - depending on those scan results.

We had been under the impression that there would be a "maintenance program" that would include a reduced amount of chemo therapy for a certain period of time after it was determined that the cancer was gone or at least totally controlled.  Well that would have been true if we were still using Avastin, which is what was prescribed when treatment began back in April, but since we changed to Erbitux, the protocol is that we would go completely off any chemo treatments and come back here for scans and blood work every 3 months.  The reasoning is that going off the drug completely allows the body to recover from having received chemo treatments.  Receiving a reduced amount of Erbitux over a period of time allows the body to build up an immunity to the drug and therefore in the event the cancer were to return, Erbitux would not be as effective against the disease.  Going off it completely allows the body to recover and if needed again, it would attack the cancer cells as it did originally. 

We are very encouraged by the progress we are seeing - but there is a part of me that fears that we may never get to the point of going off chemo and enjoying a cancer - free life again.  I know that is Satan trying to get those doubts to infiltrate my thought process and nothing makes Satan happier than for us to doubt God's promises and the good things He has for us. 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers and pray that God will be glorified and that healing will continue to take place.  We are always so aware of the presence of God in our lives and answers to the prayers of God's people.  Thank you for being there for us.





 

Progress Report...

We are where we usually are every 2 weeks... at CTCA getting an infusion!  This trip is going to be quick...traveled yesterday, got port access this morning with this treatment scheduled to begin about an hour later.  We are not seeing the Oncologist or the Physicians Assistant this time.  Since we are doing so well, they have determined that it is not necessary to see the PA every time we are here. 

Everything continues to progress very well.  The blood work done at home was again, normal.

Probably the most significant thing this time is the weather... cold with snow forecast for later this afternoon and tonight here in Chicago.  It was 17 degrees this morning when we left the hotel to come here.... BURRRRR!   -  I am a big baby when it comes to cold weather!  I HATE it!!    We may leave to go home after this treatment, depending on how Arnie is feeling.  I would be doing the driving... look out!!  LOL

I can't express enough how we appreciate your thoughts and prayers for us!  God is definitely hearing and answering prayer and we feel his presence with us as we continue through this journey.  Please keep in touch with us and keep us in your prayers. 

More progress

It is Friday about 1:00 our time (Eastern).  Here at CTCA, they are in the central time zone so it is noon.  For some reason I have the hardest time with that hour difference - especially in the morning when we have to get up and get to the hospital early to get our day under way.  I am not a morning person anyway, so not knowing what time it is, REALLY confuses me!

Our day began early this morning - getting here to have the port access and blood draw.  Then to see the doctor  - actually we see Irene, the physician's assistant between the times we see Dr. Neelam, our Oncologist.  Today we saw Irene.  She came into the room to see us and the very first thing she said to Arnie was..."your cancer marker is down."  That is what we have been looking at each and every time we come here and have blood work done - the CEA  -- carcinoembryonic antigen.

CEA is used mainly to monitor the treatment of cancer patients, especially those with colon cancer.  Patients with small or early-stage tumors have only slightly elevated CEA values.  If there are more advanced tumors or if they have spread, the CEA values will be higher. When CEA levels decrease after treatment, it means that most or all of the CEA producing tumor is gone. 

Several months ago Arnie's CEA was up to 37.  Over the next weeks of treatments, the blood tests showed that CEA value decreasing.  Two weeks ago, that CEA was 5.7 and today it was 3.8.

We are so encouraged as we continue on this journey.  God continues to bless us and provide for us.  We still feel we are where we are supposed to be - perhaps to be an encouragement to others. God has been so good to us!!!

I so appreciate hearing from you via your comments, emails...etc.   Please keep praying for us and for safe travels.    We saw some real idiots on the highway this time!!!  One person made a right turn from the extreme left lane, across 5 lanes of traffic, to exit off the highway.   Left us both shaking a bit!!

Keep us in your prayers and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I know we will -- we have so much to be thankful for!

More Improvement!

We are doing well and I wanted to share some thoughts with you.   God is so good to us!!  I can't say that enough!  We are quite aware of answer to prayer!

Arnie's blood work this week showed everything was totally NORMAL... not just "within the normal range" but NORMAL!  The white cell count is normal... even the red count is normal, which hasn't happened before - it has always been on the low side of normal, which we are told is because of the chemo.  They expect that count to be on the low side because of what the chemo is doing, but this week, even the red count is totally normal!!   Also, I asked him about the tenderness and soreness at the incision site where the cancer has been - he said that the soreness is completely gone!  When I hug him, I have always been aware of where that spot is and to be careful not to aggravate the soreness.  I have purposely hugged him in that spot lately and he hasn't complained of any soreness or tenderness at all!

Coincidence???   I don't think so!!!  God is very present with us and is answering the prayers of all of you who are praying for us!  Thank you so much and please continue!  Prayer is powerful and it definitely makes a difference!

Recently we attended a BP dinner that was a celebration and recognition of those who have increments of 5 years of service with the company.  Arnie has 30 years with BP.  He began there August 18, 1980.  It was a very nice event and it was good for us to be able to attend.  There were many of his co-workers who showed a genuine concern for him and expressed those feelings. 

I get a devotional email from 2 sources every day and so often there is something there that is so timely and I feel surely it is meant for me just at that time.  One of those emails came today and it reads like this..."the Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins;  He will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.  Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing."   Isaiah 51:3

CTCA is in the city of Zion, Illinois and we will be traveling there soon.  Please keep us in your prayers -- they ARE working  - God hears and answers prayer.  That is a fact!

The Happy and The Sad

Well here we are again... at CTCA getting infused!  Today is the 12th time we have been here for chemo.  It  doesn't seem that long, but there are  times that I am quite aware of every second we have spent here.  The good news we received from our last visit does make the chemo a lot easier to endure not only for Arnie, but for me because I can see the progress being made and the obvious answers to the many prayers from so many people.

The terrific news we received 2 weeks ago was overshadowed by the sadness of the death of Arnie's dad.   We received a phone call from Arnie's mom on our way home from here telling us that his dad had taken a turn for the worse.  He passed away that evening, after we returned home.

We knew we were going to have to make that trip to PA and it would be difficult because of just having a chemo treatment.  Usually it takes maybe 4 days until Arnie feels like he could even approach the thought of traveling anywhere after getting a treatment but we knew we had to make this trip.  Somehow he made very good progress following this treatment which made the trip very tolerable.  I drove, he rested and we were fine.  The time we were in PA was good for him also.  The side effects were completely manageable and we did the things that we had to do.

Arnie's dad was a wonderful person -  one of those people who you could easily talk to and he made you feel happy to be alive and honored to know him.  He accepted me as a daughter-in-law and my kids as his grand-kids without any conditions and I always loved him for that.   We will miss him terribly, but I know I will see him again some day.

God provided for each of us through this difficult time.  It always amazes me when I look back at situations and can see the hand of God directing events and this was one of those times.

We can see an end to these treatments... progress is being made... prayers are being answered ... God is Good!!

Please feel free to call or leave a comment or email.  I love hearing from you!  Keep us in your prayers!

Good News!!

We are here - again - at CTCA getting a chemo treatment but this time in unlike any of the other trips out here. This time we got a piece of news that we have been wanting to hear ever since we have been coming here -- the cancer is almost gone!

Getting scans is always an apprehensive time -- you want to know, but you don't want to know - but then you need to know how the treatments are working. You wonder whether enduring those side effects is worth it because if the drugs are working, then the side effects of the chemo drugs don't seem nearly as bad. Just every imaginable thought goes through your mind as you wait for those dreaded results!

But today was different... Dr. Neelam came into the examining room with a smile on her face and I felt as soon as I looked at her that she had good news... AND SHE DID!!

The first thing she told us was that the CEA was down to 5.7 -It had been as high as 36 a couple months ago! The normal reading is 3.

She then told us about the PET scan and CT scan results. The cancer which has appeared in the bones is measured by numbers which appear on the reports. It appears that the higher those numbers, the more cancer is present.

They compared the readings today with the readings from the July 29th scans. Those readings from July ranged from 5.1 to 10.4. The scan results today showed those numbers as ranging from 1.4 to 2.9. The remainder of the body demonstrates normal physiologic metabolic activity.

The interpretation of the scan is ..."Interval resolution of abnormal metabolic activity within the right rib metastatic foci consistent with positive response to therapy." I would say that means that the chemo therapy is working!!

Based on the scan results, Dr. Neelam recommended 12 more weeks of this chemo with which we agree. In 12 weeks, God willing, we will have another good scan result... hopefully a cancer-free one!!

Thanks to each of you for your prayers and concerns for us and we would ask that you continue to remember us. God is good!

The beat goes on!!!

Well here we are again ... getting another chemo treatment. The weather is beautiful -- blue sky and warm temps here in Zion. Blood test results from earlier in the week were the best yet; everything - even the red blood cells - were within the normal range.

Arnie is watching "Cash Cab" on TV while they are pumping joy juice into his body! He usually knows all the answers to the questions asked on "Cash Cab" - why don't we ever win any of that money???

The next time out here, we are scheduled for scans and more extensive blood work as well as seeing Dr. Neelam and the entire team. We will know just how effective these treatments have been and what will be the path forward. Hopefully the scans will show some improvement in the bone involvement. Otherwise Dr. Neelam may be changing chemo drugs again. Based on what Dr. Ritter said, the improvement might be slight, but that would be a significant event. We are optimistic based on the recent CEA improvement and the power of prayer that these results will be encouraging.

Please continue to remember us in your prayers for healing and for safety as we travel. Please feel free to contact us through email or texts or phone calls. I will keep you posted as we continue this journey. Thanks to each of you for your love and concern for us.

PROGRESS!!!

Well we are here again... at CTCA and I am sitting with Arnie while he is getting his cancer treatment. We are waiting for lunch, which they bring to those who are getting infusions during meal time.

The weather is interesting -- really warm yesterday with wind. Then this morning we woke up @3:30 our time to rain and wind. We were scheduled to begin our day here by 5:30 central time so we had to get up and out of the hotel before the sun came up!! I am not a morning person, so that was a struggle for me!!

We got here and had the port access and blood draw, then saw the doctor who gave us really good news... the CEA has gone down again!! It has been dropping ever since we began the treatment with Erbitux which causes dry skin and a rash but those side effects are much easier to put up with when you know the drug is actually working on the cancer! The CEA had been as high as 36 and has dropped steadily. The reading today was 11.

We praise God for the good news! We have one more treatment 2 weeks from today, and then 2 weeks later, we have scans. That will tell us where we go from here regarding the future treatments.

We thank you for your continued prayers and concerns shown towards us! Please keep in touch and mostly remember us in your prayers! God is good and He answers prayer!

Stop and smell the roses

There are times when it appears as though the most insignificant thing becomes the most important event of the day. Living with a loved one who is fighting cancer can become almost routine at times and for me, at least, I get to the point where I need a shot of encouragement once in a while to help me get through my day.

As I have written before, Arnie gets a weekly blood test at the Oncology Center here in Maumee and those results have always been good -- well within the normal range. Well this morning, following the blood draw, he had an appointment scheduled with his Oncologist here, who wants to see him occasionally even though he is not treating him but wants to know how things are progressing.

Well the blood test was good - as before, but the significant thing was his visit with his Oncologist. Dr. Ritter receives the reports from CTCA so he is aware of scan results, blood test results and the chemo drugs that Arnie is on. He told him that he is doing very well. He said it is especially encouraging to see that CEA go down so dramatically. He told him that cancer in the bones is slow growing and slow leaving, so not to be surprised if the upcoming scan shows not much change because the chemo drugs react slowly to this type of cancer. Dr. Ritter recognized the rash on Arnie's face as a side effect of Erbitux. He also assured him that he and the oncology nurses are willing to do whatever they can for him, like the chemo treatments if it becomes more difficult to make the trips to CTCA, especially during the winter months. I respect Dr. Ritter for his willingness to have us go to a "top level cancer treatment center", which is how he phrased where we should go.

I have heard some of these comments before, but hearing them again at this time was especially encouraging to me. Sometimes I feel that we spend all our time either going to Zion or coming back, getting ready to make that trip, making preparations for Simba (my cat) while we are gone, making arrangements for someone to pick up our mail, etc, etc!! I am so glad that we have good neighbors who are willing to be there for us.

God has provided for us in every way and sometime I just have to stop and smell the roses!

Thanks to you who pray for us and email us and say those encouraging words to us! Thank you! Thank you! You have no idea how much all the means!

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers! May God bless and keep each of you!

Update

Haven't written for a while because there really hasn't been anything of special note to report. The blood work this week was within the normal range again. The RBC is usually on the low side, which is normal when there are chemo treatments.

The side effects have taken a bit longer to get under good control. Arnie has been tired a lot and the stomach distress has lasted a bit longer as well. He did go into work today though. The one chemo drug had been increased last time and those side effects were more evident this time.

We went to church on Sunday, which was good. It is always good to go to church. We were able to go the day after we got back from Zion too, which never happens. Usually Arnie does not feel well enough to go anywhere that soon after a treatment, but after the last 2 treatments, we have been able to attend church that Sunday... not Sunday School, which I miss, but morning worship has not been a problem at all. I think maybe God has wanted us to be there because we both came away from those services with something very worthwhile.

We will be traveling again soon to CTCA for another treatment. Scans will take place after 2 more treatments. Please pray that we will have a good report!

Again, I can not emphasize enough how we appreciate your thoughts and prayers and your concerns and love for us at this time. Please keep in touch with us and God bless each of you!

All is well

I am sitting here with Arnie while he gets "infused." Everything today has run late, including the beginning of this infusion. This is probably the latest that all this has run for us.

We saw the Physician's Assistant and everything looks good at this point. They are increasing the Irinoticin since the side effects are still manageable. Also we found out that there will be 2 more treatments after this one before scans - I was thinking that there would be only one more treatment before scans. The blood work appeared normal although they don't do a CEA check this time - they will do it next time.

Our drive out here was nice. The sunset was very beautiful.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Together we will win!

Blood test day... again!! Results are great...again!! Praise God!

We are doing well. I always say..."we". I am not the cancer patient, but I am traveling on this journey with my husband who I love very much. After over 30 years together, I often feel what he feels! I hurt with him and I rejoice with him. We are in this fight together and we will win this fight together!

We went to church on Sunday and Arnie went into work today. He plans on going to work the rest of this week. This cancer still seems to be more of a nuisance than anything else -- side effects are pretty much under control. The skin rash and mouth sores seem to be the most significant at this point.

We have 2 more treatments and then scans. God is definitely answering prayer! I often hear from others on Facebook who are going through similar treatments or who have already gone through them. Hearing others stories is so comforting and assuring! It is amazing how God puts people in our paths just at the right time!

We appreciate your thoughts and prayers for us!

Onward we go!

Just a few lines today... the weekly blood test was good again. Things are progressing, although the effects of the chemo seem to be more annoying with each treatment, but the worse of it lasts for only about a day or 2.

We will be having scans done after the next 2 treatments are completed. It will be good to see just what is going on, although having scans and especially waiting for results is always very stressful for me. Arnie doesn't seem to worry too much about it. I keep trying to just leave everything in God's hands, although it is difficult at times. I am a worrier, but I am trying to work on that! God has been so good to us...prayers have definitely been answered and we are so very thankful for His goodness!

Arnie's dad has had some physical problems this week -- he had a heart attack on Sunday and is in the hospital in the Pittsburgh area. His condition is improving with each day.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers and perhaps remember Arnie's dad also.

I know I have said this before, but we so appreciate all the support from our family and friends. I can't emphasize that enough! Please keep us in your prayers and keep in touch with us!

We Travel On...

It is Friday afternoon, August 27th about 5:44 PM and we are here at CTCA, Zion Illinois getting another chemo treatment. The weather is beautiful - no rain or storms. God is in Heaven and things are progressing well.

The really significant event so far this trip is that the CEA has dropped dramatically. It has gone from 28, three weeks ago, down to 17. It had been up as high as 36 about 8 weeks ago. The chemo drugs are working on the cancer! CEA is a cancer marker in the blood that indicates active cancer tumors. Normal is about 5 or less.

We are so thankful for the prayers and concerns from our family and friends! We encourage you to continue to remember us in your prayers and please feel free to call or email us at any time -- or come see us!!

It is so easy for me to become discouraged and down and there are times when I feel that I am not providing the kind of encouragement that Arnie needs so I need your prayers too.

Keep in touch with us... I will keep you informed as we continue our travels down this road.

Party time!

Well we had another good blood test today! The counts are all within the normal range. Side effects from Erbitux are very much present - which is actually what we want to see although they are annoying - rash on exposed skin and sores on the inside of the lips. Arnie says in a way this is worse than the diarreha which he always seems to be saddled with, although that seems to be under control at this point.

We had our family party at our house this past weekend -- very nice!! It was nice to just kick back and have fun for a couple of days! I think everyone enjoyed it!

Going to CTCA again soon. Please keep us in your prayers.

The war goes on...

Another battle has ended but the war goes on. We got through another round of chemo treatments and have returned home. Arnie felt bad during the actual treatment and that continued into the next day but felt surprisingly good on Sunday. Still a little apprehensive about the diarreha. The supplements continue to work, making the side effects manageable. Arnie plans to go into work this week if he continues to feel good.

God continues to provide for us. On my Facebook page today, what scripture reference do I see but Jeremiah 29:11... "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." That is the verse that has appeared to us several times in the past - as you can read about in a previous post. There it is again!!!

Also in today's devotional from Dr. David Jeremiah (Turning Point) his scripture reference is from Philippians 1:6... "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it..." The quote at the end of his devotional reads..."If your progress seems slow while it appears those around you are engaged in remarkable success, just remember: Patience! God is not finished with you yet!"

I always appreciate these messages that appear because I find myself needing a boost as we continue on this journey. I need to be strong to be able to encourage and support Arnie as we fight this war.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers! God is answering!

Friday the 13th

Yes, today is Friday the thirteenth and we are getting phase 2 of the first cycle with the new chemo. We have discovered that two infusions are considered a cycle with this chemo so this completes the first cycle with this infusion today.

The Doctor seemed pleased with Arnie's status so far. They have prescribed an antibiotic cream to help with the skin rash that has appeared as a side effect. This is the side effect that we wanted to see because it indicates that the chemo is working.

The day started with the blood draw and port access being delayed by about a half an hour this morning causing events for the rest of the day to be delayed as well. We are just now getting the infusion - about 45 minutes later than scheduled.

This may be Friday the 13th but it is not an unlucky day for us! (We actually don't believe in luck).

Remember us in your prayers. We know that God is in control of our lives.

It's a beautiful morning!

It truly was a beautiful sunrise this morning!!

All is well with us... God is good!

Please keep us in your prayers.

Journeying onward!

We forgot to get the weekly blood work done yesterday, so it was done this morning. It is done and faxed to CTCA. Results are still good -- white blood count is within the normal range -- red count is still a little low, which goes along with receiving chemo treatments.

Arnie went to work this morning. The side effects of this chemo are very much there, which we are told indicates that the drug is working on the cancer. Normally side effects do not indicate whether the drug is working, but with Erbitux, you especially want to see the rash.

It is present and kind of annoying since it is on exposed skin, which includes the face, but there are remedies for the itching and redness. He is also taking an antibiotic to prevent any infection.

Cancer still remains a real nuisance!! We are on a 2 week schedule for infusion treatments.

Please keep us in your prayers as we will be traveling soon and getting another treatment.

Thank you for your support!!

Today is Friday -- Arnie went to work today and I have had this day to myself...to ponder and think and to do things around the house. We are continuing our journey and I feel we are doing pretty well.

I became aware yesterday that Cancer Treatment Centers of America offers many different treatments for metastasized bone disease, which is what Arnie now has. There are treatments and include chemo of different kinds, surgery and radiation.

I just happened upon a web page about the treatments and it happened to be from CTCA. The video that was part of the page was extremely encouraging and I couldn't wait to share it with Arnie who felt the same encouragement as I did.

Encouragement is a good thing. Had a visit this afternoon from a neighbor -- so nice!!

I so enjoy the comments left on this page. Each one means so much - more than you can know --and I appreciate all the expressions of love and support.

God bless each of you!

Continued progress

Today is blood test day again and the results are very good. Compared to the last one, these readings are better -- red blood count is in the normal range this week instead of being just below the normal range.

Still appears that the supplements, chemo and PRAYER is working! The further we get away from the infusion, the better Arnie feels -- in fact he has gone to work today, for a half day. Tomorrow may be a full day. It is good that his employer is being so understanding and compassionate about his situation -- reduces that stress quite a bit!! I am sure it does him a lot of good to be able to go into work, even if it is just for part of the day... makes him feel useful.

Keep praying! God is good and He is providing for us as we continue to travel this road!

Jeremiah 29:11

Amazing!

Usually when we travel to and from CTCA in Zion ILL, the trips are what we could call "uneventful" which is good... no accidents, etc. But the trip home the other day was a bit different. We were not involved in any traffic accidents, although we did see one. We were in stop and go traffic - 5 lanes of traffic - for about an hour until we reached the accident and then the traffic jam was gone... suddenly we were traveling the speed limit (or over it!) and it was as though nothing had happened.

As we were continuing on our trip home, we were passed by a vehicle, a gray or silver SUV with a sticker on the back of it that said..."Jeremiah 29:11". We looked at that and both of us wondered why that scripture reference and why not "John 3:16" or something more familiar.

The scripture was not written out, just the reference so I got my Palm out and found Jeremiah chapter 29 and verse 11 and read what it said. After reading it, we realized that it was the exact verse that was on a plaque that our daughter had given to her dad just before our first visit to CTCA back in April. It reads... "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." It brought tears to my eyes when I realized that it was the very same verse that is on that plaque.

I truly believe that God speaks to us, through people or events and of course from His Word. We had just gotten news that wasn't exactly what we wanted to hear, but there was definitely comfort in those words from God's Word!

What was even more amazing about this was what my daughter, Pam, said to me in an email when I relayed this incident to her. " I remember when I bought that plaque. I got it at Gifts of Joy and I saw it but didn't pick it up. I walked around looking at other stuff and twice was back at that. I felt like I was supposed to get it. Glad I did!!! It was meant for Dad"

I would say that this trip was NOT uneventful!

God is good...please continue to remember us in your prayers! We know that He hears and answers!

News

We are here @ Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion IL – getting the chemo treatment. We have some changes to report.

We had a PET scan done yesterday because they wanted to get a better look at one tumor that was unclear in the CT scan done 3 weeks ago. The cancer in the lung has shrunk now to the point where it isn’t showing up on the PET scan at all; however the one they wanted to look at is showing bone involvement - two, possibly 3 ribs as well as slight involvement of 2 vertebrae.

They have changed and / or added chemo drugs because one is more effective against cancer in the bones. They have also changed the frequency of treatment from 3 weeks to 2 weeks. We have a prescription for pain meds if needed and an antibiotic for one of the side effects. They have also changed several supplements and added one.

This really isn’t the news we wanted but we have to face it and handle it. God is good and He has provided for us and we believe He will continue to do so.

Please keep us in your prayers. We know that God is in control and has a plan for our lives.

Progressing onward

Today is blood test day... again! Tuesday mornings @8:30.

Results are again within the normal range. We feel that progress is being made... we will beat this thing and win!!

We so appreciate the prayers and concerns from family and friends. God is good and is in control of every phase of our lives.

The latest

We will be getting round #5 of chemo treatments at Cancer Treatment Centers of America very soon. Since the completion of the last treatment, Arnie has felt amazingly well. Side effects are still being minimized because of the supplements he is taking. They added a couple more the last time we were there.

The CT scan done during our last visit showed that the cancer tumors are shrinking in size so we know that the chemo is working; also the CEA is down. Arnie says that the side effects are somewhat easier to handle when you know the treatment is working -- doing it's job!!!

There is one spot they want to look at more closely because it is located near a rib. We will be having a PET scan this time for that reason.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We feel the presence of God and we know He is in control of every aspect of our lives.

For better.... for worse

Some days are diamonds some days are stones
Sometimes the hard times won't leave me alone
Sometimes a cold wind blows a chill in my bones
Some days are diamonds some days are stones.

.....Song by John Denver

Those words do fit some of my days! Having to deal with cancer is something that you never get used to.

We continue to need prayer and support.

IT ISN'T FAIR!!!

Cancer is not fair...and even though it seems to be everywhere, that doesn't make it any easier to handle. I find myself becoming angry at times -- even resentful, and I have to remember not to allow the resentment for the disease to become resentment for the patient.

There are things we can't do because of the chemo therapy. We don't go out as often as we would like and things that need to be done around the house have to wait, for example. It is easy to allow those things to come between us and to cause friction.

But... we have to keep in mind that we are NOT cancer! Cancer is a bump in the road that we have to handle -- to deal with, yes DEAL WITH!! Throw it on the floor and stomp on it and get rid of it!

We will win this battle -- we must keep this in mind... God will see us through!

Stay Positive

Yesterday a friend shared with me that she had Arnie's name put on the prayer list of her church. He is on numerous prayer lists at many churches and he is on the minds of many who pray for him (and for me too, I hope!)which is such a source of encouragement and hope and for that I thank everyone who prays for us!

It is necessary to be around those who have a positive attitude -- it is necessary for us to be able to feel the presence of God as we travel this road.

Arnie is doing pretty well today. With each day following the infusion, he feels better - the side effects are there but are manageable for the most part. I have to try to maintain a positive attitude when I am around him. I think that helps him to feel better also.

Nothing really signifigant is happening right now as we continue to try to take this one day at a time. More later!! Keep us in your prayers!

One day at a time

Recently we returned from Cancer Treatment Centers of America after getting the scans that were scheduled following the completion of the first three treatments. The apprehension about the results was almost over whelming for both of us. My thoughts ranged from... "maybe the cancer will be completely gone"... to "what if there are more cancer tumors and the chemo is not working?"

I tried to find peace and leave it in God's hands, but that is so hard because of my human-ness, although I know that God is in control and that it IS in His hands. When we received the report, we had mostly good news and some news that was a little un-nerving.

Most of the spots in Arnie's right lung have shrunk in size - the chemo is working!! There is one site, however, that didn't shrink as much and needs to be watched because it is near a rib and hard to see, so as a result we will have a PET scan done the next time we go to CTCA.

I am relieved at the results of that CT scan. CTCA is a good place to receive treatment. We feel that God has led us there and He will continue to take care of us.

One piece of advice that our pastor gave us is that we should take things "one day at a time." I have found that to be an extremely wise piece of advice -- although I don't do it very well! I keep telling myself ...ONE DAY AT A TIME!

I can't do this on my own... I need the prayers and support from others and I need to let God have this situation and I need to NOT take it back and worry about it. Oh, how I wish I could just do that and not have to worry and fret -- much easier said than done I can assure you!

I feel the key is to take it one day at a time!!

Introduction

I have thought about this for some time --- doing a blog about the caregiver for a cancer patient.

What is a caregiver? "A caregiver gives of oneself to assure that the person in need receives the necessary care to carry on his or her life safely and with dignity.
A caregiver sees to it that the basic needs of food, clothing, cleanliness and shelter are met by the person with need.
A caregiver must also know how to meet that person's emotional needs without becoming co-dependent.
A caregiver never loses sight of his/her own needs and understands that in order to care for a loved one, you must also care for yourself."

That is the definition of "caregiver" that I found from a website. While all that may be true, I want to share with you my feelings and my interpretation of being a caregiver of a cancer patient.

Let me introduce myself. I am Arnie's wife. Arnie was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2007. At that time, he had surgery, radiation and chemo treatment. This year that nasty cancer has appeared again as metastasized colon cancer in his right lung. We are on a 3 week schedule, getting treatments at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, Illinois.

That is briefly where we are with this cancer and the treatments. I have gone through feelings which have included total fear - almost having a panic attack, to complete confidence that all is going to be just fine. I owe my feelings of confidence to the treatment approach from CTCA but mostly to God. I totally believe in the power of prayer and the total dependence on God. We have so much support from praying people which includes, friends and family. It is important to surround yourself with positive people and to keep in touch with them often.

I will try to write on a daily basis and share my thoughts as we travel through this journey. I welcome your comments. My intention is to help even one person who is facing what I am facing, to get through it easier and to know that what you are feeling is okay.