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!