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.