Haven't written since last time we were here @ CTCA. We are totally enjoying the 3 week treatment schedule! We are getting more stuff done around the house. Arnie is feeling like doing more and his periods of fatigue and tiredness seem to be less frequent. He is mowing the lawn and washing the truck, which are activities he wasn't able to do last summer. He is also able to get to work more days than before.
We left to come out here Monday afternoon, with the anticipation growing regarding test results. I always pray to God to be with us, give us strength, keep us safe as we travel, etc, etc, but in the back of my mind is always that doubt when it comes to good test results. I always fear the worst... just my nature, I guess. I always pray for God's help to have more faith and trust in Him. But still there is that doubt. This time, I did feel more of a peace that usual, which I was almost afraid to admit but I did tell Arnie about it. So we ventured out here with perhaps more of a positive outlook than we usually do.
Early yesterday morning, we had the PET scan and the blood draw. Then this morning, we saw Dr. Patel, the Radiation Oncologist. We saw him because he is the one who ordered the PET scan this time because of the radiation treatments he prescribed and he wanted to see the success of those treatments. We had to wait to see him because he was in a meeting, which delayed his visit with us by about 10 minutes.
When he finally came into the room with us, he was nothing but totally positive. The PET scan showed the cancer activity in the ribs which were radiated to be much less than in the scan done in April. The radiation treatment is doing it's job!! He had told us that it would take a period of time for all the effects of the radiation to be known -probably months.
At this point, the ribs involved are definitely showing improvement as the cancer tumors are shrinking. Dr. Patel said the remainder of the PET scan report shows no other cancer anywhere, which has been the case for the past several months. Praise God for that!
We then saw Dr. Neelam, our Medical Oncologist. She also was very happy with the test results. She had the pleasure of telling us results of the blood work. The CEA is 2.7 which is in the normal range and lower than it has been since we began coming here for treatment over a year ago! Another Praise God!!!
She wants to complete this regime of treatments; so we are having one today, again in 3 weeks, another 3 weeks later, then a CT scan. These treatments are probably best described as "clean up."
We have so very much to be thankful for! Thank you for your prayers and your support! Please continue to remember us in your prayers and keep in touch with us. Please let me hear from you!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
More Progress to report!!
It has been quite a while since you have heard from me. We have enjoyed a 3 week break from treatments following the 4 weeks of radiation. We spent some time in Pennsylvania with family over the Memorial Day holiday, have visited with friends and have been able to attend church while not having to worry about the effects of cancer treatments. We loved the opportunity to do some things we wanted to do!
We are here at CTCA today, and Arnie is getting a treatment with a medication they aren't even calling a chemo drug. It is a "targeted cancer therapy treatment". This treatment is intended to complete the schedule which began before the 4 weeks of radiation. We will be getting this treatment on a 3 week schedule for the next 2 months. A PET scan is scheduled by the radiation oncologist in 3 weeks.
Dr. Neelam was very happy to report to us that the blood work done today showed everything within normal range and the CEA is almost down to normal again. After the radiation treatments, the CEA had gone up a bit, which we were told was probably because of what the radiation was doing to the cancer tumors. We were very encouraged by the numbers today!
We are also very excited about becoming great-grandparents! My grand-daughter, Deanna, is in labor with our first great-granddaughter, Hayden Renee. Makes me feel really old, but very excited!!
Please continue to remember us in your prayers. We believe in the power of prayer! God has been so good to us and we truly feel blessed! Feel free to comment and / or send me an email. I love hearing from you. The encouragement is always welcome!!
We are here at CTCA today, and Arnie is getting a treatment with a medication they aren't even calling a chemo drug. It is a "targeted cancer therapy treatment". This treatment is intended to complete the schedule which began before the 4 weeks of radiation. We will be getting this treatment on a 3 week schedule for the next 2 months. A PET scan is scheduled by the radiation oncologist in 3 weeks.
Dr. Neelam was very happy to report to us that the blood work done today showed everything within normal range and the CEA is almost down to normal again. After the radiation treatments, the CEA had gone up a bit, which we were told was probably because of what the radiation was doing to the cancer tumors. We were very encouraged by the numbers today!
We are also very excited about becoming great-grandparents! My grand-daughter, Deanna, is in labor with our first great-granddaughter, Hayden Renee. Makes me feel really old, but very excited!!
Please continue to remember us in your prayers. We believe in the power of prayer! God has been so good to us and we truly feel blessed! Feel free to comment and / or send me an email. I love hearing from you. The encouragement is always welcome!!
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