Keep going!

We are here again at CTCA, on the 3rd floor, infusion center.  In about 5 hours, we will head back home. 

This trip was rather challenging yesterday.  We left Toledo amidst a driving rainstorm which soon became a snowstorm which we were in until just past South Bend, Indiana.  Snow is pretty, but when you are tired and it is dark and you would really like to get to your destination, it can be a real pain!  Along with the trucks who are driven by those who need to get where ever at any cost, it can become outright dangerous!  We were passed by those who must have thought the roads were clear and dry.  These lovely conditions delayed our arrival by about 45 minutes, but we made it there safely.

This morning, following the port access and blood draw, we saw the doctor.  She seemed upbeat when she entered the room.  Arnie has gained a couple more pounds - usually cancer patients do not gain weight, they loose weight!  His blood work showed the CEA has gone down a bit.  It was up last time we were here, but it has gone down by 5 points while on Avastin and Xeloda which he started 3 weeks ago.  He feels good and Dr. Neelam seems to be encouraged by his progress.

I still find myself wondering why we are going through this.  I have felt that in the past several days that God has been showing me that He remains with us and that we are going to get through this.  He has a plan for us and within that plan is that we go through this cancer at this time.  We have to keep in mind that we are to take this one day at a time.  (Advice that I have given others and I really need to take myself!)

Please keep us in your prayers.  Prayer does work!   Also I appreciate your comments and emails and encouragement! 

Encouragement and Disapointment

We are back at CTCA in Zion Illinois.  The break was so nice and we felt our life had returned to a sense of  "normal"- whatever that is!

We knew we had to come back out here, so we arrived yesterday for the scan and had results this morning.  The news we got was some good and some not exactly what we wanted to hear.  The rib is stable.  There is evidence of continued healing from the radiation treatment.  There are, however, several very small nodules appearing in the right lung.  The largest is about 1cm.

Because the stuff in the lung has increased, the doctor wants us to start chemo again, so here we are.  This is quite a long infusion - total of 5 hours - a lot longer than the previous one which was about 90 minutes.  The combination is similar to the ones used when  we first started treatment here.  They did drop the irinotecan, in favor of oxilaplatin.  Arnie has taken oxilaplatin before, with some neuropathy resulting.  Here, they are giving him calcium and magnesium to try to control the neuropathy.  The previous combo was Avastin, Xeloda, and irinotecan.  That worked well initially, clearing up the lungs in 3 months.  This one will be Oxilaplatin, Xeloda, and Avastin.

The oncologist explained to us that often times, if the cancer cells are given a break from a specific drug, then the drug can work again on the cancer.  She seems to be confident that this treatment will produce good results.  So are we. 

So, we had good news on the bone tumor and not so good news on the lungs.  Life goes on, and God is still in control. 

"Sometimes Christ sees that we need the sickness for the good of our souls more than the healing for the ease of our bodies."     ....Matthew Henry


Please keep us in your prayers and feel free to comment or email me.