Fitting Day

Doesn't' that sound like it would be something fun? At least girls might think so! Ha! Well, it wasn't. Dad went to Birmingham today to be fitted for his radiation mask. He did not see Dr. Spencer, but the radiology techs made and appointment for him to start on Nov. 4. I will confirm that date once I know it to be solid. Seems like a long way away to me. As you know, he has had radiation before and has had a "mask" as well. He said it wasn't that bad and he would much rather do radiation than chemo! Well, today proved to be a little different. Since these machines have constant CT scans going on everything is more intense. That, and the fact that he must be ABSOLUTELY still because the cancer is so close to the spinal cord, made for a whole new adventure. He said it was AWFUL! Dad can take a whole lot, and if he said this was bad, then trust me IT WAS BAD! He said the mask was so confining and went all the way down to his chest. They had to hold it there so long for it to mold and then he had to be put in the machine several times to get thing just right. Feeling a little uncomfortable, he said once he broke out in a sweat, it was time to call the nurses! They asked if he was "okay" and the answer was "no"! They got him through it, but prescribed a little "helper" pill to take 30 minutes before each treatment in the future. I am sure this is a fairly common occurrence for this type of treatment. As always, he made it through and was a trooper telling the story, but I'm sure he could live without if given the choice! So be in prayer for calmness and peace during these treatments as well as the apprehensive feelings he may encounter the first treatment.

So all is good and mom got to visit with the dogs they use in the waiting room to calm people. Yes, dogs. Mom and Simon (a dog) became good buddies today while she waited. :-)

It's Possible!

We just returned from Birmingham and our appointment at UAB with Dr. Spencer was very positive. I prayed as I went in that the doctors be knowledgeable and deliver whatever we needed to hear with peace and positive words. That is exactly what happened. She was first concerned that the area on his neck had some sort of infection on top of the fact that the cancer was active. I agree..Dr. Michelle had been thinking the same thing all week! It just looked like it was infected. So strong antibiotics were ordered for that. Second, after reviewing the scans, she said that it could be done! (the re radiation) She went over the risks involved, all we have heard before, but it was easy to swallow so to speak and we moved right on. She did say that she had spoken with Dr. Hardacre and was very aware of all the events over the past two years. She said that the records were missing one very important part of the puzzle, which was exactly how much radiation the spinal cord has already received. Until she has that information (and it won't be a problem to get it) she couldn't say exactly which treatment therapy they will use or how long. She said that would determine how much more radiation he could take in that area. Lets pray that it is just the right amount to stop this cancer for good! Her best guess was 4 weeks! That is better than 6 weeks. Many of you know my Dad very well and you know that the old saying, "you can't keep a good man down" is his life motto. He will not give in to this, therefore he will NOT and I repeat NOT consider staying at the Hope House for the four weeks of treatment. We will be making daily trips to Birmingham so that he can continue to work half days and rest, eat and sleep in his own house. We may be calling on some friends to take a leisurely drive to Bham every once in a while! More on that when we have details! Praise God for His comfort today and the entire appointment. I can't tell you the difference this time was compared to the last trip we made to UAB in March.

During her exam, she saw a lot of "yuck" (and trust me you want me to call it "yuck" in the back of his throat) Being the teaching hospital that it is, she instructed the doctor assisting her that looked like he would be friends with Patrick..to numb him and put a scope in his nose and down his throat to observe. I mean right there with mom and I in the room and we saw everything on the screen. I was in the show Gray's Anatomy at that very moment. Turned out it was a LOT of mucous which he knows about and she said he has reflux really bad. She was surprised he hasn't aspirated, but if you remember from previous posts we have had that checked out and the swallow test came back normal. She couldn't believe it! (Another God thing I might add!) She prescribed reflux meds and some sinus stuff to help dry it up.

Dr. Spencer said it should take 4-12 days for the board to meet and come up with a "plan" for Dad. I think it is comforting to know that several people will be looking at his records and coming up with the best plan possible. Once that it is in place she will call and we will be ready to go. He is going next Wednesday to get fitted for the mask so he will be ready when they are ready.

Thank you for your prayers. Again, HE is right there with us and we are going to be just fine.

In Him,
Michelle

Update

Well, we have just gotten home from our appointment to review the PET scan and this challenge is far from over. From the doctor's mouth, "there's more good news than there is bad news". So, for the good news..NOTHING that we didn't already know about showed up. There has been no spread to other parts of the body. The bad news is that the "suspicious" spot that we talked about months ago on his C3 vertebrae appears to be "more intense" and grown a bit. That is a game changer in the plan. When he finished chemo, we decided to wait and see for this very reason. Had we chosen to go ahead and radiate the "stable" spots on his neck at that time we would have given up all chances to radiate the vertebrae if it ever came knocking. I am glad we waited because here we are. The other good news is that the cancer cells in the neck are all in a string just as they were the last time they checked on them, just a little more intense. The tissues on the other side, throughout the neck and throat all look great. That is HUGE. The problem is the location of the spot on the vertebrae. It is too close for comfort to the spinal cord. That being said, Dr. Hardacre is sending us to UAB on Friday to meet with Dr. Spencer (we've met with her before) to see if Dad is a candidate for the new True Beam Radiation Therapy. They are only one of 3 or 4 hospitals in the nation that has this technology. He plainly said, "if it were me or my wife, that is where I would go and I know all the options." This technology more precisely points the radiation beam down to the millimeter of where it should be going. Once the patient is locked in and ready to receive radiation, the machine actually does a quick CT scan to make sure everything is on point before the radiation is administered. This is amazing and we need to pray that Dad is a candidate. Our appointment is Friday at 2:30. Please be in prayer for this. If we can radiate it along with the cells on his neck, then it will be gone. The chemotherapy has done a great job keeping the cells from setting up anywhere else in his body. The downside of the radiation is that it will be every day in Birmingham. So, one day at a time and we will cross that bridge when we get there. We so cherish all of you...your calls and YOUR PRAYERS! We are called to pray for one another!

My dad is amazing. He is the strongest man I have ever known to face the things that he has faced and keep going! He never stops, his faith is always there. Of course he gets down when the news is not what we wanted to hear, but he gets back up and fights on every time! What a light for Jesus he is! It is what it is and God will see us through.

Love,
Michelle

Dr. Hardacre Appointment

Good morning! Our appointment with Dr. Hardacre was moved to 8:30 this morning instead of 1:00 this afternoon. It didn't take long, as I suspected Dr. Hardacre wants to move his PET scan up and get it right away so that he knows EXACTLY what he is dealing with. I feel really good about it. After much prayer and complete trust in God (and singing praise hymns on the way to the office!), I am confident that this will be okay. The scan will be tomorrow at 11:00 and we will meet for the results at 3:00. Please pray that the PET tomorrow shows what we already know and that's it! Of course we should throw in that it be completely healed because you know God can do that at ANY moment He desires! Dr. Hardacre said the area on his neck actually looks better as a whole than it did the last time he saw him. This area of concern seems to be cancer cells that are close to the skin "trying" to hunker down but can't seem to find a place to land and set up shop. (Poor things! ha!) Apparently chemo doesn't work well for these because the blood stream just can't get to them. So, if this is the only thing we see and the spot on the vertebrae from the last scan turns out to be nothing (arthritis, scar tissue, etc.) it shouldn't be a problem to re radiate that area. He would start right away. That is the best scenario and the confidence in the room was built around that idea! So my praying friends and family...lift Dad up! Pray that the scan is good and please please please praise God for all that he has done.! I will post as soon as I can tomorrow afternoon. I would like to leave you with PROOF that God is always talking to us if we listen. This is taken from my Dad's devotion THIS morning on THIS DAY, Oct 12, 2010! Amazing.

I pray with assurance that God is my help in

every need.

Praying helps me be a calm, positive and supportive presence for others. Prayer channels my thoughts in affirmative ways. It is the highest form of help I can give to a friend or loved one. As I pray for others, I affirm their highest good, trusting answers will come in right and perfect ways.

When praying for healing, I visualize wellness, vibrancy and wholeness. In my heart I know the activity of Spirit is at work. When I pray for guidance, I wholeheartedly believe that God within each person is their true compass. Their path will be revealed.

I pray with assurance. God is our help in every need no matter how great or small. With God, all things are possible.

"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in

good health, just as it is well with your soul.

3 John 1:2

Let's Pray!

We are again coveting your prayers as we face another challenge. This past week or so, Dad has had a spot on his neck that has been hard to "heal" with the topical antibiotics, etc. that they give him for the Erbitux breakouts. This morning he asked to see the doctor to show him how it was acting before he started his Erbitux infusion. He indeed confirmed that he believes it is the cancer acting up again and trying to spread. The good news is that is seems to be very "topical" and moving OUT and on the skin, much like a skin cancer would. He did not feel any substantial lumps underneath the skin in this area. So, we are faced with decisions about radiation and/or more chemotherapy. PLEASE help us by lifting up prayers that the right decisions be made and for God to completely lay out the plan for us. Radiation is so risky but it is my prayer that we can do it as we have been told that this cancer can only be cured completely by either surgery or radiation. Surgery for these type of spots is not an option. If chemo is what we need to do, I pray that it is obvious when it comes time to decide. Please pray for the doctors as they review his case and offer their plan of attack. I still feel completely confident that we will beat this. It is the plan for Dad's life and God intends to use it for His GLORY!!! AMEN.

Dr. Hardacre, the radiologist, was not in the office today, but will work Dad in tomorrow at 1:00. I will post tomorrow afternoon when we know more. God is on our side!

"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth." Psalm 124:8

Update

Dad had a regular visit yesterday before his Erbitux treatment. There is no "new" news so the plan of action is the same. He will continue the Monday Erbitux infusions as well as the monthly Zometo infusion. He has been feeling really good and we are so happy for that. Now, if all that eating he is doing would just stick to his ribs a little! I can't imaging eating all the potatoes, macaroni & cheese, milkshakes and banana pudding I could hold and not gain weight! Ha! If you have seen him out and about then you know he must be burning every single calorie he takes in..he's always doing somthing!

His PET scan is scheduled for October 20. Please be in prayer for this. We will meet with the doctor the Monday following the scan for the results. I will post as soon as I can on that day. Thanks so much!

One more thing..Thursday (Sept. 30) is Dad's appointment with Dr. Short to have his esophagus stretched, so pray that it goes smoothly and he pops right back to his old self by Friday!

Dr. Visit Update

It has been 3 weeks since our encouraging "everything is stable" report. Dad continues to go for his "maintenance" drug, Erbitux, every Monday. (Unless it falls on a holiday such as Labor Day and therefore he is there today!) We met briefly with Dr. Bechdach and I just wanted to update you all on that. He is pleased with our decision to "wait and see" for now and wants to keep a close eye on him as does Dr. Hardacre. He will continue to order the weekly infusion of Erbitux and the monthly infusion of Zometo. Some very encouraging studies are coming out about the ability to fight off cancer with Zometo. I'm glad we are a part of that drug! I know that is easy for me to say as I know I am not a part of the side effects, but nonetheless, I like it!



We meet with him again at the end of September and at that time he will order another set of scans. These will be two months since the last ones. So continue to pray for the healing of the cancers! I know God is doing big things here. You can just see it!

I told Dr. Bechdash that I was a little worried at the thought of "just waiting". I instinctly just feel like I want to do something. He assured me that he and the radiologist have a "plan" in place for whatever happens. While reading an inspiring blog of a mom who has a 4 year old battling a serious rare form of cancer, I realized this....Every time I let the "what ifs" take over my thoughts I am allowing Satan to steal my JOY of what God has done for us! Why would I do that? I'm not anymore! I praise the Lord for how He has watched over us and taken care of us over the past two years! I am rejoicing in all that He has done. We asked Him to bring dad through the original surgery..He did, we asked Him to allow dad to heal quickly and get back to work, He did. We prayed for the cancer not to spread to other parts of the body..it didn't. We asked that the chemo be easy on him with little side effects, he managed. We prayed earnestly for the bone scan to be miraculously clear several months ago..it was. We pray for continuous healing and we have it. How dare Satan try to steal our joy. NOT HAPPENING!

Thank you for your prayers, concern and love.
Michelle