PET Results

Good morning! We have just returned from the appointment with Dr. Becdach and for the most part everything is good news! I have been praying so expectantly for God to remove this cancer! It turns out that he only had a PET scan and not a CT scan last week. The results showed that of the 3 cancers that were there when we started, one is inactive, one is gone and one showed "no change"..This is fabulous news because the one that showed NO CHANGE is really inaccurate. The report is referring to the tumor behind his left ear which was not really visible externally at the time of his last PET in January. However, the doctor saw it when we came in to start the chemo with his own two eyes and it was inflamed, red and actually pushing on his surgery scar causing an infection like discharge. It was just awful! This being said, it was obvious that the tumor had grown and gotten worse since the January scan. He did not go in to start the chemo until April 4! So, the comparison from January to now was not accurate. Does that make sense? Since starting the chemo, this particular place has completely healed and is not inflamed or bulging in any way. So we KNOW that the chemo is working! Dr. Becdach just kept saying over and over that dad was definitely responding to the chemo and it is definitely working so we are going to keep going! At least two more rounds, maybe more, with radiation (along with its risks) to come. I can't help but smile while he is telling me how great he is responding because I KNOW it is all God! I sometimes think I can see a little hint of "surprise" in Doctor Becdach's face and I just want to giggle knowing all the time exactly why this is happening! It is my prayer that we all glorify God through every single day in this storm. To God be the glory! We have a major fight to fight!

The scan results also showed two questionable areas. One lymph node in the chest area and one tiny spot on the 3rd vertebrae in the neck. Both of these could be a number of things and did not seem to worry Dr. Becdach very much. He said that because he was responding so well to the treatments that these spots didn't overly concern him. The one in the chest has lit up before and it turned out that dad had a case of pneumonia. It is very possible that this is the same type thing. The one in the neck is small and could be a result of scar tissue from the radiation. That is why they don't bank on the results of PETs very much. They can be very inaccurate. He wants to schedule an MRI and a CT in 3 weeks to further evaluate these and give him some measurements on the places that we know are there. Technically, this should have really been done before we started the chemo so that there would be a more accurate way to measure the progress. These two things do sound scary, but if you were in the room you could feel that Dr. Becdach was focused more on the great progress he was making and he was ready to "march on"!

So, please be in prayer specifically for the next round and all the side effects that Dad endures and the MRI/CT to be done in a couple of weeks. (They have not given us the date/time yet, but I will let you know)

He did loose a little weight since the last round and we can't let that happen. It isn't like he doesn't try, it is just so hard to eat. He sure does want to though! He has been instructed to eat 3 to 4 meals a day and drink Boost in between. No matter what! So pray that eating will be easier and more desirable during this round..We've got to fatten him up a bit.

Michelle

Week 3 and Scans!

Hello friends and family. Papa made it through round 2 of chemo. The first week was mild and brought on tiredness. Week 2 was icky as expected accompanied by a bad rash on his face! Week 3 is here and it is expected to bring on good feelings. Last time week 3 was filled with energy, healing and an appetite! Today he is at the CCI getting Erbitux and tomorrow is scan day. PLEASE pray for this. He is getting a PET and a CT scan to compare with the last one done in January. From talking with the doctor last time, I believe the scans will be used to sort of mark where we are and if he is still responding to the chemo as expected he will do 2 more rounds before radiation plans will be made. Please be in prayer for this all week! We will meet with the doctor NEXT Monday to go over the results. I will let you all know.

Read John Chapter 9 when you have a moment. Reading it today, I was reminded of the story of Christ healing the blind man. One of the disciples asked "who sinned, this man or his parents that he should be born blind?" The answer...."Neither this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him" (v.3)

To God be the glory for all that He has done! Thank you all for your prayers.. They are so important to us!
Michelle

PRAISE!!!

Great news!!! We had a scheduled appointment with Dr. Becdach this morning to evaluate the first round of chemotherapy. He had nothing but good things to say! Dad had maintained his weight which is so important and all his blood work tests came back perfectly normal! He and dad discussed the side effects that he had and all the complications that came along with "week 2". They were all normal and expected. He told Dad he could expect the same thing again with this round. It is amazing to me how quickly he heals. If you saw him last week and then saw him today, it is like you are looking at two different people! I am so happy that he has "week 3" to look forward to! (If there is such a thing as "looking forward" to week 3 of a treatment round..ha!) Seriously, he has felt great this past week! Praise be to God who is the great healer!!!!

The best part is when he examined Dad and felt the cancer spots that were clearly visible on his neck. The big one has substantially gotten smaller and the smaller one near his collar bone is significantly smaller as well!! Dr. Becdach was happy that he was able to "move it around" whatever that means! He said that he is definitely responding to the treatment! How GREAT is our GOD!!!

With things going as hoped, they went ahead with a plan. He started round 2 today with the pump infusion chemotherapy which he will wear through Thursday. He will have the "shot" on Friday which causes the aching bones but he managed to work through it in a day or so last time so we pray for that again.

Next Monday (the 3rd) he will go in for Erbitux infusion
The following Monday (the 10th) he will go for Erbitux infusion

On Tuesday, May 11 he will go to Huntsville for a PET/CT scan! This will give them something to compare with the PET scan from January. If things are still going as expected, they will start two more rounds of chemo. That was new information to us, but if that is what it takes then that is what we will do! Dr. Becdach mentioned that he would then send him back to Birmingham for evaluation at that point. We do have an opinion about that, (for those of you who remember we were not really fond of the oncologist we saw down there) but we will cross that bridge when we get there!

So first and foremost praise God for what he has done! Amazing! Please continue to pray for the side effects and the effectiveness of this second round and start praying for the scans on May 11.

Love and blessings to you all!

Feeling Good!

Well, the "worst week" (#2) as the doctor predicted has come and gone and everybody is glad about that! Dad has felt pretty good all weekend and has been able to eat pretty well. He had lost some weight last week, but this morning at the doctor's office he was up a pound from last week! Thanks to that BOOST from his good buddy!

He is at the CCI this morning getting his week 3 Erbitux infusion which is usually pretty uneventful except for that annoying rash. Hopefully the mouth blisters will stay away. Say your prayers! Pray extensively that this chemo plan is working and stopping that cancer! Pray specifically that his neck heals so that we can do radiation after this second round! We love and appreciate you all!

Stephen, Callie and I are beaching it for the whole week. So happy! Dad sent Mom (along with Cheryl and her kids) to play with us for a few days. Patrick is joining us Wednesday as he had a golf commitment! So, for now we are all good and Dad is hanging in there as usual!

Talk to you soon!
Michelle

Hanging In There!

Whew..The weekend was pretty rough but today he was up and going for at least a little while. After the shot last Friday, it went downhill from there. He was fine one minute and within two hours he was not feeling too perky. He rested all weekend but is still having trouble eating and drinking because of the Erbitux reaction (which he expected) and the mouth sores. He reported to the CCI this morning at 8 for his second round of Erbitux and a bag of fluids to help keep him hydrated. I think they also gave him something to help with the mild rash from the chemo too. This is supposed to be his worst week of the 3 week cycle as far as feeling tired and weak. So pray for tolerance and strength as he faces this week. Hopefully mom can keep trying everything under the sun to find something he likes to eat. It is so hard with the sores and the fact that his taste buds are all out of whack! Poor think..I can't imagine! I know it is tough, but if it is working it is worth it! Go Papa..You can do it!!!

Amazing LOVE!

Wow! Last night's prayer gathering was just perfect! I felt so uplifted, so inspired by God's word and so renewed as I know many of you did too! Thank you so much for coming! It was very special and will never be forgotten.

After a good night's rest, I talked to him this morning and he said he felt "fine". (Well, his definition of fine might be different than mine, but oh well! ha!) He is up and out! He will be going to get the pump off today and also get the dreaded Neulasta shot. This is the shot that you get within 24 hours after your first round of chemo to help bump up the white blood cells for those of you who are not familiar with that. It is a good thing in order to fight off infection, but sometimes comes with horrible bone pain for a few days as a side effect. His has been so tolerant of everything else that has come his way that I am expecting him to do the same with this and tell me.."Its not too bad!".. We'll see. :-) We will pray that it "not too bad" and he has a good weekend with lots of rest. The weather looks beautiful so that will bring a smile to all of our faces! He returns on Monday for just the Erbitux infusion and has the rest of the week off from wearing the pump. I will post at the first of the week to let you all know how it is going!

Again..THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!
Love,
The Smith Family

3rd Day of Week One

Just a quick note to let you all know that Dad is doing fine with the treatments. Yesterday he felt absolutely normal...today a bit more tired but still going! He will go and have the pump filled again today and again tomorrow to complete the first round. Thanks for the prayers! Our God is BIG!

Just a reminder...TOMORROW NIGHT we are meeting at 5 pm at Mom and Dad's house to have a short time of prayer. Please join us if you can. We are going to be lead by one of our pastors and just give God praise for all that He has done. We are going to pray for His healing powers and to rid Dad's body of this cancer! I was reminded this morning reading another blog about a child going through cancer/chemo treatments...Our God doesn't work based on statistics, HE works to bring glory to HIS name! Amen!!!

Love,
Michelle