Just a quick entry here...
I'm sending an HCG test to the Philippines today (see earlier posts for description). Should get the results back (via email) in about 2 weeks. Last 2 tests were in the low 50's...40's means "cancer free".
I'm also scheduled for another PET/CT scan on Nov. 17. We'll know the result of that the next week when I go to the Oncologist on Nov 24.
Praying for the continued shrinkage of size and activity of the tumor!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
How's your habitus?
I'm just going to start by typing exactly the "findings" section from the most recent PET/CT scan...
Findings: Tracer distribution in the head and neck appears normal. Tracer distribution in the chest is also normal. No tracer avid pulmonary nodules are seen. Prominent lymph nodes are present in the mediastinum which are not metabolically active. There is heterogeneous uptake of tracer in the liver. Some of this is due to limited resolution secondary to the patient's body habitus. No definite focal abnormalities are seen. Again noted is a mass in the leftward and posterior wall of the rectum. The mass demonstrates increased tracer activity with maximal standardized uptake value of 8.7. This is significantly decreased from the prior study in which the SUV was 21.5. The size has also decreased from approximately 2.9 x 5.3 cm to 1.8 x 3.4 cm. No definite lymphadenopathy is evident in the abdomen or pelvis.
That is to say, sometimes doctors say things in strange ways...c'mon doc, just tell me I'm fat, OK :)
So, since 1/2/09 (the last PET scan...I've had CT scans since, but not PET) the SUV value has gone to almost 1/3 and the size of the inflamatory mass has shrunk to about 1/3 the size. This doesn't mean we're out of the woods yet, though, because the Oncologist says he likes to see the SUV under 2.5 and not be able to see the mass at all, but of course it could just be mostly scar tissue... He still recommends we discuss surgery with the surgeon, but he does not recommend any Chemo at this time because there is no spread and the Chemo is not as effective on the radiated mass because the blood vessels are severely compromised around it due to the radiation.
So, the options are: A) Have surgery to remove the tumor (basically the same risks as before) B) Wait 2 months and have another PET scan to see what the state of the tumor is at that time.
We are not taking this lightly and are definitely considering the options. Whatever we do, I am continuing with the Budwig and suplements. We also plan to send in for another HGC test in the Philippines.
Please pray for us as we make decisions that we would have wisdom to make the right decisions for me and us and that we would have grace to accept the outcome of the decisions whatever that may be.
God is good!
As always, feel free to ask me questions if you have them.
Findings: Tracer distribution in the head and neck appears normal. Tracer distribution in the chest is also normal. No tracer avid pulmonary nodules are seen. Prominent lymph nodes are present in the mediastinum which are not metabolically active. There is heterogeneous uptake of tracer in the liver. Some of this is due to limited resolution secondary to the patient's body habitus. No definite focal abnormalities are seen. Again noted is a mass in the leftward and posterior wall of the rectum. The mass demonstrates increased tracer activity with maximal standardized uptake value of 8.7. This is significantly decreased from the prior study in which the SUV was 21.5. The size has also decreased from approximately 2.9 x 5.3 cm to 1.8 x 3.4 cm. No definite lymphadenopathy is evident in the abdomen or pelvis.
That is to say, sometimes doctors say things in strange ways...c'mon doc, just tell me I'm fat, OK :)
So, since 1/2/09 (the last PET scan...I've had CT scans since, but not PET) the SUV value has gone to almost 1/3 and the size of the inflamatory mass has shrunk to about 1/3 the size. This doesn't mean we're out of the woods yet, though, because the Oncologist says he likes to see the SUV under 2.5 and not be able to see the mass at all, but of course it could just be mostly scar tissue... He still recommends we discuss surgery with the surgeon, but he does not recommend any Chemo at this time because there is no spread and the Chemo is not as effective on the radiated mass because the blood vessels are severely compromised around it due to the radiation.
So, the options are: A) Have surgery to remove the tumor (basically the same risks as before) B) Wait 2 months and have another PET scan to see what the state of the tumor is at that time.
We are not taking this lightly and are definitely considering the options. Whatever we do, I am continuing with the Budwig and suplements. We also plan to send in for another HGC test in the Philippines.
Please pray for us as we make decisions that we would have wisdom to make the right decisions for me and us and that we would have grace to accept the outcome of the decisions whatever that may be.
God is good!
As always, feel free to ask me questions if you have them.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Learning to be (a) patient
My visit Monday with my Oncologist was a lesson in being (a) patient! I got there at 1:50 for my 2:00 appointment, got my blood drawn (they do this every visit) at 2:10, then waited until 3:00 until they put me in the exam room. At 3:40 the doctor came in...next time maybe I should just show up at 3:30...
We talked about the last CaT scan and he said there is no visible sign of cancer. However, this doesn't mean there isn't microscopic cell growth somewhere in my body.
He said it is tough to tell what the next step should be because their studies don't follow the path we've chosen. People in my situation who are part of a study go for surgery. Since we didn't follow the "normal protocol" the statistical numbers are fuzzier.
He said had I gone for surgery, he would suggest doing a 4-month round of Chemo where I go for Chemo for 2 days every 2 weeks for 8 cycles. He said that usually gives a 30-40% better chance of non-recurrence.
He said he doesn't know how he would work with Dr. Dramov (my Naturopathic doctor) because there just aren't the studies available in that genre of medicine (because the FDA doesn't back it and neither does Big Pharma).
Anyway, we will schedule another PET/CT scan in the next few weeks and then see Dr. Chang again the end of Septemeber. We need to make a decision whether to go through more Chemo or just to monitor at this point. Basically, if I decide to do more Chemo, I need to start sometime in October.
We will be researching the effects of the particular Chemo he suggests using and see if it sounds like a good idea at this point. Right now, I'm kinda 50/50 because I know some of the potential effects from reading before, but I didn't have any besides fatigue and diarhea before.
Please pray for us that we will have wisdom in this tough decision.
We talked about the last CaT scan and he said there is no visible sign of cancer. However, this doesn't mean there isn't microscopic cell growth somewhere in my body.
He said it is tough to tell what the next step should be because their studies don't follow the path we've chosen. People in my situation who are part of a study go for surgery. Since we didn't follow the "normal protocol" the statistical numbers are fuzzier.
He said had I gone for surgery, he would suggest doing a 4-month round of Chemo where I go for Chemo for 2 days every 2 weeks for 8 cycles. He said that usually gives a 30-40% better chance of non-recurrence.
He said he doesn't know how he would work with Dr. Dramov (my Naturopathic doctor) because there just aren't the studies available in that genre of medicine (because the FDA doesn't back it and neither does Big Pharma).
Anyway, we will schedule another PET/CT scan in the next few weeks and then see Dr. Chang again the end of Septemeber. We need to make a decision whether to go through more Chemo or just to monitor at this point. Basically, if I decide to do more Chemo, I need to start sometime in October.
We will be researching the effects of the particular Chemo he suggests using and see if it sounds like a good idea at this point. Right now, I'm kinda 50/50 because I know some of the potential effects from reading before, but I didn't have any besides fatigue and diarhea before.
Please pray for us that we will have wisdom in this tough decision.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
No News is Good News
We don't have a lot of news on the Cancer front at this time. I am still following the Protocol and I have a meeting with my primary oncologist, Dr. Chang, on Aug 31.
The Barn is coming along, and everybody wants pics, but I don't have time to take or download, but maybe in the next few days...
For anybody who doesn't know yet...Jeanah is soon going to be re-employed at Integrated Services where she worked previously. She will again be the "best receptionist in the world" there. Although we will both be working there, we will not be carpooling as I will remain on the 4:30 am shift into the foreseable future (by my choice).
Please pray we would know what the "next step" is in the cancer treatment process and for wisdom for us and my doctors.
God Bless!
The Barn is coming along, and everybody wants pics, but I don't have time to take or download, but maybe in the next few days...
For anybody who doesn't know yet...Jeanah is soon going to be re-employed at Integrated Services where she worked previously. She will again be the "best receptionist in the world" there. Although we will both be working there, we will not be carpooling as I will remain on the 4:30 am shift into the foreseable future (by my choice).
Please pray we would know what the "next step" is in the cancer treatment process and for wisdom for us and my doctors.
God Bless!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Yes, We're still here...
I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. We're still here! I'm feeling quite well and we're building the barn in a frenzy. We have some help here this week and we're about ready to put up the roof trusses.
As far as the cancer goes, we're in a wait and see mode. I'm still doing the Budwig protocol and trying to eat as healthy as possible and taking supplements.
The last CaT scan showed no cancer growth or spread. I'm feeling as well as I've felt in several years.
I'm going to try to blog on at least a weekly basis whether there is something new to report or not.
Love ya'll!
As far as the cancer goes, we're in a wait and see mode. I'm still doing the Budwig protocol and trying to eat as healthy as possible and taking supplements.
The last CaT scan showed no cancer growth or spread. I'm feeling as well as I've felt in several years.
I'm going to try to blog on at least a weekly basis whether there is something new to report or not.
Love ya'll!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
What...Do you live in a barn?
...Not yet...on an aside from the cancer topic, Jeanah and I are building a "barn" in our back yard and we may live in it later if we are able and rent out our house which is WAY bigger than we need. Things aren't selling right now, so we took our property off the market.
On the cancer topic: I talked with the 2nd opinion surgeon yesterday. There is even more risk to doing the surgery that we didn't know before, like the stoma, hernias, infections, etc., etc.,...which are all exacerbated by my size, of course, so we have decided not to do surgery. This was not an easy decision, but we both feel very comfortable that this is the decision that is right for us.
Now, we need to pray that little bugger will shrink, disappear, and be gone for good with the help of various methods we will be undertaking. These will/may include the following: change in diet/exercise routine, the Budwig protocol, dietary supplements, weekly vitamin C IV drips, chemotherapy, radiation. We will be working out between the naturopath and the oncologist (and our insurance company) what the best course of action is from this point forward.
Results: the most recent HCG test came back with a 52.2 level. The first one was a 53.0. While this is still in the positive range, it is encouraging to see that it went down after just 6 weeks of working on things. We will test again in about 2 months or so...probably every 3 months until it gets under 50. 50 is the "magic number" it seems for this test. After it's under 50, probably test every year.
The CT scan I had on June 2 showed no growth and no other "hot spots".
For both these results, we PRAISE THE LORD!
I'm feeling well, and am able to help out around the house and with the construction project. I probably only have about 80% of normal stamina, but it's getting better day by day.
If you know anybody who would like to rent a 3000sf 4bed/3bath home outside Canby, contact us, we would like to talk with them. We're shooting for an October time frame on the "barn".
On the cancer topic: I talked with the 2nd opinion surgeon yesterday. There is even more risk to doing the surgery that we didn't know before, like the stoma, hernias, infections, etc., etc.,...which are all exacerbated by my size, of course, so we have decided not to do surgery. This was not an easy decision, but we both feel very comfortable that this is the decision that is right for us.
Now, we need to pray that little bugger will shrink, disappear, and be gone for good with the help of various methods we will be undertaking. These will/may include the following: change in diet/exercise routine, the Budwig protocol, dietary supplements, weekly vitamin C IV drips, chemotherapy, radiation. We will be working out between the naturopath and the oncologist (and our insurance company) what the best course of action is from this point forward.
Results: the most recent HCG test came back with a 52.2 level. The first one was a 53.0. While this is still in the positive range, it is encouraging to see that it went down after just 6 weeks of working on things. We will test again in about 2 months or so...probably every 3 months until it gets under 50. 50 is the "magic number" it seems for this test. After it's under 50, probably test every year.
The CT scan I had on June 2 showed no growth and no other "hot spots".
For both these results, we PRAISE THE LORD!
I'm feeling well, and am able to help out around the house and with the construction project. I probably only have about 80% of normal stamina, but it's getting better day by day.
If you know anybody who would like to rent a 3000sf 4bed/3bath home outside Canby, contact us, we would like to talk with them. We're shooting for an October time frame on the "barn".
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Long Time, No Blog
I've been busy...sorry...I got a new computer at home and have been working on setting it up, etc...
So last Tuesday, 6/2, I had a CT scan. We won't know the results until Tuesday 6/9 or Friday 6/12 when I meet with my oncologists.
Here's the upcoming schedule:
Tue 6/9, Dr. Crocenzi, 2nd opinion oncologist, 12:00pm
Fri 6/12, Dr. Chang, primary oncologist, 2:00pm
Wed 6/17, Dr. Cavanaugh, 2nd opinion surgeon, 10:30am
???sometime, Dr. Dramov, Naturopath, Vitamin-C IV Drip
We haven't heard back on the HGC Urine test (the one we send to the Phillipines). Will let ya'll know when that comes back. We're hoping it's under 50!
On another front, we're probably taking our house off the market soon...pray that will work out...and Jeanah had a job interview today...should know more in a few days...???
So last Tuesday, 6/2, I had a CT scan. We won't know the results until Tuesday 6/9 or Friday 6/12 when I meet with my oncologists.
Here's the upcoming schedule:
Tue 6/9, Dr. Crocenzi, 2nd opinion oncologist, 12:00pm
Fri 6/12, Dr. Chang, primary oncologist, 2:00pm
Wed 6/17, Dr. Cavanaugh, 2nd opinion surgeon, 10:30am
???sometime, Dr. Dramov, Naturopath, Vitamin-C IV Drip
We haven't heard back on the HGC Urine test (the one we send to the Phillipines). Will let ya'll know when that comes back. We're hoping it's under 50!
On another front, we're probably taking our house off the market soon...pray that will work out...and Jeanah had a job interview today...should know more in a few days...???
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