I finally got the call from one of my doctors regarding my PET scans yesterday. Here is the conversation with my oncologist. "The PET scan did not light up cancer in that area, or any other area. However, pancreatic cancer has more of a tendency not to light up on scans than other types of cancer."
The way that I figure it, the PET scan was done so that if it did show cancer, then I would feel more comfortable going through the chemo treatments. Both of my oncologists still believe that I need to begin chemo. My family doctor and I are not so sure.
Where we are now: we are contacting Duke and MD Anderson for more options. Keep praying as we travel this journey. I know that God has something awesome to show us in all of this.
I do wish that He would work more in my time, but after all "It's all about HIS time."
Friday, December 28, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Wednesday, December 26
I pray that all of you have had a blessed Christmas season so far.
I have taken the wonderful opportunity to be with family and friends over these past days. I am especially grateful for that, considering the fact that just a few days ago I did not feel like doing squat.
But right now my pain is somewhat under control. Good drugs do that, but good drugs also have their drawbacks. Anyway, they allowed me to spend some good time with some of those whom I love.
As of right now, the doctors think that they know the cause of my pain. It is a very small, less that an inch, "thing" that is laying on a bunch of very sensitive nerves. All of my doctors agree that this 'thing' is the source. Not all agree what this 'thing' is. So right now, the plan is for me to have a PET scan tomorrow (Thursday) to determine if this thing lights up as cancer. By the way, we just had a CT scan done a few weeks ago, and we had a PET scan done a couple of months ago and nothing has ever showed up on these or any other scans. If this thing does light up this time, we will consider beginning chemo as soon as possible. If it does not show that it is cancer, then we will find out just what it is, and how to treat it.
Thanks for keeping in touch (KIT) with me during my journey. And never forget - it's all about Him!
I have taken the wonderful opportunity to be with family and friends over these past days. I am especially grateful for that, considering the fact that just a few days ago I did not feel like doing squat.
But right now my pain is somewhat under control. Good drugs do that, but good drugs also have their drawbacks. Anyway, they allowed me to spend some good time with some of those whom I love.
As of right now, the doctors think that they know the cause of my pain. It is a very small, less that an inch, "thing" that is laying on a bunch of very sensitive nerves. All of my doctors agree that this 'thing' is the source. Not all agree what this 'thing' is. So right now, the plan is for me to have a PET scan tomorrow (Thursday) to determine if this thing lights up as cancer. By the way, we just had a CT scan done a few weeks ago, and we had a PET scan done a couple of months ago and nothing has ever showed up on these or any other scans. If this thing does light up this time, we will consider beginning chemo as soon as possible. If it does not show that it is cancer, then we will find out just what it is, and how to treat it.
Thanks for keeping in touch (KIT) with me during my journey. And never forget - it's all about Him!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Friday, December 21
Happy Friday Blog family. Just to update you on my health journey, things seem to change from day to day.
For several days now, I have really been thinking about the idea of starting a strong regiment of chemo without knowing for sure that I have a recurrence of cancer. So after consulting with Dr. West, Dr Chang has agreed to have me do another PET scan before we begin any kind of chemotherapy. The PET scan should give us a better idea of what this "thing" is that is pressing on some nerves.
I am thankful that we have a plan for whatever path we take. As I have said in the past, sometimes it is the 'not knowing' that is more frustrating than the knowing. If I am not careful, the not knowing can get on my last nerve. :-)
I'm not going to let that happen. I am going to continue to trust God. He doesn't have to tell me everything; in fact, I am glad that He doesn't. God didn't give Mary or Joseph all of the details. If He had, I am not sure that they could have humanly handled it. He just told them what they needed to know when they needed to know it.
Lord, just send me an angel every now and then to tell me just what I need to know when I need to know it. After all, just like Mary and just like Joseph, my life is really all about HIM.
For several days now, I have really been thinking about the idea of starting a strong regiment of chemo without knowing for sure that I have a recurrence of cancer. So after consulting with Dr. West, Dr Chang has agreed to have me do another PET scan before we begin any kind of chemotherapy. The PET scan should give us a better idea of what this "thing" is that is pressing on some nerves.
I am thankful that we have a plan for whatever path we take. As I have said in the past, sometimes it is the 'not knowing' that is more frustrating than the knowing. If I am not careful, the not knowing can get on my last nerve. :-)
I'm not going to let that happen. I am going to continue to trust God. He doesn't have to tell me everything; in fact, I am glad that He doesn't. God didn't give Mary or Joseph all of the details. If He had, I am not sure that they could have humanly handled it. He just told them what they needed to know when they needed to know it.
Lord, just send me an angel every now and then to tell me just what I need to know when I need to know it. After all, just like Mary and just like Joseph, my life is really all about HIM.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Wednesday, December 19
We just returned from Dr. Chang's office to discuss the results of my MRI.
Basically, the MRI showed a very small mass in an abdominal area that has a lot of nerves. The feeling is that this mass is wrapping around those nerves, causing the intense pain.
Dr. Chang and Dr. Zafar are both oncologist. Oncologist look for cancer. That being said, this could be a recurrence of my cancer. It also could be simply scar tissue.
Right now we are going to treat this as though it is cancer (although we don't know this for sure). Our plan is to begin chemotherapy after Christmas. In the meantime, I am going to take some longer lasting, stronger pain medication. So if you see me, I am not responsible for my words or my actions. (Just kidding - I wish that I could blame my actions on medications. :-) )
The only thing that I can blame anything that I do is on my choice. Today, I choose to continue to trust God.
After all - it's all about Him!
Basically, the MRI showed a very small mass in an abdominal area that has a lot of nerves. The feeling is that this mass is wrapping around those nerves, causing the intense pain.
Dr. Chang and Dr. Zafar are both oncologist. Oncologist look for cancer. That being said, this could be a recurrence of my cancer. It also could be simply scar tissue.
Right now we are going to treat this as though it is cancer (although we don't know this for sure). Our plan is to begin chemotherapy after Christmas. In the meantime, I am going to take some longer lasting, stronger pain medication. So if you see me, I am not responsible for my words or my actions. (Just kidding - I wish that I could blame my actions on medications. :-) )
The only thing that I can blame anything that I do is on my choice. Today, I choose to continue to trust God.
After all - it's all about Him!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Monday, December 17
Next week this time it will be Christmas Eve.
Last year this time I was healing from my surgery. My chemo and radiation therapy had not begun. By the time Christmas eve arrived, I was doing well enough to preach that Christmas Eve sermon. It was the first time that I had been to church since the Sunday before Thanksgiving. What a great memory!
Right now, I feel physically worse than I did this time last year. As you know, I have been battling these severe abdominal pains for several weeks now. Until today, I thought that I have had every kind of procedure and test known to man. But after talking with both of my doctors in Goldsboro and consulting my oncologist and surgeons at Duke, we have decided that I need an MRI. We are hoping that this will give us the answer to the cause of my pain. So tomorrow (Tuesday) I am going to Wayne Memorial for the MRI. Then on Wednesday I will see Dr. Chang to discuss the results and what steps are required to take care of whatever the issue is.
If you think about it, say an extra prayer that this thing will be simple and easy to take care of. This one thing I do know. Whatever it is, it may not be simple to me, but it will be simple to God. Nothing is greater than He is. After all, this whole thing is:
All about Him!!!
Last year this time I was healing from my surgery. My chemo and radiation therapy had not begun. By the time Christmas eve arrived, I was doing well enough to preach that Christmas Eve sermon. It was the first time that I had been to church since the Sunday before Thanksgiving. What a great memory!
Right now, I feel physically worse than I did this time last year. As you know, I have been battling these severe abdominal pains for several weeks now. Until today, I thought that I have had every kind of procedure and test known to man. But after talking with both of my doctors in Goldsboro and consulting my oncologist and surgeons at Duke, we have decided that I need an MRI. We are hoping that this will give us the answer to the cause of my pain. So tomorrow (Tuesday) I am going to Wayne Memorial for the MRI. Then on Wednesday I will see Dr. Chang to discuss the results and what steps are required to take care of whatever the issue is.
If you think about it, say an extra prayer that this thing will be simple and easy to take care of. This one thing I do know. Whatever it is, it may not be simple to me, but it will be simple to God. Nothing is greater than He is. After all, this whole thing is:
All about Him!!!
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