I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. We were able to enjoy a very wonderful time with mom, dad, Rich, Sheryl, Elizabeth, Emily and our good friend Jocelyn. We had plenty of delicious food and lots of things to give thanks for. Even though mom started her chemo for the liver cancer, we was well enough to have a good appetite.
Last week my mom had gold seeds implanted into her pancreas. They will use these as markers when she begins the CyberKnife treatment. She got a pneuma thorax (air pocket in her lung)because they had to go through her lung to implant the seeds. They are watching this very closely because if it gets worse, her lung could collapse.
The CyberKnife will be a series of 5 treatments. She will also be getting CT scan series next week so that they can prepare for the CyberKnife.
On Monday, Nov 30, she will also get chemoembolization, which will put a seed of time released, chemo into the tumor in her liver. This will also be a series over the about 18 weeks.
It has gotten quite complicated because of the 2 different cancers. It's amazing that what treatment works for one, won't work for the other...
We thank God for the miraculous way her pancreatic cancer is shrinking and are trusting in him to do the same for her liver cancer.
Thank you for your prayers and love for my mom and for all of us.
Blessings,
Linda
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
CyberKnife
Today we met with the oncologist who specializes in a radiology called Cyberknife. Orange Coast Memorial is the first hostpial in Orange County to get this equipment. The pancreatic cancer has shrunk to a point that she will be able to get this treatment and hopefully get rid of the tumor in the pancreas. We are very thankful for this miraculous progress.
At the same time, we have found that my mom also has primary liver cancer and that the tumor in her liver has grown considerably. She will now stop the chemo for pancreatic cancer and begin treatment for the liver (chemo and radiation). Please pray that the liver cancer will also respond to the chemo and shrink away and the cancers will stay contained. We will meet with the oncologist for the liver cancer and my mom will also be starting tests and processes to prepare for the Cyberknife.
Please pray for all of the doctors and medical staff as they plan my mother's treatments. It is very rare to have both cancers and it requires multiple oncologists/radiologists and technicians. The Cyberknife is new to the hospital so there are engineers on hand to help. While it all seems overwhelming, I know that nothing is too big for God.
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matt 19:26)
At the same time, we have found that my mom also has primary liver cancer and that the tumor in her liver has grown considerably. She will now stop the chemo for pancreatic cancer and begin treatment for the liver (chemo and radiation). Please pray that the liver cancer will also respond to the chemo and shrink away and the cancers will stay contained. We will meet with the oncologist for the liver cancer and my mom will also be starting tests and processes to prepare for the Cyberknife.
Please pray for all of the doctors and medical staff as they plan my mother's treatments. It is very rare to have both cancers and it requires multiple oncologists/radiologists and technicians. The Cyberknife is new to the hospital so there are engineers on hand to help. While it all seems overwhelming, I know that nothing is too big for God.
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matt 19:26)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
More news...
This past week the pharmacy called about a prescription for Nexavar. This is a chemo therapy for liver cancer. We haven't spoken with the doctor yet, but it appears that she may have liver cancer as well as the pancreatic cancer. This is not a metastasis. This is also a very rare occurance so though we knew there was a slight chance of this, we were hopeful that it was not the case. We will be meeting with the oncologist soon and I will post an update when I know more.
Thank you for your concern and prayers.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Thank you for your concern and prayers.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
More tests...
Job 37:5-6
"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour."
I am so glad that God is in control. I've been going to my mom's oncologist appointments with my mom and dad, but everything is very complicated. Trying to to understand the doctor, trying to understand what my mom is going through... then there are all of the tests and procedures.... everything is very confusing!!!
...yet all the more, I see how wonderful God is. I told some people my mom was no longer taking pain meds. I guess I had that wrong. She's still on the meds but they seem to be working and she is not in as much pain as before.
She's just had another biopsy, which was very painful this time. Hopefully the results will be more conclusive. Last time the sample was too small. She will have a PET Scan on Friday and we'll meet with the doctor again sometime after that. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and for God's hand on the procedures so that the tests come out clear and accurate. The doctor is trying to see what to do next.
In the meantime, my mom has been having some irregular heart beats. She went to the cardiologist today, but he said there didn't seem to be anything to worry about. He's having her go in for another test just to be sure.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers for my mom. Praise God for his lovingkindness and faithfulness.
May God bless you abundantly,
Linda
"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour."
I am so glad that God is in control. I've been going to my mom's oncologist appointments with my mom and dad, but everything is very complicated. Trying to to understand the doctor, trying to understand what my mom is going through... then there are all of the tests and procedures.... everything is very confusing!!!
...yet all the more, I see how wonderful God is. I told some people my mom was no longer taking pain meds. I guess I had that wrong. She's still on the meds but they seem to be working and she is not in as much pain as before.
She's just had another biopsy, which was very painful this time. Hopefully the results will be more conclusive. Last time the sample was too small. She will have a PET Scan on Friday and we'll meet with the doctor again sometime after that. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and for God's hand on the procedures so that the tests come out clear and accurate. The doctor is trying to see what to do next.
In the meantime, my mom has been having some irregular heart beats. She went to the cardiologist today, but he said there didn't seem to be anything to worry about. He's having her go in for another test just to be sure.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers for my mom. Praise God for his lovingkindness and faithfulness.
May God bless you abundantly,
Linda
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