My regularly scheduled CT Scan on April 17, revealed another tumor in my small intestine. My oncologist’s (Dr. William Sharfman) first reaction was to start me on a recently approved (December 2014) drug, Nivolumab. This would have been an intravenous injection every two weeks for eight to ten weeks. Nivolumab is NOT chemotherapy. Treatment was to begin Friday, April 24. Nivolumab side effects are usually minimal and I would have been able to continue working and all other activities.
However, when my oncologist presented my case to the oncology team at Johns Hopkins on Tuesday morning, April 21, the surgeons on the team were very concerned about the tumor starting to bleed or cause a blockage in the middle of treatment. They strongly recommended surgery instead.
I found out about this on Wednesday morning, April 22, just after I had put Beth on a plane to San Antonio to visit two of our grandchildren for two weeks. Dr. Sharfman became convinced that the surgeons were making a good point and suggested I contact my surgeon from last August.
My surgeon, Dr. Dennis Johnson, was able to see me on Thursday, April 30. He was not fully convinced by the CT Scan and ordered a PET Scan for Wednesday, May 6. These delays were good in that Beth returned from San Antonio on Tuesday, May 5, as scheduled. After the PET Scan this past Wednesday, I saw Dr. Johnson on Thursday afternoon. The PET did reveal a tumor “down line” a little bit from my tumors in August. Dr. Johnson believes that it is in a good spot and should be a little less complicated than my last surgery—from his point of view anyway. I also have a hernia from the last surgery that will be repaired. The REALLY GOOD NEWS, though, is that the full body PET Scan revealed no other cancer activity!
Surgery is now scheduled for no later than Wednesday, May 27. It could take place a little sooner if there is a cancellation. Neither physician has confirmed that this tumor is again metastasized melanoma, and they can’t until there is a biopsy, but that is most likely the case.
Surgery is not exactly a picnic, but I am glad to feel good about the removal of the tumor, rather than hopeful about treatment. Of course, this recurrence is disturbing, but as we all know, cancer does not play fairly. However, we have a plan, good doctors, friends and loved ones who pray, and a loving, healing, Heavenly Father. In all of these we have great confidence!
Meanwhile, there are many good things going on in our lives. At the head of the list right now is the soon-expected birth of our fourth grandchild (due June 3), Ellie Catherine, to Jonathan and Anna in Mississippi. Beth was making plans to go to Mississippi for her birth, but she is feeling now like I will need a babysitter. Seriously, please pray that Beth can somehow get to Mississippi as soon as possible for our new arrival.
This will continue to be my update site. I will link from Facebook and from any other emails I send. Thank you all for your continued faithfulness to pray for us. Your thoughts and kind words are a great encouragement to us and we cherish every one of them! Let me encourage you to continue to use your gifts of encouragement with others. It is amazing the impact of a few kind words or the simple click of the “Like” icon!
Because of you we sense that the God of Angel Armies – and his soldiers below - are by our sides!
No comments:
Post a Comment