We are now in September and we have met with Dr. Goff the surgeon on September 10th. He was very thorough and explained to us the risks and scenarios that might take place during the surgery. There is probably one nerve and vein that they will have to sacrifice but he feels they are already not working because of how my diaphragm on the left side isn't working and the vein is where the blot clot was and the tumor had it closed off as well and the blood has re-routed itself and so I haven't been using it for some time. He did say he wanted to check with some other cancer centers to make sure that there isn't some other treatment they should be doing per-operation. He said it was good that the tumor shrunk 60% and he had hoped it would have shrunk more to make sure that he can take out all of it. Worst case scenario, he may have to leave some of the tumor in if it is close to some arteries that they can't mess around with. If that is the case then there may be some treatment of chemo with radiation but we won't know until we get the surgery.
The surgery is scheduled for September 26th. Dr. Goff has already spoken with the National Cancer Institute in D.C., and the medical oncologist who authored the papers on how to treat thymic cancer. This medical oncologist said that Dr. Goff and Johnson have done everything he would have done and that surgery is the best option now. He said he would look at the CT scans and let Dr. Goff know if there is anything else he can offer in terms of input after reviewing them. Dr. Goff said it was comforting to know that the person who authored the treatment of thymic cancer agreed that they have done the right treatment. So until then to all my friends and family, we'll be looking towards the 26th and from there I promise to be more prompt in getting an update on the blog. I ask for your continued prayers, faith, and thoughts on behalf of myself and my family. As my dad told me on every letter during my two years on a mission: "Keep the Faith"
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Labor Day Weekend
With everything that has happened in the last month, Gloria and I decided we needed a break. So we decided to use some free nights we had in Vegas and headed down there over Labor Day weekend. We took Zoe and Gloria's aunt with of us of course. It was great and a lot of fun and all we did was hang out. I think the fact that we got out of town we kind of forgot about everything and just enjoyed each others company. Zoe loved the Bellagio's water show even though it would startle her every time the water would shoot up in the air. She loved the pool too where we stayed.
When I was driving back and forth to St. George during the floods in 2011. I was making the trip weekly for about four months. I never stopped at Cove Fort near Beaver. This time on our way down we stopped and had one of the best experiences with the missionaries down there getting a tour of Cove Fort and learning about it. I recommend anyone heading either down or back to take an hour out of your drive and go have a great spiritual experience there.
When I was driving back and forth to St. George during the floods in 2011. I was making the trip weekly for about four months. I never stopped at Cove Fort near Beaver. This time on our way down we stopped and had one of the best experiences with the missionaries down there getting a tour of Cove Fort and learning about it. I recommend anyone heading either down or back to take an hour out of your drive and go have a great spiritual experience there.
What a Journey Thus Far!
My last post was July 30th and I apologize to those that may have been worried that something bad happened or that sometimes just not knowing can make one nervous. I was suppose to start my 4th round of chemotherapy on August 7th, but I was a little sick and so I had to wait until August 13th because the my oncologist said that even little cold combined with chemotherapy could have serious consequences to my health and my immune system. I was a little bummed by that news but at the same time knew that following my doctor's instructions is kind of like following a map. If you pay close attention to where you need to go you'll most undoubtedly make to your destination. If you don't pay close attention then you'll most likely end up way off course and then it takes that much more effort to get back on track.
August 13th came and went for my chemotherapy. I did pretty good this time but it was a little bit lonely because Gloria was unable to stay with me all the days I was there. There is always a positive for every negative I believe and that positive is the time away during the night and day always makes the heart the fonder. I didn't have any complications and as much as the nurses were so wonderful I told them that I hope I don't have to see them again. This was my final round of chemotherapy in the sense of being in the hospital for three days at a time receiving 72 straight hours of it. If I do have to do follow-up chemotherapy it will most likely be an outpatient and last only a few hours. I'm grateful to the medical oncology staff at McKay for their awesomeness in taking care of me.
August 21st I had a CT scan to see what the effects the third and fourth rounds of chemotherapy had on the tumor. This time though it didn't become a waiting game as the hospital had all the information from the previous scans and by Friday, August 24th we found out that the tumor had shrunk another 10%. 60% in total which I was very excited about and thankful to my Heavenly Father because the cancer is so rare that there is not a lot of information on how to treat it. My oncologist said many times the tumor will start to become resistant to the chemo drugs and so he said the reward does not outweigh the effects and so he wasn't going to recommend any more chemo rounds because of the toll it was taking on me. He said that surgery was the next step. They also found a blood clot on the CT scan so I had to go back in for an ultrasound to confirm the blood clot and was then put on blood thinners and some really "fun" shots that have to be administered into the stomach near the belly button. I'm glad I'm done with those for the time being.
This same day I started getting more of the chemo effects that I have not had to endure up to this point. This one being canker sores all over the inside of my mouth, a bad cough, and loss of appetite I spent from Friday, August 24th to August 26th in bed too ill to even get up. I did get some awesome medicine from my doctor that temporarily numbed the mouth. As I was laying in bed and just feeling physically horrible the following scripture came to my mind: "But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions." (Alma 34:41) I can say that this is true. Patience and trust in the Lord. At the time it seems that our troubles and afflictions may never pass but they do.
August 27th seemed like a normal day. I had a little bit of a cough and even went to the doctor's office to have my white blood count checked. I talked to my doctor a little and said I was fine for the most part just a little bit of coughing here and there but nothing serious. Well later that night around 9:00 PM I started to have a cough attack and ended up in the emergency room at Davis Hospital. My awesome brother Josh was there as he works there to get me in quick to see a doctor. They ran some tests and checked my blood and got me some good cough medicine so I could sleep. They found I had a respiratory infection and the blood tests came back that my white blood count was low and that my platelets were low as well. So the next day I went back to my doctor and got a white blood cell booster shot and also scheduled a platelet transfusion at McKay. The platelet transfusion was August 29th and it was quick and easy but man do those things make you sick as can be. The good thing is the effect was short lasting and by the evening I was feeling a lot better.
So we've had a few bumps in the road since finishing the last round of chemotherapy to say the least. Its okay though because we could have had these after each chemo session and I'm so grateful that I didn't. It's a question of attitude. Is the cup half empty or is it half full. We can either go in with a good attitude and a grateful heart for all the blessings we have in our lives or be negative and be bitter which doesn't help us grow or learn. If we don't grow and learn what was the point of going through everything? God doesn't allow us to go through trials just because. I strongly believe there is a reason for it and if we are willing to submit to his will, I know we'll come out stronger physically and spiritually and will be better people because of it.
August 13th came and went for my chemotherapy. I did pretty good this time but it was a little bit lonely because Gloria was unable to stay with me all the days I was there. There is always a positive for every negative I believe and that positive is the time away during the night and day always makes the heart the fonder. I didn't have any complications and as much as the nurses were so wonderful I told them that I hope I don't have to see them again. This was my final round of chemotherapy in the sense of being in the hospital for three days at a time receiving 72 straight hours of it. If I do have to do follow-up chemotherapy it will most likely be an outpatient and last only a few hours. I'm grateful to the medical oncology staff at McKay for their awesomeness in taking care of me.
August 21st I had a CT scan to see what the effects the third and fourth rounds of chemotherapy had on the tumor. This time though it didn't become a waiting game as the hospital had all the information from the previous scans and by Friday, August 24th we found out that the tumor had shrunk another 10%. 60% in total which I was very excited about and thankful to my Heavenly Father because the cancer is so rare that there is not a lot of information on how to treat it. My oncologist said many times the tumor will start to become resistant to the chemo drugs and so he said the reward does not outweigh the effects and so he wasn't going to recommend any more chemo rounds because of the toll it was taking on me. He said that surgery was the next step. They also found a blood clot on the CT scan so I had to go back in for an ultrasound to confirm the blood clot and was then put on blood thinners and some really "fun" shots that have to be administered into the stomach near the belly button. I'm glad I'm done with those for the time being.
This same day I started getting more of the chemo effects that I have not had to endure up to this point. This one being canker sores all over the inside of my mouth, a bad cough, and loss of appetite I spent from Friday, August 24th to August 26th in bed too ill to even get up. I did get some awesome medicine from my doctor that temporarily numbed the mouth. As I was laying in bed and just feeling physically horrible the following scripture came to my mind: "But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions." (Alma 34:41) I can say that this is true. Patience and trust in the Lord. At the time it seems that our troubles and afflictions may never pass but they do.
August 27th seemed like a normal day. I had a little bit of a cough and even went to the doctor's office to have my white blood count checked. I talked to my doctor a little and said I was fine for the most part just a little bit of coughing here and there but nothing serious. Well later that night around 9:00 PM I started to have a cough attack and ended up in the emergency room at Davis Hospital. My awesome brother Josh was there as he works there to get me in quick to see a doctor. They ran some tests and checked my blood and got me some good cough medicine so I could sleep. They found I had a respiratory infection and the blood tests came back that my white blood count was low and that my platelets were low as well. So the next day I went back to my doctor and got a white blood cell booster shot and also scheduled a platelet transfusion at McKay. The platelet transfusion was August 29th and it was quick and easy but man do those things make you sick as can be. The good thing is the effect was short lasting and by the evening I was feeling a lot better.
So we've had a few bumps in the road since finishing the last round of chemotherapy to say the least. Its okay though because we could have had these after each chemo session and I'm so grateful that I didn't. It's a question of attitude. Is the cup half empty or is it half full. We can either go in with a good attitude and a grateful heart for all the blessings we have in our lives or be negative and be bitter which doesn't help us grow or learn. If we don't grow and learn what was the point of going through everything? God doesn't allow us to go through trials just because. I strongly believe there is a reason for it and if we are willing to submit to his will, I know we'll come out stronger physically and spiritually and will be better people because of it.
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