Visit With the Surgeon

Today's visit with Dr. Rose was somewhat disappointing. He said the cancer is back already in the area of the surgery. He also said my cancer is at Stage IV. I asked him if he got all the cancer during the surgery and he said it's impossible to get it all with this type of cancer. He told me it was urgent that I resume chemotherapy right away. "The threat to your health and your life is still significant." Not exactly what I wanted to hear.

On a better note, Randy and I will be traveling to the Chicago area next week so that I can be evaluated by Cancer Treatment Centers of America. They offer Abraxane, my chemotherapy drug of choice, which is not yet available locally. A lot of the reactions people have with Taxol are actually from the solvent that they use in it. Abraxane is Taxol without the solvent, so the side effects aren't supposed to be as extreme, but the results are good. I am not looking forward to traveling to Chicago, but God has again provided a friend for me during this time. Our friends Lou and Jeanette will also be there the same week! Jeanette has been going to Cancer Treatment Centers of America for over 16 years, has been cancer free most of that time, and is going back for a check-up. Lou is the pastor of the church Randy goes to when he is working in the Washington, DC area. It will also be Valentine's Day while we are there, so Randy and I can enjoy some romantic time alone. I plan to start treatment next week either in Chicago or locally, depending on the results of my evaluation.

Please continue to pray for wisdom as we face these choices.