I talked to Dr. Huh again and he is making plans for the new regimen of treatments and this is what we know so far. He wants to start a new series the first full week of February. He doesn't know exactly what the combination of chemotherapy/cancer medicines he will use. He said he is going to review all of the information in my chart and make a decision as to what will be best. Keep him in your prayers and ask God to direct him as he does this.
The next thing is that when the treatments start he wants me to put all of my chaplain responsibilities on hold. He said to stay home and rest until he says he's satisfied with the progress of my treatments. So basically I'm on medical leave until he says otherwise. Can you say "Praise the Lord!?" I did tell him that I have to have something to do or I'll go nuts and Tana won't want to be married to me any more. He said it will be a opportunity to spend more time with the kids. It will help me to have more energy for them instead of coming home from work and being too tired to play. I insisted that he let me do at least some of the menial tasks of a chaplain. He said "maybe, we'll see. Your health needs to be the priority not your job". Can you believe this guy? Well, it's not hard to see that God has blessed in a wonderful way. I really hate my cancer, but I love how God takes care of us and shows His love and power to us through it all. Keep us in your prayers.
In Christ,
Warren and family
Friday, January 25, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Scan Results
I talked with Dr. Huh today and he told me that my scans had indicated no change. It may sound discouraging, but not so if you consider what kind of treatments I have been on. The treatments for the last 6 months serve the purpose of stopping and stabilizing the growth of the cancer. It has done that so the news is good news. However, there is still the tumor marker to deal with. He said the marker had gone up, but we are unsure how much until the latest blood work comes back. When the results come back he will take into consideration how high or low it is and make a decision then as to what the next treatment will be. I still have one more treatment to go on this last regimen, but the last one I had on the 11th just about put me under. It came on extremely harsh and kept me down for over a week. I'm still feeble from that one. He may just let the last one go and start me later on the new one. He said he hated to see me suffer again like I did on the last one.
So, Doc has some decisions to make and he is very deliberate as he does so. lease pray for him as God leads him to the next phase of my journey. It comes with a double edged sword. On the one side we expect to see some shrikage in the tumors, but on the other we face a whole new set of side affects and life changing adjustments. It's hard on all of us, even the children. So keep us in your prayers as we await the news as to what's next and what it will do for me. Pray for God's hand to be on me and on the family. There is such a battle on every side of our lives. Physical, spiritual, emotional, mental ... you name it we battle it.
Thanks for you love and prayers.
Warren
So, Doc has some decisions to make and he is very deliberate as he does so. lease pray for him as God leads him to the next phase of my journey. It comes with a double edged sword. On the one side we expect to see some shrikage in the tumors, but on the other we face a whole new set of side affects and life changing adjustments. It's hard on all of us, even the children. So keep us in your prayers as we await the news as to what's next and what it will do for me. Pray for God's hand to be on me and on the family. There is such a battle on every side of our lives. Physical, spiritual, emotional, mental ... you name it we battle it.
Thanks for you love and prayers.
Warren
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Scan date moved
Warren has had a pretty rough week. He has been sick and has not felt well at all. They were doing a scan on the 31st, but today he could not keep food down, so they have moved his scan to tomorrow at 11:45 am. Please pray for a good report, or that if there is another problem that we can take care of it quickly. Thank you for the faithfull prayers.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Time...where does it go?
It's been a while since our last entry. Warren has had a rough month. He is so tired. They have him on another antibiotic and prednisone as he continues to get sinus infections. The prednisone gives him insomnia, so he can't sleep at night, but then he sleeps off and on through the day. The doctor gave him a month off of chemo. It was much needed, because his body is so tired. A month seemed like such a long time, but here it is already up and Warren starts chemo again on Friday, January 11.
December came and went with so many activities. I love the Christmas season!! All the excitement and crazy schedules (well, I could do without the crazy schedule) anyway, we did have a wonderful Christmas holiday. We went to Minnesota with my family. It is a very busy time, but so nice to get away and have a different schedule. It was hard for Warren at times, because he needed to rest but was afraid he would miss out. Dave Martens came many times to my parents house to hang out with Warren when he had to stop. I really appreciated the time he spent with Warren. I also thank my parents for having all of us to their home and having us come in with all the kids and just invade their quiet space. We had a great time. Now we are back to our home and school and doctor/chemo schedule. As I look back over 2007, I am so thankful for what God has done for us. God is good!! He has provided above and beyond our needs and has supplied many of our wants. I was listening to the radio today and heard a song I'm sure many of you know. It is about Paul asking God to relieve him of his suffering, and God says "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness". Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor. 12:9 I have asked God many times to heal my husband, but right now he has chosen to keep us right where we are, but He has promised to give us his grace and he has so many times. For that I am truly thankful everyday as he keeps us going forward and allowing us to share our faith with others. We are also so thankful for the many cards and calls and e-mails, etc. that have been sent through the year. What a blessing to recieve them and they give such strength to us. Please keep us in your prayers through the days and months ahead as we go through this journey. Your prayers are greatly coveted. God is good!!
December came and went with so many activities. I love the Christmas season!! All the excitement and crazy schedules (well, I could do without the crazy schedule) anyway, we did have a wonderful Christmas holiday. We went to Minnesota with my family. It is a very busy time, but so nice to get away and have a different schedule. It was hard for Warren at times, because he needed to rest but was afraid he would miss out. Dave Martens came many times to my parents house to hang out with Warren when he had to stop. I really appreciated the time he spent with Warren. I also thank my parents for having all of us to their home and having us come in with all the kids and just invade their quiet space. We had a great time. Now we are back to our home and school and doctor/chemo schedule. As I look back over 2007, I am so thankful for what God has done for us. God is good!! He has provided above and beyond our needs and has supplied many of our wants. I was listening to the radio today and heard a song I'm sure many of you know. It is about Paul asking God to relieve him of his suffering, and God says "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness". Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor. 12:9 I have asked God many times to heal my husband, but right now he has chosen to keep us right where we are, but He has promised to give us his grace and he has so many times. For that I am truly thankful everyday as he keeps us going forward and allowing us to share our faith with others. We are also so thankful for the many cards and calls and e-mails, etc. that have been sent through the year. What a blessing to recieve them and they give such strength to us. Please keep us in your prayers through the days and months ahead as we go through this journey. Your prayers are greatly coveted. God is good!!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Dr. Visit update
I had another visit with the doc today. My tumor marker is steadily on the rise. It had gone all the way down to 31.1. Since then it went up to 34, then 37 and now 39. I asked him if the chemotherapy is starting to level off in its effectiveness and he shook his head yes. It's just like the last regimen I was on. It does a good job for a while and then it begins to fade off. Doc says we'll try to finish this regimen (which goes through January) and get a scan at the end of January.
He is also prescribing some things to get rid of or at least contain the sinus infection. He is also doing some things to help my breathing. It has gotten a bit haggard lately. Is Haggard a real word? Anyway, I feel decent and I still enjoy life. I got to deer hunt with my brothers this year. That was a special blessing as we don't get to do a whole lot together these days. I hope to do it again next year.
Some may ask if I'm worried about the marker rising and the chemotherapy losing its effectiveness. Not really. The marker is considerably low compared to others and as far as the chemo is concerned, well, it's just a form of medical practice. God will decide what will work and what will not. I'm sure He isn't counting on the chemo to heal me so why should I. He has His hand on my body and nothing happens without His doing or consent so pray that He will allow healing. It's hard to know the mind of God on such matters, but it doesn't hurt to share our mind with Him and pray to that end, so please pray.
Thanks to all of you who follow this blog and pray. Remember to pray for us spiritually, emotionally and mentally as well. It is an all around battle. Thanks also for your responses. They are so very encouraging and we look forward to reading them from day to day. Share the blog with others and recruit the prayer warriors. We do so appreciate it.
God bless.
He is also prescribing some things to get rid of or at least contain the sinus infection. He is also doing some things to help my breathing. It has gotten a bit haggard lately. Is Haggard a real word? Anyway, I feel decent and I still enjoy life. I got to deer hunt with my brothers this year. That was a special blessing as we don't get to do a whole lot together these days. I hope to do it again next year.
Some may ask if I'm worried about the marker rising and the chemotherapy losing its effectiveness. Not really. The marker is considerably low compared to others and as far as the chemo is concerned, well, it's just a form of medical practice. God will decide what will work and what will not. I'm sure He isn't counting on the chemo to heal me so why should I. He has His hand on my body and nothing happens without His doing or consent so pray that He will allow healing. It's hard to know the mind of God on such matters, but it doesn't hurt to share our mind with Him and pray to that end, so please pray.
Thanks to all of you who follow this blog and pray. Remember to pray for us spiritually, emotionally and mentally as well. It is an all around battle. Thanks also for your responses. They are so very encouraging and we look forward to reading them from day to day. Share the blog with others and recruit the prayer warriors. We do so appreciate it.
God bless.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Small Details to pray about
Hey all,
Just letting you know that I had a treatment a week ago last Friday and every time I have a treatment they take blood and check my counts to see if I'm healthy enough to take the treatment. If the blood counts are low then they have to put the treatment off until they are high enough again. I do have some counts that are beginning to bottom out a little so pray that they will stay high enough to take treatments.
The other reason I tell you this is because they also check my cancer marker as well. The doc says it went up a little when they check it this last treatment. How much I don't' know because I asked him in passing instead of during an appointment when he would usually have my chart in front of him. He said "It went up a little, but it will go back down again". It has come to the point where it will slow down and bounce up and down throughout the rest of the treatments. It's a little nerve racking if I allow myself to focus on the marker, but I don't. However, it is very worthy of our efforts in prayer. That is why I post this information. This is where the battle gets long and gaining ground is slow. So pray for patience or for quicker results.
We do so appreciate all of your prayers and your responses. How encouraging it is to know that God's people have enlisted themselves in helping us fight this fight. Pass on our blog to others and encourage them to pray as well.
God bless
Just letting you know that I had a treatment a week ago last Friday and every time I have a treatment they take blood and check my counts to see if I'm healthy enough to take the treatment. If the blood counts are low then they have to put the treatment off until they are high enough again. I do have some counts that are beginning to bottom out a little so pray that they will stay high enough to take treatments.
The other reason I tell you this is because they also check my cancer marker as well. The doc says it went up a little when they check it this last treatment. How much I don't' know because I asked him in passing instead of during an appointment when he would usually have my chart in front of him. He said "It went up a little, but it will go back down again". It has come to the point where it will slow down and bounce up and down throughout the rest of the treatments. It's a little nerve racking if I allow myself to focus on the marker, but I don't. However, it is very worthy of our efforts in prayer. That is why I post this information. This is where the battle gets long and gaining ground is slow. So pray for patience or for quicker results.
We do so appreciate all of your prayers and your responses. How encouraging it is to know that God's people have enlisted themselves in helping us fight this fight. Pass on our blog to others and encourage them to pray as well.
God bless
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Scan results good
Hey, all!
Sorry to keep you all waiting for the results of my scan. It has been a crazy week. Dr. Huh says the reports came back good stating that the legions or tumors are stable. So, for now we have stopped the growth of the cancer in the lungs. The liver is still stable as well. Now we have to begin praying that this treatment reinforces that work and continues to shut down the processes the cancer established to be able to grow. Pray that the tumor marker goes down as well. It was last charted at 31.1. The lower it goes the less the cancer can grow. It's complicated to explain, but know that a lowering tumor marker is always good. Ideally we want it to go all the way to zero. That's when you know you're putting the hurt on the cancer. It was at 3.8 before it began to grow again last May so we know it is a possibility.
Dr. Huh also ordered a scan to be done on my head at the last minute to make sure things had not progressed in that direction. They were negative (PTL). On the bad side of things, the doc said that I have developed a sinus infection due to the chemotherapy. Pray that the antibiotics can deal with it before it becomes a sinus surgery situation again. I really hate the whole surgery thing. It seems like a small thing, but my body has no ability to fight this on it's own, so pray that God spares me the misery of a lasting infection and it's draining affects on my body.
I would also ask that you pray for a patient of ours. Her name is Norma and she has fought cancer for many years now and she is slowly fading from this life. I went to see her today in her home and she is in Hospice care just waiting for God to take her home. She is saved and knows heaven to be her final home. She and her family need our prayers.
I know that there are many who are reading this blog and I ask that you pray for us. You must know that this is much more than a physical battle. God desires to use my cancer for His glory, but it won't happen if I can't get up every day with the Hope of my salvation and a readiness to give an account of that to those who need to hear it. It's a spiritual battle and I need your prayers for that as well.
Thank you all for your love and prayers. It truly does make the difference in our lives from one day to the next. God bless you all.
Sorry to keep you all waiting for the results of my scan. It has been a crazy week. Dr. Huh says the reports came back good stating that the legions or tumors are stable. So, for now we have stopped the growth of the cancer in the lungs. The liver is still stable as well. Now we have to begin praying that this treatment reinforces that work and continues to shut down the processes the cancer established to be able to grow. Pray that the tumor marker goes down as well. It was last charted at 31.1. The lower it goes the less the cancer can grow. It's complicated to explain, but know that a lowering tumor marker is always good. Ideally we want it to go all the way to zero. That's when you know you're putting the hurt on the cancer. It was at 3.8 before it began to grow again last May so we know it is a possibility.
Dr. Huh also ordered a scan to be done on my head at the last minute to make sure things had not progressed in that direction. They were negative (PTL). On the bad side of things, the doc said that I have developed a sinus infection due to the chemotherapy. Pray that the antibiotics can deal with it before it becomes a sinus surgery situation again. I really hate the whole surgery thing. It seems like a small thing, but my body has no ability to fight this on it's own, so pray that God spares me the misery of a lasting infection and it's draining affects on my body.
I would also ask that you pray for a patient of ours. Her name is Norma and she has fought cancer for many years now and she is slowly fading from this life. I went to see her today in her home and she is in Hospice care just waiting for God to take her home. She is saved and knows heaven to be her final home. She and her family need our prayers.
I know that there are many who are reading this blog and I ask that you pray for us. You must know that this is much more than a physical battle. God desires to use my cancer for His glory, but it won't happen if I can't get up every day with the Hope of my salvation and a readiness to give an account of that to those who need to hear it. It's a spiritual battle and I need your prayers for that as well.
Thank you all for your love and prayers. It truly does make the difference in our lives from one day to the next. God bless you all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)