It's been a while since we've updated everyone-there hasn't been a whole lot to report on as of late, but we got some good news again.
A dear friend had let Pat and I use her townhouse over at Eagle Crest last weekend--she said she thought we needed a vacation! While we were there, Dr. Kenyon called home and talked to Nicole. The CEA level had fallen to 4.0, so it is still going in the right direction. Yeah!! Now both he and the surgeon in Lake Oswego are thinking that a mastectomy may not be the way to go-it could be unneccessary, and put added stress on my body and weaken it so the immune function isn't as strong as it could be. We are still waiting to make a decision on that. It seems a little premature to be thinking about it, and as I said it the last blog, it is with a definite air of caution that I'm going ahead in my mind to a day where I will be cancer free. (Any surgery would need to be postponed until I am free of cancer cells and could go without the chemo for a period of time.) I believe that a lot of the changes that I've made will need to stay in place to keep this at bay. The next scans of the brain and liver will be on May 31st, and we'll recieve results on the 2nd of June from Dr. K. There were still about 6 lesions left on the liver at the last "scanning", which sounds and looks wonderful compared to the first scans. They looked like the liver shouldn't even have been functional. It's odd to think that 6 lesions would be good. 9 months ago, I would've thought it would be awful and terrifying, which it can be if I let my mind go in that direction. This is the ultimate challenge in "taking every thought captive to the Lord".
Jonathan Treasure, the medical-herbalist in Ashland, has increased some of the supplements that he wants me on-he's been awesome about staying a few steps ahead of where he sees me headed. He now has me on an anti-osteoporosis protocol with herbs and vitamins, and has increased some of the other stuff I was taking so I will still be able to tolerate the chemotherapy. As he said, this is a crucial spot, and I don't want to bottom out and develop a resistance to it, or have my body not be able to tolerate chemo while it looks like we could be in an extremely good place! It has helped tremendously. I have hardly any peripheral neuropathy, (none at present)which people can get easily with these drugs. (Even to the point where their skin peels off of their hands and feet) A lot of the other side effects I've been able to avoid as well, or have experienced a reduced level of discomfort, fatigue, nausea, etc. Many of the herbs have anti-cancer effects, and he knows which ones can work with which chemo drugs. He also is recommending options that I can go to the oncologist with, for instance yesterday I recieved a drug that helps stop bone weakening called Zometa, which I'd requested based on J.T.'s recommendation. Hopefully doing some of this earlier rather than later will prevent some long term problems, as chemo is so toxic to every system of the body! There are still some things that I could do to help this process out for the long run. If I can become free of lesions, etc., then I'll need to be aware of relapses. (It couldn't just be simple!!) I will be on a maintenance plan with Jonathan, and Dr. K. is talking about the chemo going on for a very extended time. We'll need to proceed with a lot of wisdom, so if you could be praying for us, we'd sure appreciate it!! Knowing whether to do a mastectomy, keeping up with the finances of all of this, getting the appropriate therapies at the appropriate times...it's a bit overwhelming sometimes. The Lord has been extremely faithful to bring just the right people with just the right information or encouragement at just the right time, and that has been a huge blessing.
Thanks for staying posted, and for your thoughts and prayers.
Many blessings to you all,
Jeanne H.
