We just found out that one of Jeanne’s tumor markers is practically normal. It was at 57 before she first started chemo, and now it is 4. A normal score is 3!!! This, coupled with the “significant decrease” in size and numbers of the tumors on her liver, is GREAT news!
So, a little explanation. There are many ways that the presence of cancer is determined in a person’s body. Tumors themselves are viewed with CT, MRI, radiology, etc. They are counted and measured according to location and size. As well, blood is analyzed by a variety of tests. One test is called a “tumor marker.” The marker is not cancer itself, but these markers increase or decrease depending upon the cancer type and aggressiveness.
The doctor called us at 9:30 this evening, to deliver us the news about the tumor markers. Any call from a doctor sends chills down our spine. But, we will take more of those kind of calls.
We thought, well I, (Pat) thought, about creating an April Fools Day posting, but this is too good of news to joke about.
We are not out of the woods yet, but we certainly are making great progress.
Thank you all again and again for your faithfulness in prayers, and for meals, cards, gifts, and, and and....
Pat
Friday, April 01, 2005
Thursday, March 31, 2005
The Latest and Greatest (almost!)
Well, after about a week of wondering about scan results...is the chemo effective? Are the supplements helping the chemo to be effective as well as keeping the majority of negative effects from chemo at bay? Have I bargained with God enough, or have I strived enough in finding the right health care team etc. to warrant healing? (yes, I got a bit desperate :D)...
God has answered prayers for healing. We got the brain MRI results back today, and while we were not able to actually view the MRI or the CT body scans, the written reports are saying that the Gamma Knife worked-the three nodules are showing a "decrease in conspicuity". It goes on in big language to basically say that I have an "unremarkable brain". About the only time I like that terminology!!! (No comments, please!!) They can see no new lesions, and everything else looks normal. Yipee-no whole brain radiation at this point.
The CT scan also revealed that the lesions in my liver had "significantly decreased" in size and in number, with no evidence of cancer in my pancreas, spleen , adrenals or kidneys. This was a thrill. Not as fun as being first on the slope downhill skiing in new snow on a big mountain with perfectly ahaped moguls, but--we'll take it!!
It was a disappointing to hear that it has metasticized into my spine a bit-while my bone scan came back clear at first, evidently it takes the cancer a long time to reveal itself. Dr. Kenyon says, again, that if the chemo is working in my liver, it will be working in my bones. The findings, according to the report, are "probably stable", at least in part of the spine.
Now we need to pray that my body continues to handle the chemo well, and heal quickly before developing a tolerance to it. I'm on a manageable combination that allows me to be fairly functional, and it's such grace to have access to it. To see a "significant change" within about 7 weeks seems like a good start. We are hoping of course that this keeps up, and that the Lord will finish His good work in working through all of this treatment. There is no word on a mastectomy yet-I believe it would be counterproductive to interfere with the chemo schedule to have a major surgery while we're making good progress. It's great to have the dietary guidelines and supplements though, to feel like I'm part of the healing process and not totally reliant on the big guns for when blood counts are low and I'm unable to recieve the full amount of chemo, or when I just feel like I need some reassurance that I'm doing everything I can be doing.
Thank you again for your faithfulness in all you're doing, and for your prayers. They truly keep us going, and are obviously effective. May God grant us all faith, hope and love in our daily dealings, and a heart after Him.
Love you all very much,
Jeanne H.
God has answered prayers for healing. We got the brain MRI results back today, and while we were not able to actually view the MRI or the CT body scans, the written reports are saying that the Gamma Knife worked-the three nodules are showing a "decrease in conspicuity". It goes on in big language to basically say that I have an "unremarkable brain". About the only time I like that terminology!!! (No comments, please!!) They can see no new lesions, and everything else looks normal. Yipee-no whole brain radiation at this point.
The CT scan also revealed that the lesions in my liver had "significantly decreased" in size and in number, with no evidence of cancer in my pancreas, spleen , adrenals or kidneys. This was a thrill. Not as fun as being first on the slope downhill skiing in new snow on a big mountain with perfectly ahaped moguls, but--we'll take it!!
It was a disappointing to hear that it has metasticized into my spine a bit-while my bone scan came back clear at first, evidently it takes the cancer a long time to reveal itself. Dr. Kenyon says, again, that if the chemo is working in my liver, it will be working in my bones. The findings, according to the report, are "probably stable", at least in part of the spine.
Now we need to pray that my body continues to handle the chemo well, and heal quickly before developing a tolerance to it. I'm on a manageable combination that allows me to be fairly functional, and it's such grace to have access to it. To see a "significant change" within about 7 weeks seems like a good start. We are hoping of course that this keeps up, and that the Lord will finish His good work in working through all of this treatment. There is no word on a mastectomy yet-I believe it would be counterproductive to interfere with the chemo schedule to have a major surgery while we're making good progress. It's great to have the dietary guidelines and supplements though, to feel like I'm part of the healing process and not totally reliant on the big guns for when blood counts are low and I'm unable to recieve the full amount of chemo, or when I just feel like I need some reassurance that I'm doing everything I can be doing.
Thank you again for your faithfulness in all you're doing, and for your prayers. They truly keep us going, and are obviously effective. May God grant us all faith, hope and love in our daily dealings, and a heart after Him.
Love you all very much,
Jeanne H.