Dee McNama

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It is strange for me that my journey began in December 2020 let alone at all.  Days away from the awfulness of the year that held Covid-19.  I was full of hope that 2021 would be a better year with the Covid-19 vaccine and a new president in office.  I am still hopeful, but in a different way now.

Such a short time has passed since my diagnosis of "Cancer." Again!  I beat it in 1990, but the doctors are not as hopeful this time.  Good thing I am.   This time  I was having problems with a few simple bladder infections that would not clear up.  Then it was, "oh, its not bladder infections, but kidney infections."  I have an awesome doctor at Health Partners and she wanted all sorts of testing done to help figure out what the cause of the infections were.  Beginning December 29, 2020, I had a CT scan that showed a mass behind the liver.  The doctor could not see what it was so an MRI with contrast was ordered, a CT scan with contrast was ordered, and an MRI with a different contrast was ordered (for those who know me, you know how much I hate to go to the doctor, much less have all this testing done).  The doctor told me that they detected cancer cells in the liver.  She consulted with a liver specialist who suggested an appointment be made with an oncologist at Region's Hospital.  I saw the oncologist on February 1, 2021.  He informed me that I have a rare form of cancer, cancer of the bile duct in the liver along with two large and one small tumor in the liver.  The lymph node behind the pancreas also shows it has cancer cells.  The rest of my lymph nodes are unaffected at this time. Prognosis is not good and there is no cure.  Currently, I am being treated at Region's Hospital in the Cancer Care Unit.  The people who work there are wonderful! Very kind, proficient, and caring.  I could not ask for anyone nicer to administer my chemotherapy.  I have had two rounds of chemotherapy over the past two weeks.  Next week is an "off" week to allow my body to catch up with what was administered.  The thing that is the hardest for me is the fatigue.  I met my niece at Target today and after an hour, drove home and basically collapsed in my chair and dosed on and off the rest of the day.  I am used to being a "doer" so this fatigue thing is not my cup of tea!  The staff at the Cancer Care Center said I should rest, but that is hard to do!

My family has encouraged me to get a second opinion at Mayo Clinic.  My appointment there is March 2-3, 2021.  It will be interesting to see if they have another opinion as to how I should be treated. I am grateful to be talking with them and look forward to seeing if there are any other treatment options or studies I could participate in.

So many people have rallied around me.   It blesses me so much.  I am a born again Christian, which gives me great faith as to where I will go for eternity if all treatment fails.  My brother-in-law, Tom, drove me to my first oncology appointment, and when I returned to car, obviously upset over the diagnosis, he was quick to tell me God's plans are greater than man's plans.  I hold tight to that because I believe it!  This circumstance has caused me to draw closer to Christ and I feel a lot of peace about what is to come.  There are a lot of people praying for me and caring for me.  I cherish each and every prayer and scripture I have been given.  My family is so supportive and I am very grateful for their involvement in my life.  I can't imagine going through this alone.  I work for the best case management company around and they have been so positive and supportive and have my back.  I am allowed to work when I can and rest when I can which means the world to me. 

I will try to post as often as I can, but mostly wanted family who don't live here and friends who want updates to read the posts know what is happening.  If I am unable to post, I will have a family member do it for me.  I am hopeful and excited to see what God does.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11"  God gave me this scripture in 1985 and it as true today as it was then.  I hold on to that hope.

In Him,


Dee