Journal entry by Joy Bowser —
Our update today is similar to our report in November, it is just a little more detailed.
Thoughts- I remember vividly about 5 years ago sitting up late watching a special with Steven Curtis Chapman on channel 40 WLMB. He sang "I Will Be Here. " It was early on in Bill's first year journey with his cancer, he had his third or fourth treatment at that point. We (the girls and I) had made it through Christmas wondering if there would be another one. Only 18 percent make it through the first year, with his type of cancer. ( At that time, currently it has risen to 33 percent! Praise God!) This song came on. It is a long time favorite of ours. Bill was in bed, and I cried silently through this song, tears streaming, wondering...
We are beyond thrilled to know that as of a week ago Monday "there was no evidence of new or progressive metastatic disease in the abdomen, pelvis, with numerous findings described above stable." We heard these words from Bill's oncologist yesterday. And yes, I made him repeat them, twice.
In last weeks' sermon, our pastor Doug said, "10 out of 10 people will die, we just don't know when." What we can know is where we are going when God calls us home. It is such a relief to know that for us, cancer is not winning this fight. This song this morning when I listened to it again, brings not sadness but tears of joy.
I've said it before, and I say it again today, I don't know why or how God chooses who is healed here and who gets to be healed eternally, and I'm just as glad I don't. I only know that he is good and he is gracious in our fears and in our doubts. All he asks us to do is be His. I am thankful that Bill and I, together, know the Lord and have allowed Him to lead us every step of this journey. We even believe that the timing of his diagnosis was orchestrated to the best treatment.
Our oncologist re-iterated to us yesterday that 10 years ago, Bill would be gone in a year. We're not sure exactly when that mole started on Bill's neck, but the doctor had been watching it for 2 years when he sent him to a dermatologist. We are so thankful for immunotherapy and the technology that is ever changing and most of all for the God who brings the healing. While we continue treatment, we pray for continued shrinking of the old nodules and lesions.
I took out several of the CT scan results for the last 5 years and am amazed at the way that the initial tumors have gotten smaller. We went from a larger 4.5x3.8 cm mass on the right lobe of the liver in 2019 to a .4 cm nodule last week. What they are now seeing as a "stable low density, likely cystic lesion measuring 2.7 cm." We've watched this thing shrink before our eyes in the test results in the last 5 years and pray that the treatments will continue that trend.
We've heard many tell us early on that we should "sue the doctor" that waited 2 years before sending him to the dermatologist. We've never thought at all about that. In just the past week we were talking about how this treatment probably would not have been available in that time span and how fortunate we have been with picking the treatment that we did. We knew going in that chemotherapy, if it did work, would have to be discontinued in a year and something else done. It wasn't a good match with his diabetes situation so we decided to try this new "immunotherapy." It has been a life changer for us! So very, very thankful for those who prayed for guidance and wisdom in those early days. God is so very good.
Where from here? Bill has a small spot on his neck that Dr. Brown thinks is a sebaceous Cyst- mainly fluid. We will be following up in March with the dermatologist about having that removed and biopsied to be sure. Dr. Brown does not see a need to rush. It can be looked at on his 6 month visit.
Bill will continue with his monthly treatments as preventative care.
We were able to get some dental insurance for Bill while we were at the Health Markets setting up my insurance for this year. We will be getting antibiotics from Dr. Gomez in March and following up with a dentist appointment for Bill.
This will open the door for frequent checks for oral cancer
While at his appointment with Dr. Brown, he mentioned working with the VA while he was at U of M and the long days that they worked and the great respect he has for the VA and their doctors and staff. We didn't mention the cancer review group to him figuring that he already knows about it and possibly even had a hand in setting it up.
Bill spent about a week at Christmas time sick with an upper respiratory bug. We were able to have our Christmas with Val and Sarah and their families along with James and Sydney, and Bill and Beth. We had Christmas with Becca and Ryan, Kyra, Shelby and Reece on the 10th of December. I got by cooking with help from Grace making Bill's noodles, (as she has done for 5 years now) and Titus and Isaac baking and cutting out cookies. The girls helped a bit with the final touches on Christmas Eve. Bill is still battling the cough which made him miss out on the rest of deer season.
We are hoping to make some day trips to visit the nephews and their families. Some genealogy trips here and there. Maybe a trip to Amish Country before the end of March. There are some special packages available that look nice. Full steam ahead! If you have any suggestions let us know. We are hoping to go north this year also.
We are so thankful for your prayers and support. We can't imagine this journey on our own. We invite you to stop by for coffee and a visit, when you have a chance. Bill's phone number is 419-704-8968. Mine is 419-277-7028. Make sure we're home and stop by.
We'd love to thank you in person, if possible.
GOD IS GOOD! So Very, very GOOD!
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