Big update!! 

After a few months of waiting, Corey and Sarah made their way back down to Rochester to do follow up testing. Doctor’s wanted to wait a few months in order to let his body fully absorb the effects of the radiation, so this is the first time he has had blood work and testing done since his final treatment. 

Although it has been a great few months filled with a lot of family time, it wasn’t without anxiety and fear of the unknown. Corey has been battling exhaustion, soreness, and illness which are all to be expected from the hormone injections and radiation. 

Results show from this most recent visit that his levels are back down to what the doctors describe as “what they should be for a normal person his age”. This was amazing news because it means the radiation had a positive impact and the hormone injections are working!!  He is not cancer free by any means, however his doctors are very pleased with these results and feel as if he can continue the hormone injections over time to stall any further growth in the cancer. 

Unfortunately the exhaustion, lack of energy, soreness, etc. will continue as long as he is on these injections, but Corey will not need to return to Rochester for the next 6 months, at which point they will re-evaluate/test like they did at this last round of appointments and then go from there. In the words of one of his doctors “6 months at a time. We take this 6 months at a time. This 6 months things are looking up, we won’t know what the next 6 months hold until we get there. So 6 months at a time. This is good news!” At this time (this 6 month period), doctors don’t believe chemotherapy is the best next step, but this can change at further appointments down the road, it all depends on what future tests show. 

With the anxiety of the last few months subsiding briefly, Corey is trying to adjust to the way his body is responding to the injections and how this is his “new normal” as he will continue the hormone injections every 6 month visit for the foreseeable future. 

He is looking forward to being home and around for the addition of his 2 new grand-babies this spring and summer, and to continue spending time with the rest of his family! 

As always, hug each other and thank you all for your continue thoughts, words of kindness, and prayers. God is GOOD!!