Apparently going to Arizona for the month of March was good for us. Yesterday, I had labs, followed by a CTscan of my chest to see if I had any lung cancer, since that was suspected by the doctors. Then I met with Dr Rojas, my oncologist. The CTscan showed that my lungs were looking much better than they looked on the last CTscan, so no lung cancer is present at this time. My oncologist did a pelvic exam and the cancer in that area is gone too. However, I will have labs & be examined every three months and have a CTscan every six months to make sure the cancer isn’t returning. My port will stay in for two years. My palliative care team has requested to see me tomorrow. I’m feeling pain free now other than neuropathy in my hands. It has been a long journey, since I was diagnosed with cancer a year ago. I’ve had thirty radiation treatments & several seven hour long chemotherapy treatments. My hair is starting to grow back and it is thicker than before. I’m looking forward to turning 80 soon, & to our great grandson being born to Leah & Zach in a couple of weeks.
More good news continued today when Rick had his appointment with Dr Gillett at Urology Specialists. His vitals were good and his PSA is down to 1.47 from a high of 19, so taking two chemo pills each morning is helping a lot. His testosterone was zero, so his hormone shots are doing what they are supposed to be doing. He continues to be shakey, fatigued, & have poor balance, but perhaps that’s the result of having a lot of birthdays. He will turn 83 in a few weeks. Even though he has hearing aids, his hearing is poor and without the hearing aids, he really doesn’t hear anything. Macular degeneration in each eye has caused it so he can’t drive, can’t read, or do much of anything without assistance. However, he doesn’t need to go back to the Urology doctor for three months. At that time they will also be exchanging the stent that goes from his kidney to his bladder. It is nice that Rick is not a complainer, but takes everything as it comes.
Prayer changes things. Thanks be to God for helping us through our cancer struggles, so we could hear this positive news. God is good.
