Good news!

This past weekend was filled with anxiety as I prepared both physically and emotionally for yesterday's PET scan. This scan was our first indication of whether or not the cancer is responding to the hormone therapy. After a very stressful three hours at Hershey Med, my doctor walked into the room with a big smile. It's always a good sign when the doctor is smiling!

We don't have the written report from the radiologist yet, but we viewed the scan images with my doctor and they looked very good. The breast tumors are smaller and there's strong indication of healing in my bones. We couldn't find any indication of the tumor in my liver where just three months ago it measured the largest of them all at 2cm. Absolutely amazing!

My doctor said she's very pleased to see such good results this early on. I'll continue with this treatment plan and have my next scan in 3 months. I'll probably be in a position to have surgery in January to remove the original breast lumps. My doctor expects that the lumps will be small enough that only a lumpectomy would be necessary rather than anything more radical.

I've spent the last three months focusing a lot on nutrition and exercise. The results of the scan have given me the encouragement that I needed to keep at it. I'm meeting with a doctor in a few weeks to get a better medical understanding of nutrition and it's effect on cancer cells. This doctor, Dr. Neeley, is an oncologist at Hershey Med and also runs his own business for holistic medicine. That's exactly the combination of expertise that I need! I continue to be amazed at the people that God has allowed me to meet through this experience.

We've been studying the Old Testament in Sunday School and of course the obvious place to start any Old Testament study is Genesis. I can't even begin to fathom the incredible power of God that he was able to bring the entire Earth into existence with words alone. Just imagine....God spoke the words "Let there be light," and there was light. God spoke the words "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. Wow! Oh what God must think when he hears my cries for healing. What a simple thing for the Great Creator to do! Thinking upon this has made me realize that our prayers and our understanding don't even begin to scratch the surface of God's power and capabilities.

I often hear people use the phrase “you can beat cancer.” Let's get one thing straight, there is no “beating” cancer until a cure is found. At this point, I am thankful that God isn't allowing cancer to win this round.

Rich's view.... PET scans and helplessness

Many of you have been encouraging me to write my view to Missy's breast cancer.  It has taken me some time to collect my thoughts, work up the guts to really sit down and think about it... and honestly find the time. 

As you are all aware Missy (my wife/life and soulmate) was diagnosed on 7.20.09 one of the worst days of my life.  From there the outlook seemed to go downhill as we got bad news after more bad news.  (2 types of cancer, spread to bones, liver, lung, and she is only 39....hope I don't get in trouble for letting that little tidbit out!!) 

A few days later we recieved news that the liver biopsy was the same type of cancer (CA) that was in the breast and that they both were 100% estrogen receptive WHOO HOO it is amazing what you can be happy about.

Since then we have been in treatment; now I say we but for me it is a bit surreal I don't get injections, I don't get infusions, I don't need to watch my diet (although I did adopt most of her changes just because it is healthier) I don't get scans or anxiety about "how am I really doing".  Bascially the we in treatment is me sitting on the side being as supportive as I can.  Now you may be thinking how wonderful he is so supportive that is a true blessing.  It is true to a certain point...

I work in healthcare, my mother died of lung CA @ 53 years old (smoked like a chimney) I know stuff... I know where to look for stuff.  However, being supportive is all I can do because it (this) is beyond me!  I feel helpless sometimes, now I know this is not about me it is totally about missy... every waking moment my mind is on her and when I pray I sometimes do not even get very far before I say "you know my prayer even before I say it"  But there are times that helplessness is a legitimate feeling for me  because I have no control.  It is out of my hands and into GODS (can you imagine how long it has take me to turn it all? over to GOD).  At times I'm still not sure I'm strong enough in my faith then again I'm merely human!

I wax and wane between a positive attitude of "lets kick the crap out of cancer and make it rue the day it tried to grow in her body.  Lets fight and make that cancer think each morning "crap she is awake.. LOOKOUT!!"

Then on the otherside I think of my mother who died 9 months after diagnosis withered away from a vibrant (ask missy WOW) women who worked too much down to a shell of a women who could barely get up and go to the bathroom without help. The thought of that happening to my wife scares the crap out of me! 
I realize that some of this is irrational (funny usually hormonal women are the irrational ones.... I'm just kidding, calm down!)  but like I said this is what goes through my head sometimes. 

I did an walk for breast CA a few weeks ago and during the walk we went through the rememberance and "who you are supporting area" where there were signs with peoples names...I could not look at the rememberance side! 

No I'm burying my head in the sand... well maybe a little from time to time but it seems to me that this is natural isn't it? 

Tomorrow 11/2/09 is a big day wait I mean a BIG DAY!  we have a PET scan @ 7:30ish where we find out the results of treatment up to this point! 

All day I kept telling GOD that no matter what the results of the tests are that he will recieve my priase... I sincerely hope I can follow through, I told GOD that it would be easier if the results were fantastic and the cancer was gone (if faith can move a mountain surely GOD can cure cancer in my wife!). 
At the end of the day tomorrow GODS WILL BE DONE NOT MINE! NO MATTER WHAT THE RESULTS! 

The last month has been status quo pray, eat, work, pray sleep, workout (her more than me... I'm like the plumber with the dripping fawcet in his home) and now the PET scan is here SMACK right in the kisser.  It is amazing how complacent we can become even in the greatest of challenges.

If you are reading this then you are important to us!
If you are reading this then I ask you to pray!
If you are reading this and you don't pray I ask you could you go through this (or watch someone you adore) go through this without GOD?  Think about it! 
If you are reading this KNOW that our strength, our positive attitude (most of the time) our faith is all becasue of CHRIST
If you are reading this and do not know CHRIST, however you know us then maybe you should get to know what we know!

Rich