The Specialist

CANCER UPDATE

We are making progress toward a more long term plan. I’ve met with my surgeon, and today we went downtown for a second opinion from one of the top ovarian cancer docs in the country. 

Once all the reports are written and the docs have conferred with each other and with me, we’ll have a plan, but that might take a couple weeks.

We are exploring clinical trials, with the thought that something I haven’t tried yet might be more effective than something I have tried. But today’s expert recommended going back to another one of my original chemotherapies (Taxol) with my current med (Avastin), based on good results from a clinical trial called AURELIA (pretty, right? It’s some ridiculous medical acronym). It’s currently in phase III of clinical trials and seems to be twice as effective as chemo without Avastin, so it’s an interesting idea.

The universal recommendation on surgery is NO. The more you operate on an area, the more likely there are to be complications, and this would be the third time. It’s unlikely they’d get everything, so better to attack everything with medication than do a surgery that might cause me more harm than good.

While we’re making decisions, I’m doing a couple more cycles of Avastin by itself, then a CT scan in mid-June. If the Avastin is working, we may just keep doing that. Or we may change tactics.

I was excited to be on just the Avastin because the side effects are usually very mild. I was planning on feeling good and regaining strength.

HOWEVER…

That only lasted about a week. April was really discouraging because I was expecting to feel good, but instead my muscles and joints were stiff and sore, and got worse the more active I was. And nothing made it feel better. I wasn’t sure if it was the cumulative effects of all my treatment or aging or what, but it bothered me.

Today, the doctor said that can be a side effect of the Avastin! It’s not listed, but I sure would love to have a reason for my stiff and sore body, so I’m hugging this explanation tight! In Europe, they’re finding that half of the American dose of Avastin is still effective, so we’ll discuss reducing my dose in hopes of reducing my symptoms.

Good news: all my blood counts are normal or nearly normal! Hooray!

THE BOTTOM LINE

Please keep praying for…

… wisdom as we choose how to move forward.

… that the paths we choose will be remarkably effective, shrinking or even obliterating the cancer completely. I’m asking for many more years!

… that God will abundantly supply our strength and stamina and joy (because our own reserves are LOW).

… my body to feel better: reduced pain, fatigue, soreness, and stiffness.

THE IMPORTANT PART

Because the Psalms are so full of the real, raw, ugly emotions we feel when we’re going through hard times, I’ve spent a lot of time there over the past several years. For the past three months, I’ve read through Psalms each month (that’s only three pages per day, so pretty easy if you stay on top of it). I see new things each time, and last weekend Psalm 143 stood out to me as exactly what I need right now. So here’s my new cancer prayer:

Hear my prayer, O Lord,

Give ear to my requests,

Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness!

And do not enter into judgment with me,

For in Your sight no man living is righteous.

For my enemy [cancer] has persecuted my soul;

He has crushed my life to the ground;

He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.

Therefore, my spirit is overwhelmed within me,

My heart is appalled within me.

I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all Your doings;

I muse on the work of Your hands.

I stretch out my hands to You;

My soul longs for You as in a parched land.

Answer me quickly, O Lord, my spirit fails;

Do not hide Your face from me,

Or I will be like those go who down to the pit.

Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning;

For I trust in You;

Teach me the way in which I should walk;

For to You I lift up my soul.

Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies [cancer];

I take refuge in You.

Teach me to do Your will,

For You are my God;

Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me,

In Your righteousness bring my soul [and body] out of trouble.

And in Your lovingkindness, cut off my enemies

And destroy all those who afflict my soul [and body],

For I am Your servant.

Thank you so much for all your love and support! It encourages us in the best ways. 

Have a good week.