Cancer Update - Time to try something else

Nancy and I met with Dr Garrett yesterday for my regular weekly update and blood work check.   All of blood work looked good, except CEA levels were creeping upwards again, but still low.  This just means I may have some new tumor growth but it is pretty slow growing.  

I have been taking Stirvarga pills every morning and the side effects have been pretty harsh on me.   I have been very very tired, which is normal side effect.  My mouth also is very sore with my tongue feeling like it is burned and a very sore throat, and losing my voice.  This has led to me not eating as much as I should so I have lost 10-15 lbs over the last 3-4 weeks.  The worst side effect was some excessive bleeding.   I am now taking a 10 day break from the pills to see if I can recover strength, gain some weight, and make sure the bleeding stops.  

We will meet with the Dr again on March 5 to decided on next option.   It will most likely be some type of infusion chemo.  This is where I get hooked up via my port and spend about 5-6 hours in the hospital at an infusion room.  Then I take a portable IV pump with me and get a continuous infusion for 48 hours.  Then back to MDA to get disconnected.  I am normally pretty sick and feel yucky for 3-5 days, and then recover pretty good.  This process would be repeated every other week.

If it is experimental chemo, then I have to be at MDA to receive it.  This will require me spending 3-4 days in Houston every other week.   If it is a standard chemo, then I may be able to go to Scotland-White in Temple for the procedures and be able to spend nights in Brownwood.   While the Temple option is preferred, I need to go with the option that will have the best result in containing the cancer.  

I have no regrets in moving to Brownwood and so glad we did this.   This is definitely the best place for Nancy to raise Ross.   The pace is very relaxing, the cost is exceptionally lower than anywhere else, we have strong network of friends & family here (and it's growing daily), and there is no better place for a little boy to grow up.   

Being on chemo the rest of my life will clearly require further personal sacrifice that includes a lot of discomfort and inconvenience.  This is not an ideal situation, but it is what you have to do in a cancer battle.  The other option is stopping all treatments, which is not an option for me as long as options are available.   The good news is that I can personally persevere and put up with any pain, discomfort, and inconvenience that is thrown at me.   I can do this because it will give me a little longer to watch Ross play sports, see Sarah more often, and spend another night with my wife.  I will rely on my God, my family, and my friends (my cloud of witnesses and happy few).  I will continue to run with perseverance and endurance.  I will keep my eyes on Jesus and will not grow a weary and lose heart.  That is not an option.    

Hebrews 12:1-3 (my personal guiding verse)

1  Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also alay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us brun with cendurance the race that is set before us,

2  1fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him bendured the cross, cdespising the shame, and has dsat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3  For aconsider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

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