Thanks for the update -- keep us posted!
Enrique
Sorry it as taken a while to update this. There have been a number of developments. However, I have also been quite sick and was unable, literally to update the internet as a result of that sickness like I would have liked.
After the CT Scan last week, and my illness that evening at eating, I never really got any better. Became very nausious very easily and had to lay down for long bouts for it to go away. Also very light headed and fatigued.
we did get a call the next day, telling us that the MRI had been moved up and sceduled for the next Friday, January 23rd (which was a week early) two days away, so off back to Houston we went. We drove down there that morning, Gail driving the whole way and me trying to be comfortable. They were an hour and a half behind on the MRI's. but got us in around 6 PM and then about 7:30 we started back. I took an extra morphine pill so I could lie down for the MRI the whole time I was "in the tube".
We then drove back to Sanger that night and arrived after midnight. I felt really bad, but was abe to sleep after getting home and felt a little better...but spent pretty much the the entire weekend in bed.
Then, on Tuesday of this week we drove off again, and stopped in Bryan, Texas and spent the night. We drove on into Hoston the next morning for my meting with the medical oncologists, Dr. Arujo. I was so sick by the time we got in there I really do not remember much of the interview. Thank God in Heaven for Gail, who took good notes. The Dr.s were very concerned about my immediate health , but also reviewed the results of the CT and MRI. They then immediately took me off of the morphine, deciding I was not reacting well to the constant amount in my blood. They gave me some anti-nausia pills, put me on a Fentanyl patch, with some break through meds.
This has seemed to help. We stayed the night that mnight right down the street from the MD Anderson Medical Center in the Holiday Inn. They made us a great deal on an entire suite when they were informed of my condition, so I could be close enough to get the meds changed if necessary.
This morning we came home and this evening I am feeling much better...though not by any means all the way there. Still getting morphine out of mybsystem and the fentanyl has its own side effects.
As to my cancer, the news on the CT scan of the lungs was good. No spreading to the lungs. The news on the pelvis MRI was not as good. Several of the spots there from the 1st MRI are definitely not cancer, but one spot, on my right Ilium, defintiely is cancer, so there was already spreading before we ever left Idaho.
We now meet with the neurosurgeon, Dr. Grimes, on Monday morning, February 1st, to discuss our options, which will definitley include considering the major, life-altering surgery to remove my sacrum (and now this other area on my hip) as probably the best chance to actutally treat the cancer and remain non-palliative regarding it. There is also, in addition to the prroton radiation, some carbon ion radial therapy that may help with the surgery. We shall just have to find out.
we are blessed to be meeting with one of the absolute world experts on this cancer, in one of the best places on earth to get it treated.
We continue to thank everyone for their prayers and faith on our behalf. I cannot tell you how much steength and help they have been...particularly the last 10 days when I have felt so miserable, wondering at times if I was not near death. God bless you each and my prayer continues that he will return the blessings on each of you many fold.
Sincerely, and in Christ,
Jeff