Off to Battle ...

In 2 Kings 13: 14-19, there is a story where King Joash of Israel comes to prophet Elisha and Elisha tells the King Joash that he must strike Syria and destroy them.  The King strikes the ground three times to indicate the number of times he will attack Syria.  An annoyed prophet tells him that he needed to have struck five or six times to destroy Syria.  There are things in life that are not easy and it can take more than one try to get things done right.  God expects us to make an effort. And so in that light, here I go again off to battle. Hopefully, this battle will lead to a total return to health.

In June, as I was lifting weights in the 'garage gym' that my sons have set up, I noticed a new lump beginning to develop at the back of my left arm pit.  After about a week of mustering up my courage, I booked an appointment with my surgical oncologist.  A CT scan was quickly booked (which once again was clean!) and surgery number six happened on July 15. Needless to say I was very happy to have what had grown into this new large and painful lump removed.  They also removed a smaller growth from my left triceps area.

This past Thursday, I started a new chemo drug call Eribulin.  It is a push type and takes about three minutes to administer. That's right .... three minutes.  I almost fell off my chair when the nurse said three minutes.  I felt like I had won the lottery and honestly tried my best not to look too jubilant as I left the treatment area just a few minutes after I had arrived.  This is the same drug that the blood tests done in Mexico indicated to be very effective. My medical oncologist informed me that the last two patients that have been on this drug have had amazing results.  I really could use a little "amazing"!

I have more good news.  There is a radiation oncologist who says there is a 'strong maybe' to radiation.  Radiation was another treatment option that my blood tests had indicated was a good option.

My current treatment plan has me doing three rounds of chemo (chemo once a week for two weeks and then week 3 no chemo times three) and then radiation followed by another two or three rounds of chemo. I will learn more about the radiation possibility on September 21.

After my first day 1 treatment, I am thinking that I am going to be OK with the side effects of this drug.  Praise the Lord!! My poor oncologist was sad that I once again would be bald.  However, I honestly 'rock' bald so I am OK with it. So once again, "All is Well!".

I have put my problems into God's hands and encourage others to do the same with their problems.  God can handle things like no one else!  I have also asked God to guide my doctors and wash the cancer entirely out of my body just as he washes our sins away.

Psalms 17:6 "I call on you my God, for You will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer."

I am so grateful and have a really strong feeling that this is going to have excellent results.  Everything is in place and going the right direction.  With God's help, I will be done with this! :)

Thank you all for your love and support.  May we each be a light onto the world, may all chemo treatments be three minutes long and may God continue to bless us all!