Fighting Cancer Worries with Proverbs 19:23
I just finished talking to Marian this morning. Lillian is recovering from surgery to remove a metal plate that was put in her chin during her first surgery. She wanted that out before she started radiation. Even though medical personnel assured her the radiation wouldn't affect that spot, it was a major concern for her what would happen if it did (severe burning). So she wanted it removed. Chemo and radiation treatments will start just as soon as she is fully healed from the surgery. The surgery was Thursday and Marian says she has had a lot of swelling. But Lillian is tough and she's hanging right in there.
We see Dr. Flinn on Thursday for John's three month visit. His lymph nodes are getting pretty large again. The steroid shots only seem to reduce them for about a month and then they come right back. So we will be exploring other treatment options on this visit. We already know that Dr. Flinn thinks he should go ahead with chemo, which is the best hope for a long remission, rather than just masking symptoms with steroids. John admitted to me last night that he never feels good. And Dr. Flinn believes he will feel much better after treatment. Because John has three out of four good prognostic markers, he fully expects John to have a good response to treatment. I hope and pray he's right. This particular chemo (Fludarabine) is not supposed to cause severe nausea or hair loss. Many patients tolerate it quite well.
I don't look forward to Thursday. Making the decision to proceed with the treatment CLL patients refer to as the "big guns" makes me anxious. Some patients do remarkably well and others regret using it, explaining they've had the immune system of an aids patient ever since. So it's a little scary. I want John to have good quality of life and not be sick. And the hardest part is not knowing which decision will result in the best quality of life for the longest time.
I sure wish John could be asymptomatic like his mom and my dad (who also have CLL). Some patients with CLL never need treatment. But CLL is different in every patient.
I need to stop talking about it, I guess. I'm starting to feel those overwhelming emotions. And that doesn't help anybody. God is aware and I know He cares. His grace is sufficient.
Please keep us in your prayers! I love John so much and it's very hard not to worry about the future. But God does not want me to fear or worry.
Those who fear the Lord will fear nothing else.
(Prov. 19:23)
We see Dr. Flinn on Thursday for John's three month visit. His lymph nodes are getting pretty large again. The steroid shots only seem to reduce them for about a month and then they come right back. So we will be exploring other treatment options on this visit. We already know that Dr. Flinn thinks he should go ahead with chemo, which is the best hope for a long remission, rather than just masking symptoms with steroids. John admitted to me last night that he never feels good. And Dr. Flinn believes he will feel much better after treatment. Because John has three out of four good prognostic markers, he fully expects John to have a good response to treatment. I hope and pray he's right. This particular chemo (Fludarabine) is not supposed to cause severe nausea or hair loss. Many patients tolerate it quite well.
I don't look forward to Thursday. Making the decision to proceed with the treatment CLL patients refer to as the "big guns" makes me anxious. Some patients do remarkably well and others regret using it, explaining they've had the immune system of an aids patient ever since. So it's a little scary. I want John to have good quality of life and not be sick. And the hardest part is not knowing which decision will result in the best quality of life for the longest time.
I sure wish John could be asymptomatic like his mom and my dad (who also have CLL). Some patients with CLL never need treatment. But CLL is different in every patient.
I need to stop talking about it, I guess. I'm starting to feel those overwhelming emotions. And that doesn't help anybody. God is aware and I know He cares. His grace is sufficient.
Please keep us in your prayers! I love John so much and it's very hard not to worry about the future. But God does not want me to fear or worry.
Those who fear the Lord will fear nothing else.
(Prov. 19:23)
Comments
And please don't forget, as you've so eloquently said, "in addition to His presence with us at all times, we have each other." You're so encouraging to others, I hope it encourages you to know that I'm praying for you guys, especially for His peace and wisdom in how best to proceed.
I'm crying right now. John just looked at me and said, "Are you crying?" I said, "Yes." He asked, "Why?" And I said, "Someone just sent me a song and it's just what I needed today." Thanks, Sally.