I am happy to report that 2.5 weeks after his most recent and the ultimate administration of this line of FOLFIRI chemotherapy, DJ Bigelow is regaining health and stamina - yahoo! The effects of the drugs on DJ's body have not completely disappeared, nor do we expect that they immediately will; but it's so lovely that on September 19 (which also happens to have been Caedmon Van Bigelow's 8th birthday), a day on which DJ would usually have been infused with chemotherapy according to the 14-day cycle, he did not take treatment! I pray and expect that as every day passes in which chemotherapy is not being put into his body, DJ will continue to heal and become increasingly healthy and strong! We hope and pray that in another month's time he will be totally recovered from the effects of chemotherapy and able to return to work fully and completely (he continues to work "light duty" for now, as fatigue and other symptoms are still present).
We did take a trip that day (Wednesday, September 19) to the oncology clinic to visit with Dr. Spillane, but it was a happy visit. Dr. Spillane has scheduled DJ for a PET/CT scan early in October so that an inside look-see can be taken; of course, we hope and pray that no cancerous tumors will be found at any place in DJ's body. DJ and the doctor discussed and planned a schedule for how often he will be infused with Avastin, the targeted, biological drug that is given for maintenance post-chemotherapy (and the schedule is that DJ will receive Avastin by infusion every third week for who-knows-how-long, perhaps a year). But the wonderful thing for me is that Dr. Spillane used the word "cure" in a sentence! I wish I had copied down his exact wording, as I do not recall what it was. What Dr. Spillane did not say, if I remember correctly, is "I guarantee that you are forever cured of cancer." What it may have been that he said was something similar to "I consider that you are cured and we will proceed in that manner". Whatever he said, when I heard the word "cure", I raised my hands to heaven and let out a whoop of excitement! :-) After our time with the doctor, DJ did receive a 30-minute infusion of Avastin - but compared to 3-4 hours of chemotherapy infusion plus 46 hours with the pump of poison, it seemed like a breeze (to me, that is; DJ does not find much if any joy spending time at the clinic, since the sights and smells and feelings of being poked and the taste of saline as his port is flushed and all the things he experiences are associative to him of illness).
I anticipate that DJ will be in maintenance mode for a time, i.e. that scans will be performed and blood work will be monitored and Avastin will be administered often for the coming months; and that Dr. Spillane's office will continue to pay attention to DJ's body for however long they believe is good and necessary. Some of my prior research indicates that a person can be considered to be in complete remission when cancer has been absent for at least 5 years (although Dr. Spillane did not give that specific time frame when we visited with him Wednesday). I also realize that cancer has a way of nipping at one's heels, so to speak; that is to say, within my community of friends who have experienced it, there is often a continual awareness of the possibility that it can recur, and with some a nagging fear that it will. I know that I don't know what the future holds; but who of us does? Life is uncertain, whether or not cancer has been one's experience; but the LORD will never leave us or forsake us! That's what I do know for surely sure! We will not worry or be anxious; we will trust and not be afraid! And I am grateful and glad that God's grace has carried DJ through to this point, and that God will carry us through to the end. I am happy for treatment to be past and to be in maintenance mode for now. I am happy for the presence of the Lord in every moment and every experience of our lives.
"Let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:11-12).
Thank you, dear friends and loved ones, for encouraging us, for praying for us, for supporting us with your love, for lifting our names before the Lord and taking our family to the throne of grace in prayer. God's goodness is given to us through you. We are grateful. Aaaaaa-men!
