Where else would we go?

Howdy, Folks!  Thank you for loving us!

Here are some groovy photos of DJ and Brookelow taken March 14, 2015, at the Opening Day Ceremonies of the PRGSL (Paso Robles Girls' Softball League).  We found out that morning that DJ had been invited to throw out the first pitch of the season, and that Brooke was invited to catch it.  The PRGSL board member who shared these photos with me noted the lovely smiles on DJ's and Brooke's faces.  :-)  I'm told that DJ threw a strike - and left-handed, even!

You may notice in the photo of DJ that he is pitching left-handed, and that his right arm is somewhat held near to his body.  That is because the pain in his right-side continues.  DJ received a PET scan last Friday, March 20, and unfortunately, the tumors in his chest wall are continuing to grow.  In my layperson's opinion, this accounts for his pain - erosion of the ribs and bothering of the nerves.

We are disappointed at the news of tumor growth, but not surprised.  I am not surprised, because last August when the cancer metastasized so quickly after DJ's surgery, the GI oncologist Dr. Koh that we met with at the UCSF told us that Stivarga is not proven to shrink tumors.  DJ was not surprised because he has a sense of his own pain and what he experiences in his body. 

We have tossed around several ideas of what may be occurring: A), the chemotherapy drug Stivarga and the dietary changes are not working at all.  2) Stivarga and/or dietary changes ARE working at slowing down the growth of the tumors (even if the tumors aren't shrinking).  C) this is DJ's suggestion: perhaps much of the growth that was measured on March 20 occurred from November 26 (the date of the most recent scan) to January 1 (the day that DJ began Stivarga), and the Stivarga has halted the growth since then; perhaps the Stivarga IS working, since we don't know exactly when the tumors grew.

In any case, DJ and Dr. Spillane decided in a phone conversation that DJ will increase the dosage of Stivarga from 1/2 to 3/4 dose beginning with his next round - which begins tomorrow, Thursday, March 26.  He has had the past 7 days off from the drug (it is administered in a 28-day cycle of 21 days on, 7 days off), and tomorrow marks the beginning of the 4th round of this drug.

DJ has also decided to increase the use of his various medications for managing pain.  My layperson's opinion on that is as follows - I wonder if he experiences a psychomatic affect when a scan tells the scientific story of what is happening - as if he allows himself to feel the pain when the knowledge comes along.  But it doesn't matter what I think - that's just a theory!  :-)

So the increase of these drugs will likely bring about an increase of side affects.  Today he felt very, very sleepy and somewhat nauseous (which is more unusual than usual these days, for which I'm very thankful - because fatigue can be slept away, but nausea is just the PITS!) 

In the meantime, last week DJ allowed himself one single donut (or was it two donuts?) from his favorite donut shop in the world, SLO Donut Company (affectionately referred to by us as "SLO DOCO") in honor of his 46th birthday.  Besides that, he is very cooperative with abstaining from sugar-laden foods, at my request.  (Don't pay any attention to his name-calling; I am not the food Nazi, I just make gentle suggestions of which foods might be more harmful and which ones more beneficial).  

Caedmon was happy to help pick out donuts

Smile for the camera!  :-)

"Maple Bacon" donut - a maple bar with bacon bits on top

Although the news of tumor growth is less-than-desired, I am grateful for the continued sense of peace and hope and joy that is in my heart.  The morning after we learned of the scan results, the LORD reminded me of "classic" scripture verses which bring much comfort to my soul:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways submit to God, and God will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6)."

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal (Isaiah 26:3-4)."

And I love what Peter said to Jesus in John 6:68-69, when many of Jesus' disciples turned back and no longer followed Him and Jesus asked the twelve if they wanted to leave, as well.  "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God."

Aaaaaa-men!  Where else would we go?  (Rhetorical question. Answer - there is no where else to turn, except to the One who who has the words of life.)  Yahoo!!

Happy Anniversary?

Hello, Friends!

I intended to post this two days ago on Sunday, March 8, the 93rd birthday of Mildred Crabtree - which also happens to be the 5-year anniversary of DJ's original diagnosis.  DJ is not at all interested to think about or "celebrate" his anniversary, but it is significant to me that he is alive and upright and functioning and contributing to society and as well as he is.  Thank You, LORD, for how you bless us!  And thank YOU, dear reader, for your prayers and expressions of support and love!  We are blessed beyond measure by God's grace!

DJ is today more than halfway into his 3rd round of Stivarga at half dose.  When we visited with Dr. Spillane last Thursday, there was no concern with DJ's blood work, and DJ continues to report to the oncologist that the side-effects of Stivarga are minimal and tolerable.  Dr. Spillane suggested that DJ have a scan in the near future (we are waiting for the orders to be given and for the radiology department to schedule DJ for that), since it has been almost 4 months since the last scan.  In my humble, layperson's opinion, the scan is more accurate than the tumor markers at indicating to us how the cancer is responding to the drug.  The tumor markers tell us something, but the scan measures the number and the dimensions of the tumors.  So I am happy for that upcoming information.  

Dr. Spillane also suggested that he increase the dosage of Stivarga; DJ's response to that is that he'd like to wait for the results of the scan.  I suppose that if the tumors are shrinking, DJ would be content to maintain the half-dosage of Stivarga and thereby not increase the uncomfortable side-effects; and I suppose that if the tumors are increasing, he may choose to increase the dosage of Stivarga.  

Since DJ began Stivarga on January 1, he has been having his blood taken and observed and he's been meeting with the oncologist twice monthly - to closely monitor his body's tolerance of the drug. Dr. Spillane seems pleased with DJ's progress, and he put DJ on a once-per-month schedule for blood work and doctor's appointments.

After that chitchat, we proceeded to the clinic in order that DJ could take his monthly shot of Xgeva.  He did not smile for the camera - so I did!  :-)

And so we carry on.  Hooray!  "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet will My Unfailing Love for you not be shaken, nor My covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you" (Isaiah 54:10).

Here is a cute photo of Caedmon in a very bubbly bubble bath:

 

Thank you for loving us!  May the LORD bless you indeed!