Update for July 31th 2010

New update: Yesterday morning I went into the hospital for a PET Scan. I have done so many of these scans over the last 6 years that the technician and I are on a first name basis. The scan was a rough one because of the pain I have been having in my back where we had radiated a tumor. You have to lay on the table (on your back) perfectly still. It was extremely hard to lay still because of the pain but, I made it through the test. After the test the technician (Joe) said that he usually doesn't show the patient the scan pictures but, because I have been a regular patient he let me look at them. The spot behind my left ear which we radiated back in February has some activity again. How much I do not know yet. I had thought that we had killed this tumor with radiation. I will find out more on Tuesday morning when I see both of my doctors. I will try and give an update on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

Please continue to pray for Linda and I as we get the test results on Tuesday.

Enjoy the rest of your summer.

God Bless you all,

Doug

New Update for July 13th

Last week my blood counts were to low to receive chemo treatment so we postponed treatment until today (Tuesday). I went in this morning to get my treatment and found that my blood counts were even worst then last week. The main blood count that they look at needs to be at 1500 to receive treatment. Last week it was at 1000 and this week it is at 500. This is kind of a normal cycle of ups and downs when doing chemotherapy. Your body can get depleted to a point when you just have to give yourself time to recover. That's where I am today. We talked about pushing out until next Tuesday but since I already have an appointment for August 3rd and have a PET Scan scheduled for July 30th I suggested we just wait until then for the next treatment. This will give me a 3 week break form chemo and a chance to recover. Everything else is going fine and I feel pretty good. The nurse warned me about colds, flu, and anything that I might be able to catch because my blood counts are so low.

Please continue to pray for Linda and I. I know that your prayers are what keeps us going.

We love you all

God Bless

New Update for July 10th

I'm sorry that I haven't updated the blog for a while.

I went in for treatment on Tuesday morning and found out that my blood counts were to low to receive treatment. So we have pushed the treatment out for another week. This gave me a chance to take Linda out for breakfast so that was nice. I have also been scheduled for a PET Scan on July 30th at St Lukes Meridian. These scans are important because they show us just what is happening with the tumors, if they are growing or staying the same. Other than that things seem to be going pretty well. I haven't been sick at all since my last treatment. There are a few other side effects that I deal with but the main one is nausea.

Well we are almost halfway through the summer already. I hope that everyone is having a great summer. Before long we will be talking about back to school.
Thank you again for all your prayers, it means a lot to Linda and I to know how many people are praying for us.

God Bless you all

Until next time stay cool from the summer heat.

Update for June 23rd

Well it's time to make an update on the blog. I went in for my chemo treatment yesterday and all blood counts were good. So I was able to receive my treatment. My next treatment will be July 6th. We will be going to the cabin next week and will have to come home on the 4th or 5th to make my chemo treatment appointment. I am still wearing the chemo fusion ball until tomorrow when I get it off. This fusion ball pumps chemo drug 5fu into my system 24 by 7 for 48 hours. It's a real pain at night when trying to sleep with it on. I think we will be talking about a date for my next PET Scan next time I go in. That way we can see what's happening with the tumors.

I hope and pray that you all are have a great summer so far (summer weather is bound to get here some time). Do not let your guard down over the busy summer, stay in the faith and close to Jesus all the time.

Keep praying for Linda and I as we continue our battle with cancer.

God bless you all.

"Do not be anxious about anything but by pray and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:16-17

I went into MSTI Nampa today to receive my chemo treatment. All my blood counts came back really good. I went ahead and got the treatment and everything went as planned. Sometimes I wonder how much more of this I can go through. I have been doing chemo treatments off and on for the last 6 years. This last set has been over a year straight. I guess I will continue as long as they are doing any good.

Please continue to pray for Linda and I as we go forward in this battle. We love you all and know that God answers prayer, I have seen it over and over again in life.

God Bless You,

Romans 12:1;John 14:21

"Holiness is not a merit by which we can attain communion with God, but a gift of Christ which ables us to cling to Him and follow Him."
John Calvin-Golden Book of the True Christian Life Pg 17

Well I went to MSTI yesterday to receive my chemo treatment. All my blood work came back alittle low but not enough to stop me from getting the treatment. I discussed with the doctor just how tried I have been lately and we decided I should take a couple of weeks off from treatment. So for the next two weeks we will be going to the cabin in Cascade to rest and relax.I will be trying to build myself back up.

Next treatment is scheduled for June 8th

I hope everything is going good with all of you. Please continue to pray for Linda and I as we still have a long journey ahead of us. I try to look at each day as a new day from God. He holds me up with His steadfast Love. He is my strong tower (Proverbs 18:10). If it wasn't for my relationship with Jesus Christ I don't know how I could have handled the cancer in my life. Jesus Christ is every thing to me. (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20)

May 11, 2010 Update

Doug and I are sitting in the chemo suite as he is in the process of getting his treatment. His blood counts were a little low, but the differentials were good, so he was still able to get the treatment. Doug was wavering a little bit about whether to push this treatment out until next week, but decided to go ahead with it since we were already here at MSTI. These treatments are very hard on him mentally, as well as, physically.

Since his counts were low he is scheduled to have a Nuelasta shot on Thursday when the chemo infusion ball is removed. This is to help build up his white blood cell count and as his nurse Barbara states, "to keep them in the Pac Man mode to eat away at the cancer and build up his immune system".

Doug has been reviewing/re-memorizing scripture verses we learned years ago during a Navigators Bible study class. He has been reminded of the importance of memorizing scripture as they guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and give us His peace, not the world's peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Thank you once again for all of your prayers for Doug as he continues this long often tiring battle he continues to fight. We know they make a difference as you stand in the gap for and with him before our gracious God on his behalf.

Blessings to each of you,
Linda