For the last several weeks I have been working on my pain levels, trying to get the pain under control. I went to the doctor this week and we discussed my pain and if we needed to try something else besides the Tylenol 3 W/Codeine. The doctor added a pain patch (Fentanyl ) that I put on my arm and wear for 72 hours. This should help level out the pain from having spikes of pain through out the day.

Right now I am not going to do any more chemo until after my next PET scan, which I have scheduled for Oct. 1st. After this next scan we will decide how to proceed with treatment. It is really nice to not have to do chemo for now. I am already feeling better and am even getting some hair back on my Bald head.

Please keep praying for us as God leads us through this journey. I thank Him for each day that I am here and look forward to when He calls me home to be with Him.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

God bless you for your constant prayers for Linda and I we really appreciate it.

New update 8-4-2010

I went to get my test results from last Friday's PET/CT scan yesterday and to see both doctors (Oncologist and Radiologist). My test results were pretty good over all. There has been very little growth in any of the tumors, although one had increased by 2cm. Here is what the report says under the heading of Conclusion:
1. "There continues to be abnormal uptake within the left parotid (behind the left ear lobe) the gland the mass. Multiple bilateral lung masses, and lateral segment hepatic (the liver) lobe lesions consistent with the metastatic disease. The size of the lesions has slightly increased in size or are stable. (In other words there is not enough growth to measure exactly)
2. No new areas of abnormal uptake are identified.
3. There are multiple diffuse metastatic lung lesions which have slightly increased in size when compared to the previous study. (April 2ND was the last study). The lesions do not today show significant PET uptake which is likely due to the size of the lesions being less than 1 cm.

Over all we were pretty pleased that things seem to be stable for now.

After talking to Dr. Fiorentino about all the pain that I have been having he thought that instead of doing chemo treatments we should work on getting the pain under control. So he wrote me a prescription for some pain meds. He wanted to see me back in three weeks to see how things are going. So far the pain meds haven't done much good so we may have to try something else until we find the right one to use. So that's it for now. No chemo and back to see him in three weeks.

Thank you for praying for Linda and I. It was nerve racking yesterday while waiting to see the doctors, but I know that the Lord is in control and He knows best. I want to follow Him above all else in my life. I love Him and He is my Lord and Savior.

God Bless you all and please continue to pray for us.

Doug

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