LIFE AT 60 - PET SCAN II AND STUFF

On January 28th this year, I heard the words "What you have is most likely cancer!"  I refused to believe it then, but as time went on, it became obvious that most likely I did have that dreaded disease. THOUGH, I refused to believe it, and refused to give that word ANY credence.   I had gone to the ER with a very sore throat, and was having trouble swallowing.  I thought, eh, they will give me an inhaler and I'll go home and be fine in a day!  OH WELL, there were other plans that day, and the journey started!!

I have written over 36 blogs since that time.  During this period, I have have emotional highs, and emotional lows.  During the 1st round of chemo, I not only had that going on, but I contracted the flu to compound things.  THEN the dreaded NEULASTA shot.  For those of you who dont remember that, it is a shot that forces the growth of white blood cells.  MUCHO pain from that shot.  By forcing the growth of those cells, it forces the marrow in the bones to stretch, and if you can imagine shin splints to the 10th power!  Hard to walk, or really move during that time.  ALL of this compounded by the flu.  It was an interesting few days.  However, I still felt pretty blessed, even though I probably did not want to feel that way.  It was still far less pain than other people face going thru chemo, and other such things during their cancer fight.

2nd round of chemo was much better.  NO side effects from anything.  The chemo does what it does and there will always be certain things that go on with the body, but "this too shall pass".  LOL  What I was unaware of at the time was that I was becoming a bit anemic, so when the time for the 3rd chemo came around, I was unable to take it because of the platelet count being too low.  I will admit that I was not happy.  You kinda get psyched up for it, then to be let down, just did not sit well with me, part of the flesh happening.  Sometimes when you are on a journey, you THINK you have things outlined and under control, but often God has other plans.  HIS plans rarely coincide with our plans, yet they are always the perfect plans.

3rd round of chemo was OK.  I had side effects from the shot, but I believe that is because the Dr changed a couple of things, and possibly countered what we were doing to make the transition much better and painless.  Needless to say I had severe pain in the bones, muscles, and joints.  The chemo itself was not too bad, typical.  A bit more fatigued than I had been.  That was probably caused by the so called cumulative effect of everything.  I suppose that is probably right.  But once again God has been faithful thru all of this time.

That brings me to yesterday, May 14, I had the 2nd PET scan.  This is a scan that you have to lay perfectly still for about 35-40 minutes while this machine literally scans your whole body looking for cancer or any other abnormalities.  They give you a radioactive sugar shot.  Interesting side note, apparently this shot is strong enough to set off the radioactive scanners at the airport, and you will be stopped!  Fortunately I had no flight plans for yesterday!  LOL  (The shot is sugar because it goes directly to cancer cells. ) I had my IPAD playing some of my favorite songs in the background.  THANKS to Cory Edwards for his new CD.  I had downloaded it from I-Tunes.  Most of his CD are hymns, and one of my favorites is GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS.  Awesome piece when you need assurance.

It seems like I have caught all of you up on things.  But as Im reading this thru, I may have forgotten something.  OH YEAH!!  NO SIGN OF CANCER!  The PET scan showed no cancer.  Yes that is right, I did not mis write this.  GOD heals and he has healed.  I will still be taking the radiation, it is part of their protocol, and will include some more chemo with it.  HOWEVER it is important that you understand that when GOD heals it is done!  Drs can shake their heads, and wonder, but I KNEW going into this Dr appointment today that it would be good news, and God once again did not disappoint!  We live in a world where Drs do what they do and God does what he does.  He is an awesome God, and His love is a deeper love than any of us can imagine.

I will of course continue to keep everyone updated.  This is incredible for my family and my friends, but it is another testimony of God's grace and mercy!  His word is true and you can rely on that!