Health Update 4-2-09

Here's the latest news on my health. 

I had a CT Scan this past Monday and the results are that all of the large tumors that they are monitoring have shrunk about 50-60%.  So the treatment is working - praise and thanks to God and thanks to all of you who have prayed and encouraged me. 

The doc said that for 20% of people, they can do nothing.  For another percentage of folks, they are able to treat and stop the growth of the tumor(s), thus keeping it stable.  For another percentage they are able to shrink the tumor some and for a smaller percentage the tumors go away completely.  I asked the doc if I could reasonably hope to see these tumors go away and he said yes.  Of course, my hope is in Christ, but it was good to hear the doctor say this. 

What this means for the short term is that nothing changes in the treatment.  I'll continue this course of chemotherapy, probably for another three months at least, or until the tumors go away.  So, for those of you who are local, you can expect to see a smile on my face about this news, but don't look to see me dancing in the streets any tme soon.  With the chemo going on I'm pretty exhausted and the exhaustion seems to be lasting longer with each treatment.  But knowing that the treatment is working will help keep my spirits up when I can't get my body up and out of bed. 

The good news in all of this is that I have been telling them that I want to go to our General Assembly in Orlando this June and the doctor and the nurse who is administering the clinical trial I am are thinking that's a possibility.  They are doing some finagling to see if they can work the treatment schedule around that.  The main issues on that, as far as I can tell, are that we could break momentum and secondly it could affect my standing in the clinical trial.  With the trial you have to do everything just so or they kick you out of it.  I don't want to leave the trial because I get closer monitoring in it and also they pay for some of the meds and scans, which will help with the insurance.  Don't know if you know this, but insurance companies have a lifetime limit of something like a million or two, and I am a prime candidate to exhaust this, so it's good to have some of my meds taken care of.  

But, all that aside, I'm optimistic I'll get to Orlando this summer so I'm looking forward to seeing all of my PCA brethren and also having a reunion with some of my old friends from college who live in the Orlando area. 

As far as what this means long term it's hard to tell.  I hope this doesn't put a damper on the good news of today, but with this kind of cancer they don't use words like "cure" or "remission."   The kind of cancer I have evidently rears its head again and again.   The doc thinks I'll probably have to have some kind of treatment every year.  If the tumors go away they call that "complete response."   If that happens then I'll just go see the doctor every month or so and I guess they'll just do blood tests or scans every so often to see if it comes back, then treat it when it does. 

I'm optimistic about the future though, but this knowledge is a good thing for me in reminding me to live according to Matthew 6:34 and not worry about tomorrow's troubles.  I don't presume to know the ways of God in this.  I have often thought of the fact that Lance Armstrong got a very deadly cancer and has now lived nearly a decade cancer free.  James Montgomery Boice, on the other hand contracted cancer and died soon after.  Although Lance is an inspiration to all of us who have cancer, I think that Boice had a more necessary message for the world, yet God chose to take Him.  Though I hope to live many more years, God doesn't owe me a long life but I owe Him my devotion each day of my life.  So that's the frame of mind I'm trying to cultivate on a consistent basis. 

So, I'm doing my best to enjoy the day and let God worry about the future and the days are indeed good.  While you are praying for me please don't forget to pray for my family in general and Lynette in particular.  She bears the biggest brunt of all this.  Although I'm not terribly difficult to deal with (though I have my moments) I also don't have the energy to do a lot of the fun things we would ordinarily like to do. 

Thanks again for all of your prayers and love. 

Comments

[rebecca]

Thanks for the update. Enjoy the day.

I will especially remember your wife in prayer because I think I understand better than most how really, really hard it is for her. Not that I'll not pray for the rest of you...but I know what you mean when you say she bears the biggest brunt of all this.

I'm also thankful that there are some new drugs to treat this sort of thing, drugs that seem to be working for you.

[David A. Porter]

David,

I am so happy to hear that God is moving towards healing.

[nancy]

thanks for the update.
yes, it is good to hear some encouraging words.

[J.]

I'm not your adviser but based on what you say here I'd say forget Orlando. There will be another Orlando. Don't break momentum, as you (or they) put it.

[Mark Penrith]

Hi David,

Thanks for your steadfast witness in the face of life’s knocks. I pray that God will further strengthen your testimony to His Glory. May Romans 8:28 continue to be true in your life while you work out your faith in fear and with trembling.

Mark

[J.]

Also, when you are stronger and, as you mention, you have to get continual checkups, remember this fact about exercise that when you exert yourself even just for seconds a day to the point where you are at your physical limit (even if just doing push-ups) it has an effect on the body's working and immune system. It increases the bodies ability to be healthy and to fight for its health. (It's like the body says: "Oh, *that's* our new level we have to be at now...OK.") This came up in a study with diabetics, how this type of exertion increased their ability to produce insulin, but one can see it working with everything else as well. I mentioned earlier about Armstrong and that exercise bike he started in on in his hospital room once he was basically able. Same thing, same effect, I think. Nobody would accuse me of being a doctor, but doctors too bow to whatever works.

[Terry]

Sounds very optimistic. If you don't want to dance in the street, I will try to do at least some soft shoe for you. Okay, better yet, I will continue to be someone who prays for your healing. I appreciate your sharing with us where you are in the treatment and life.

[Joyce]

The Lord is so good; what wonderful things He is doing! Certainly will continue to pray for you and those that love you dearly and especially most nearly. Family of God {{{hugs}}} to you all.

[David Wayne]

Thanks for this everyone and a special thanks to Terry. Terry, we've got you scheduled for a little soft shoe tomorrow as a part of the offertory.

[Barry]

Thanks for keeping everyone updated, David. I know it's hard, but I think you're cultivating the right frame of mind. We keep you in our prayers.

[Kylene Gay]

So glad the treatment seems to be working for you...you've been in my thoughts. Hope you can make it to Orlando, maybe I'll have to head down there and sneak in a visit! :)

[Headless Unicorn Guy]

So, for those of you who are local, you can expect to see a smile on my face about this news, but don't look to see me dancing in the streets any tme soon. With the chemo going on I'm pretty exhausted and the exhaustion seems to be lasting longer with each treatment.

That's because chemo is basically injecting toxins into your body, in the hope they poison the cancer a few percent faster than they poison the rest of you, so that there's some remnant left alive once the cancer is dead.

The kind of cancer I have evidently rears its head again and again. The doc thinks I'll probably have to have some kind of treatment every year.

Sounds like a "maintenance therapy" instead of a true cure. Every year, weed the cellular garden again.

[Bobby Grow]

Hello David,

It has been a long time since I visited your site; and I am sorry to hear about your health situation. But, the news you share here is good; I will be praying for you, and family!

In Christ,

Bobby Grow

[David Wayne]

Thanks Bobby I appreciate it a lot.

David