God's Grace Rules!

I spent the two weeks prior to this past visit (Day 1 of Cycle 26) trying to not over-exert in an attempt to coax my CK levels back down into acceptable range. I must have done a good job of not doing anything, because, sure enough, my CKs were much lower, well within range. It was not much of a surprise -- we had seen this before. Anyway, we were thankful for the results. Dr. Mita chided me a little and, without really saying it, told me not to be stupid. She has a way of saying things nicely.

My neck had been sore for over two weeks, also a result of over-doing it, so she checked me over pretty good and asked me if I wanted to have an MRI done to see if there was anything going on in there. It occurred to me that I never have anything like that done, if you don't count scans at least every eight weeks over most of the past four years, plus many more in the previous four years as well. So I told her that I thought I would just wait and see if my neck would get better in the next few days. It has been a slow process, but it is getting better a little at a time.

We didn't get any results from the DEXA scans -- again, no surprise. This is one of those protocol scans for this particular study drug with which they measure bone loss periodically as long as I am on LDE225, since bone loss is a probable side-effect of it. I'm sure we will talk about it next visit. Unlike most of the other scans I have, there is no rush on this one, since I can continue on the drug regardless of the results.

June is a month with several "anniversaries" for us. On Tuesday, we will pass the two-year mark being on this drug. Whether God has used it to keep my cancer in check or if He has just miraculously done so, I don't know. My status has been "stable" for more than a year now, for which we are grateful. God's grace rules!

Our ultimate anniversary, we will both celebrate together being married to our best friends for 35 years on the 14th. I can honestly say that I am living a love song with all of the best lyrics combined. And I know the best is yet to come. I can't imagine how it could ever happen to me! God's grace rules!

Four years ago on June 15, Helen and I were told that cancer had spread into both of my lungs. Why do we remember this date and give it any significance? It was very bad news, the last thing we wanted to hear. It had been over four years since the tumor they called a sarcoma had been removed in its entirety from my left forearm. And now, our world was again turned upside-down. Why not try to forget that date? Because every day we wake up, every week we live, every month we share, every year this date rolls around again, we are reminded of how great life is and how wonderful God has been to us and how He has never failed us. He has blessed us beyond our ability to imagine it! And four years later, God's grace rules!

Friday night was graduation night in our town. Graduation ceremonies rank somewhere around IV placements on my preference list. People have heard me say after every graduation ceremony I've been to in the past twenty years that that was the last one I was going to attend (tongue-in-cheek). On Wednesday, I was driving around town and reminded myself of Friday's coming event, thinking, "Oh no, another graduation..." Whether it was the Holy Spirit saying it or Him speaking to my spirit, I don't know, but I said out loud, "You stupid! You know what it means to be at graduation? It means you ain't dead! It means you're still alive!" One of those moments! Lord, help me to never gripe again about having to do something so painless and easy! God's grace rules!

Love and God's Blessings!

Trees and CKs

This past week, Helen and I have been digging up tree stumps, cutting down trees, and trimming trees away from our house (and the house next door). We used muscles that we haven't used in a long time, and I was very sore Monday when we went in for our visit. I told the PA that my blood work might be different this time, because I had strained several muscles. Sure enough, my CK levels were much higher than normal.

CK stands for Creatine kinase. Elevated levels often indicate muscle damage, and it is tested for when trying to determine if a person has had a heart attack or has suffered damage to the heart, brain, or muscle tissue. Every time I have blood work done, CK is tested for, because the drug I am taking could possibly cause muscle damage. If a patient on LDE225 continues to have high CK levels, the patient will be disqualified from taking the drug.

My doctor told me (through my PA) to stop doing strenuous activities until my CK levels get back down to normal. She said it would be OK to continue walking for exercise, but I need to lay off of the hard work. Aw, man! Helen wasn't with me when she came in and told me that, so I asked her to come back and tell Helen she was going to have to quit working me so hard! Doctor's orders!

My next visit will include another DEXA Scan (bone density scan). These come every six months in this clinical trial. It seems like no time since I had my last one. That one revealed some significant bone loss, possibly a side-effect of the drug. We'll see what this one shows.

God continues to bless us beyond our ability to ask or think. We are so undeserving and so thankful. He has been more than faithful to His Word. We continue to trust Him and depend on Him to guide us through our days. God is so good...

At long last - an update!

My apologies to any of you who faithfully read this blog...I have no real excuses for not posting in the past month, unless it is that most of the routines of my life have been disrupted quite a bit lately. I hope you don't decide to boycott it. I will try to do better in the future.

A lot has happened since my last update. The results of the sonagram on my liver and gallbladder were negative. My PA joked that it was unusual for them to not see any masses in my images. The abdominal pains must have been some kind of muscle strain or something. That was good news.

I had CT scans during my last visit. Once again, the images were unchanged. The two areas they are watching have not changed for a year. Stable is very good at this point! We are always relieved when reports come back unchanged. God's mercy and grace continue to sustain us.

In a little over an hour, the annual Relay for Life will begin here with the Cancer Survivors' Lap. Helen and the girls will join me and many others who daily fight the fight against this unrelenting enemy. I will get another survivor T-shirt to go with the six others I have (I collect them!). My goal is to get a lot more!

Thanks to all of you who pray for us and continue to support us continually!

God Bless!