Many of you know that the checkups at City of Hope have ramped up in the last few months. We now have a very likely diagnosis of the return of the cancer. In all rights it should probably be said the visible return of cancer. There are many small nodules within the abdomen, some deep and some at surface level that appear to be cancer and there are two fairly large, maybe an inch in diameter, low in the pelvis. We are treating it as cancer. There are some newer therapies that we will look at. One is an antihormonal therapy that works well with breast cancer and now seems to be working with Ovarian cancer. There also seems to be a restriction in the ureter from the right kidney to the bladder. The right kidney is increasing in size due to the pressure. I will see a urologist for this. This is the same ureter that was originally blocked by cancer before. This may simply be scar tissue. If so, the doctors will put a stent in to open the passage and relieve the pressure on the kidney. There seems to be no organs involved at this time. We will soon do a biopsy on the nodules, possibly in conjunction with the placement of the stent. So I expect that for a while there will be a flurry of things happening and then we will settle into a regimen that looks like any chronic disease.
Spiritually, Lee and I are doing well. God is still in control. He has given us comfort. I am reminded of the many presents given to small children. They look at the toy and then play with the box until the box is broken, then the toy becomes a friend. The cancer is the box, we are playing with it. The “toy” is the deep love we have for each other and deepness of our faith. It seems that you must play with the box, deal with it and move it. The toy becomes a prized possession, a friend and companion. We will not abandon it. It does not go in the dumpster with the box. It is the vital part of the story. I find that even when a new box is introduced it is not the same because I have the toy. Faith and hope will not change or be abandoned. God loves us, always has and always will. Tomorrow will look just as good as yesterday did. In a recent Thanksgiving dinner, Leroy (our pastor) reminded us that God expects and implores us to give thanks in all things. He did not put a clause in for cancer. Give God the glory, bring joy instead of sadness and hope instead of sorrow. Give thanks in all things
Please pray for my doctors. They need encouragement. We need encouragement. You need to be encouraged. This is not a death knell. The Lord may come tomorrow and all will be done. He may tarry and while He does He has promised to be by our sides. Trust that, rejoice in that and love to that end. There are no guarantees for tomorrow except that Christ will be there.
Marj.
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