This Pilgrim's Progress

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ICE on Tuesday

Well, things are moving again. I'm scheduled to check in at Scripps next Tuesday for 2 days of chemotherapy.  The treatment is called ICE (http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Treatments/Chemotherapy/Combinationregimen/ICER-ICE), and it takes a while to drip the drugs into your system.

There are the usual side effects. It will be interesting to see how my energy levels are afterwards. That will affect my ability to work if they are low.  I did pretty well on CHOP, so hoping things are uneventful with the ICE.

Soli Del Gloria!

BMT on hold

We saw the BMT oncologist, Dr. Ball, at UCSD today. After hearing about my back pain he decided to put the transplant on hold until I get a couple more rounds of chemotherapy. He feels that would insure a better outcome for the transplant.

So, now we wait to hear from Aetna on whether we can go ahead and get the chemo at UCSD, or if we have to go back to Scripps for it.

We've had more false starts on this transplant than a "C" swim meet!!

Pray for us. We're a little stressed by this yet-another change in plans.

Soli Deo Gloria!!

Things are moving right along

Friday evening we received a call from the Nurse Coordinator at UCSD.  We are scheduled for a consultation with Dr. Ball and her  Wednesday.  They'll confirm and go over the timeline with us. If there are no changes, I'd be starting next Friday with getting a Catheter put in.  Things are finally starting to move along after our long wait!!!

Soli Deo Gloria!!!

Good News

We got the results last night of the PET and CT scans this week. Apparently they aren't that much different from the scans two months ago.  So, no extra Chemo, we will forge ahead with the stem cell transplant.  The nurse coordinator said she needs to send all the test results into our insurance company, and then next week we'll get together with her to discuss the next steps and the timeline for the transplant.  That will also be good so I can let my work know when I'm going to be on leave.

It's very encouraging to know that I won't have to go through another round of chemo, and that I'm on the road for the transplant.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers, and please continue to pray for me and my family. It's going to be pretty tough for Debbie when I'm in the hospital, so please pray for her endurance and patience.

Soli Deo Gloria!!

"Walk On!!"

I was feeling "down in the dumps" the other day. I was driving home from work and "Walk On" by the Isaacs came on Sirius' radios Bluegrass Junction. Boy, what a rousing and encouraging hymn. It was their Wednesday night gospel program, and there were a bunch of great bluegrass gospel tunes, but this one really spoke to me and got me out of my "pity-party".  "Walk On" is on their newest album "Big Sky".  They break out of the strictly bluegrass string band mold a little on this one. "Walk On" had some persussion (a "cajon" ??), but it did not detract at all from the song.

Here are the lyrics:

 Walk on
Walk on

*Chorus*
walk on brother walk on sister walk on children you gotta roll wit the rock through the shifting sand walk on through the valley walk on up the mountain walk on through the wilderness if your ever gonna make it to the promise land walk on

when you feel temptations tugging at your heels (walk on) When the devils at the crossroads trying to make a deal ( Walk on) don't stray to the left don't veer to the right (walk on) cause straight is the way that leads to light

Chorus

if you're weary from the weight of the world on your back (walk on) if you stumble get up don't worry bout that(walk on) keep your eyes on the narrow road (walk on) someday its gonna turn into a street of gold

chorus

were all walking the same road were just wearing different shoes  you better lay down that heavy load you gotta keep on walking or the devils gonna get you

Chorus 2x
walk on
walk on

If you need a spiritual "pick me up" find this tune on the 'net and play it (its on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqw22vf-Mbk ) . I was also struck by how well it meshes with my personal life theme, "a pilgrimage on the narrow road of righteousness".

Soli Deo Gloria!!

More tests

This past Friday I went through a bunch of tests at UCSD Moores Cancer Center and Thornton Hospital. Tomorrow (Monday) I have to go in for a PET scan, then Wednesday I have an appointment for a CT scan.  Most of these tests are to submit to the insurance company for their approval of the transplant. The insurance company wants some assurance that you're a good candidate for surviving the transplant before they approve the procedure.

The PET scan is basically to see what if anything the lymphoma is doing right now. It's been almost 2 months since my last scan, so they want to take another look. If they think the lymphoma is making a comeback, they might want to run me through some more chemo. I'm hoping the cancer is quiet, because chemo will delay the transplant and I'll probably have to go back to Scripps to get it (which I don't mind), and I'd just like to get the thing done asap.  But I just need to have patience and trust in God's providence.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Good News!

We heard from the UCSD Moores Cancer Center, and the review committee agreed that I was a good candidate for the autologous stem cell transplant.  Their procedure is very much like Scripps'.  I'll be hospitalized for 2-3 weeks until my blood counts are recovering, and then I'll spend about 6 weeks recovery at home with frequent out-patient visits to the center.

Scheduling is still not firmed up yet, but probably looking at later this month or early next month at the latest for the transplant.  In the next few weeks I'll be getting a bunch of pre-treatment tests done for the insurance company (to approve the transplant).

Soli Deo Gloria!!

No new news

We met with Dr. Ball, the oncologist at the UCSD transplant center, today to discuss my treatment at their center.  We didn't get any definitive information today.  The doctor will present my case to the department's review committee this Friday, and they'll make a decision about their proposed treatment for my lymphoma.  We should hear something by Monday at the latest.

Meanwhile Dr. Ball's coordinator nurse suggested we should get another PET scan at Scripps, so now we are coordinating that, but our oncologist at Scripps wants to talk to the doctor at UCSD before ordering a scan.

Pray for our patience as we negotiate two medical bureauracies!!  We also pray that we get into the transplant sooner rather than later. A cure is going to require a transplant no matter what, so we are eager to reach that point.   

Soli Deo Gloria!!