Because of Susan's good progress leading to remission, Dr. Mirtsching gave us 3 weeks off from chemo instead of the usual two. We used this time to good purpose, allowing us to journey to Raleigh to cheer on our niece Jamie as she competed for Miss NC. As noted on our home page, the charming and effervescent Jamie won "Miss Congeniality". This was the final icing on our trip to the North Carolina capital, which we parlayed into an additional trip to Mooresville to spend a few more days with Jamie and her mom. We returned home last night (Weds) and Susan had her long chemo day today with both cisplatin and topotecan. The chemo itself went reasonably well. We had only one brief scare when Susan began itching at the administration of the cisplatin. This was exactly the same symptom she had when she had her previous allergic reaction to carboplatin back in 2000. The nurse quickly gave her some benadryl, and eventually the itching subsided and no other symptoms appeared. PTL!
Tonight Susan is resting in her "nest," and experiencing some abdominal pain, but no nausea so far. She has also been experiencing some cramping in her calves, which is a bit scary since that was the symptom associated with her pulmonary embolism. However, the nurse reassured us that the fragmin is 95% effective in preventing DVT's (deep vein thrombosis). Regarding fragmin, Susan has decided that she can no longer tolerate the two shots per day of this anti-DVT medication. Her legs are running out of patches to shoot. The doctor has agreed to switch her to Coumadin, taken by mouth. This will be easier on her, but will require frequent blood test monitoring to ensure that her dose is therapeutic against further DVTs. As always we will appreciate your prayers for these matters and her overall recovery in the next few days which are always tough following the big chemo. Thanks!
As a PS, we would also ask you to join in praying for a dear friend of our family Melissa Garner. Melissa, a young lady in her twenties, was seriously injured in a freak surfing accident several days ago. In the Lord's providence--as related to us by her father Curtis--he was close enough to rescue her from drowning after she was immobile after the accident. Her pancreas was seriously injured, but all indications are that she will make a good recovery.
From an email to our prayer supporters:
I'm writing today to thank you all for standing with us during these last 4 months during Susan's recovery and ongoing chemo treatments. Thursday, Susan's oncologist declared: "you are in full remission. You are batting 1000 percent." We wanted to share this good news with you, which we are convinced stems from the Lord's grace and mercy to us in response to your faithful prayers. Thank you!!
Remission, of course, is not the same thing as cure. The challenge with ovarian cancer is that it usually recurs. In fact in Susan's case it recurred last year after the first remission in the Fall of 2000. This is her second remission. The oncologist explains that while the chemo wipes out literally billions of cancer cells over the course of 4 - 8 treatments, there are those few that resist the drugs and hang around, eventually to grow into a new tumor that is resistant to the current theapy. The trick then is to find new agents that attack the new tumor. In this latest round, cisplatin and topotecan attacked the tumor that had become resistant to carboplatin and taxol.
For these reasons the oncologist wants Susan to continue on with the current treatments (3 weeks on, 1 week off) more or less indefinitely, or until she can no longer tolerate the treatment, or until a recurrence. The more rounds of chemo she takes, the greater the likelihood that even the microscopic disease will be wiped out.
Beyond these medical facts is the spiritual dimension of all of this. We truly believe that our Sovereign Lord runs the universe in a way that includes responses to our prayers. Knowing that your prayers have been undergirding us has sustained us through these 4 trying months. So, we continue to ask for your prayers as Susan continues her treatment. Here are some notes to guide you:
Praise & Thanksgiving
* For a second full remission from the disease
* For good toleration of the chemo so far
* For Susan's ability to maintain a positive spirit and acceptance of her condition without complaint for two years
Petition
* That the remission will continue and lead to a permanent cure
* That Susan's blood system will continue to tolerate the ongoing chemo
* That her nausea from the chemo will be reduced as we continue to search for the right agent to combat it.
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
John 16:23-24
John
PS: I continue to struggle with the dynamic nature of email addresses. Please feel free to forward to anyone I might have left off, and I apologize if you didn't receive the initial mailing.
Thanks! And please let us know how we can pray for you.