Update 10/27/16

Today was a great day.

1. The most recent CT scan from yesterday shows very minimal to no growth of the metastasized tumors. They are still very deadly, but the slower they grow, the more time I have here on earth to enjoy and make memories.

2. The surgeon was able to locate and repair the intestinal blockage that has had me sidelined for the last month or so. A few days healing and I should be able to eat halfway normal again and start regaining some strength.

Thank you all for your prayers. God is great. I don't know His plan, but I trust it.




Update 10/26/16 

Well, back in the hospital for intestinal blockage again. Doctors are debating surgery. Stomach is bloated to about twice normal size due to gas and liquid that have no where to go. Bored, but thankful for good pain meds to finally get some sleep. Sad part is I had to cancel the WV ATV trip.



Update 10/18/16

I know you all have prayed for me regularly over these last few months, been happy when news was good and been sad when things have not gone well.

I cannot thank you enough for all of the prayers and kind words you have spoken for me.

Tomorrow I begin my last hope. It is an immunotherapy drug that is designed to make my own body fight the cancer. It has not had very much success for pancreatic cancer, but the final determination is made by God.

I pray that He allows this medicine to work effectively in my body. I pray that He provides me with more time with my family, whether it be weeks, months or years. I pray for healing of my body.




I am very sad to say that I am losing my battle with cancer. The pancreatic cancer has metastasized in my liver, lymph nodes and regrown around the remainder of my pancreas. As of now it is stage 4, inoperable and without a miracle, uncurable. In addition I had to be admitted to the hospital this week for intestinal blockage as well as blood clots in my lungs and legs, both as a side effect of my treatments. My wife and I are hoping to make the most of the time I have left to make memories with my son and try to help him understand what is happening. Please pray for my son, I don't know how to even begin to explain this to him.




My original thread went to archives:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1828357_I_found_out_today_I_have_cancer___UPDATE_in_OP_3_10_16.html

So tomorrow is the big day.  Surgery to remove my pancreatic tumor.  If you wouldn't mind sending a prayer up to our good Lord asking for his healing power to work through my surgeon's hands I would greatly appreciate it.

It is going to be a fairly complicated surgery.  They are going to remove my gall bladder, 1/2 of my stomach, part of my small intestine and about 2/3 of my pancreas.  Then re-plumb everything back together.  I will be in the hospital for at least a week, so at least I will get to catch up on ARFCOM.  

Thanks for all of your prayers and well wises to this point.  The surgery is the halfway mark with 3 months of chemo to follow.

I have never been so excited and scared at the same time.


POST OP UPDATE:

Update 5-6-16

I survived!  At this point the surgery appears that it was successfull!   We have to wait for the final word from the testing labs, but the surgeons feel they were able to get the tumor removed and safe margins all the way around.

I am in a lot of pain and have a lot of pain medication, so this is going to be short, but I wanted to let you guys know I am o.k.  

Glory be to God!


ONE MONTH POST OP UPDATE:

6/3/16

Surgery was a success.  I have healed quickly and been given the all clear by the surgeon.  I am able to eat, walk, drive and live fairly pain free at this point.  Unfortunately, the pathology showed that the surgeon was not able to get clear margins where the tumor touched the main blood vessel (we knew this was likely to happen).  Next step is radiation.  28 sessions over 6 weeks to kill any remaining cells.  Then back to chemo for another 3 months.

Still a long row to hoe, but considering what I have been diagnosed with and what my body has been put through, I cab't ask for things to be any better.  Continued prayers are appreciated.  Glory be to God!


7/2/16  Latest update.

I am officially halfway through radiation.  It has not been fun.  I have to take 7 chemo pills every day to supplement the radiation.  Not sure if it is the radiation or the chemo pills but I have been very nauseous and it gets worse by the day.

Anyway, my CA19-9 score (blood tumor marker) continues to be average or below, so that is a good sign.  I am just trying to stay strong and survive the treatment.

I am very thankful for this 3 day weekend with no treatment to be able to recover a little.

Continued prayers for healing, mental and physical strength are greatly appreciated.

Thanks and glory to God for carrying me this far.

7/11/16

20 Radiation treatments complete, 8 to go. I have been feeling pretty good the last week or so and am looking forward to completing radiation.

I met with my oncologist today and he was very excited and optimistic about a recent study using a new cocktail of chemo drugs for pancreatic cancer.

Initial results show a 3 time improvement for long term survival (from 10% to 30%).

In a few weeks after my body recovers from the radiation and is ready for chemo again, he will place me on the new mix.

God willing, this new mix will be what saves me. Thank God for my wonderful doctor who keeps up to date on the latest treatments to give me the best chance possible to survive.


7/22/16

Yesterday was my 28th radiation treatment.  Finally done!  I get about a 2 week recovery and then will start back to another 3 months of chemo.  During the break they will do tests and scans to make sure all is well and there is no new growth.

It is scary just waiting and not knowing if the treatment worked, but everything is so inflamed right now from the radiation they can't really see anything good or bad on the scans.

Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes.

Glory to God for getting me this far.


8/8/16

I got my latest scan results. CT shows no masses anywhere in my body! The lymph node that was cancerous post surgery has reduced in size by over half, back to normal size, indicating radiation did it's job and the node is cancer free. Thank you God!

I was informed at this weeks appointment that instead of the remaining 3 months of chemo that was planned, it has been decided by the cancer board that I will have to undergo another 6 months of chemo, 3 times a month to get the full effect of the new mix.

This is disappointing as I was hoping to be done mid November, but the doctors are doing everything they can do to ensure my survival. So if it needs to be 6 more months to get 40 more years, I am ready, bring it on.

9/1/16

I made it through the first month of the new chemo mix.  I am on my "off" week this week (3 weeks on, 1 week off) so it is nice to recover a little bit and hopefully enjoy the long weekend, it has been a long 21 consecutive  days with chemo pills 2 times daily.

There were some minor complications with platelet count and I was forced to skip one IV chemo treatment to allow my platelets to recover, but my body seems to have adjusted and the most recent platelet counts are good.

My blood tumor marker has been climbing and is reaching concerning levels and they are not sure why.  This scares me.

Please pray that the tumor marker comes back down to normal levels and the new chemo mix is effective in it's job.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.


Update 9/28/16:

Still trudging through chemo.  My platelets were low last week so I had to miss a week of chemo.  Good news is that my tumor marker went down about 20% so that was a huge blessing and a relief.  Still surviving and still living.  Continued prayers appreciated.

FUCK CANCER.

Best wishes. Prayers incoming.

Consider it done.............may The Good Lord heal and protect you during your surgery

Prayer sent.



Looking forward to your posts when you get out of surgery.

Good luck, BP.

Hang in there my man!  You got this!

Prayers sent.

Good luck.  I'll say a prayer for you.

Done.

Best of luck and my thoughts are with you.

One of my mentors passed from PC. It was hell but I hope you will fair better than he did.

Prayer sent.

You got this my friend, God bless you.  Prayers for your recovery and the surgeon's skill!

Prayers sent.

Hang tough brother.  Best of luck.

Prayers bro.

I wish nothing but the best. Good luck Amigo.

Prayers in,

Stay strong brother. You'll beat this.

Sending smoke your way, good luck!

Prayers up.

Best wishes. Hope all turns out well.

Prayers for you bro.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Good luck BP. Hang in and take one day at a time. Prayers sent.

Stay strong bud.

Done.

Sorry to hear it.

Prayed for you.

Do you believe in Christ?

How old are you?

Hoping for a full and speedy recovery for you!

I'll pray for you.

Stay strong and my thoughts are with you.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

I've been praying.
Please kick cancer's butt!

I hope you have a quick recovery.

Prayers and best wishes!

Done, stay strong.

Best of luck. We all are hoping for the best possible outcome.
Prayers inbound!

Best of luck!!

Where are you having the surgery. Charlotte, Florence, or Cola?

If it is remotely convenient, I may have to stop by and slap a BFL on your forehead!

Rest well and fight hard. I also have a 6yo kid

Praying for you and all those doctors and nurses!

Prayers sent.
 




 

Prayers for you and your surgeons.

Lord...please heal this man.

Prayers sent out.

God bless, good luck.

I'll be saying a prayer for you right now.  Get well soon bud.

Best of luck

I said a prayer for you.

Is Dr. Adams at MUSC doing your Whipple?

Prayers inbound...good luck, we're all pulling for you!

Prayers and good vibes sent from me and mine



ETA Fuck cancer

Praying for the very best outcome.