scan results
We had scans on Wednesday and basically all was unchanged. He did however have the radiologist to look back at scans in 2009. Steve has had slow growth in millimeters at a time. It is very slow growing but it is growing! We are discouraged but at the same time thankful that it is slow growing.
We were told that the rib is not healing because of the chemotherapy and that the chemo can't be stopped because it almost caused kidney failure the last time he stopped for a few weeks (six). We are discouraged but still very thankful for all the time we have already had together. 14 years in August!
We all know we must die to be born again but most of us don't know how we will leave this world. Steve is with the knowledge that the cancer will probably take him. So many others have left this world from this deadly disease. Not a certainly for him by any means.(We could be killed by a Mack truck for that matter!)
He has been down since Wednesday. The doctor could tell by looking at him he was hurting and depressed. We were told that the number one cause of depression is pain. Heck we knew that one! Dr Amin said, I can tell you are not yourself because you are not trying to get time off of Sutent for a trip or a cause. LOL He is very compassionate and caring doctor. We are blessed to have found him.
The fire department has brought a huge sump pump down today to pump out the pool. We have a 20x40 and it is making things go by so much faster. The grader will be here Monday or Tuesday and push it in. We are having a 14x24 slab of concrete poured for a patio. It will be re-enforced to later put a sun room back there. Maybe? Did you know that if an appraisal is done of your home that a certain amount of money is taken AWAY from the value if you have a pool? Never knew that one until yesterday! Also pouring a concrete path to the back of the house to be able to take a wheelchair to the patio entrance. It is stepping stones now. Will be a lot easier. A lot of change going on here. Bless his heart Steve is trying to make things easier for me by taking care of this now.
It is a beautiful day here in North Carolina. Quite cool yesterday and today. A day to praise God for his blessings and the Grace he gives me to keep on keeping on.
My love to each of you,
Wanda
We were told that the rib is not healing because of the chemotherapy and that the chemo can't be stopped because it almost caused kidney failure the last time he stopped for a few weeks (six). We are discouraged but still very thankful for all the time we have already had together. 14 years in August!
We all know we must die to be born again but most of us don't know how we will leave this world. Steve is with the knowledge that the cancer will probably take him. So many others have left this world from this deadly disease. Not a certainly for him by any means.(We could be killed by a Mack truck for that matter!)
He has been down since Wednesday. The doctor could tell by looking at him he was hurting and depressed. We were told that the number one cause of depression is pain. Heck we knew that one! Dr Amin said, I can tell you are not yourself because you are not trying to get time off of Sutent for a trip or a cause. LOL He is very compassionate and caring doctor. We are blessed to have found him.
The fire department has brought a huge sump pump down today to pump out the pool. We have a 20x40 and it is making things go by so much faster. The grader will be here Monday or Tuesday and push it in. We are having a 14x24 slab of concrete poured for a patio. It will be re-enforced to later put a sun room back there. Maybe? Did you know that if an appraisal is done of your home that a certain amount of money is taken AWAY from the value if you have a pool? Never knew that one until yesterday! Also pouring a concrete path to the back of the house to be able to take a wheelchair to the patio entrance. It is stepping stones now. Will be a lot easier. A lot of change going on here. Bless his heart Steve is trying to make things easier for me by taking care of this now.
It is a beautiful day here in North Carolina. Quite cool yesterday and today. A day to praise God for his blessings and the Grace he gives me to keep on keeping on.
My love to each of you,
Wanda
Replies
I\'m so sorry to hear that the scans show slow growth and that his rib can\'t be helped. I\'m saddened by all that you guys are going through!
I\'m glad that the project of filling in the pool is going well.
Sending good thoughts & prayers your way.
Love & hugs,
Lois PS - I miss the cooler weather in North Carolina:-)
My dear Wanda - this is GOOD news. Really it is. Such slow growth - if he were on a trial, this would be considered completely stable. And the best thing - nothing new! And even if the growth does speed up, you\'ve still got lots of other choices of med to try. But, knowing this probably doesn\'t help Steve\'s state of mind so much - pain being 1st cause of depression is no surprise at all. Sutent is certainly rough on the healing process. Lots of love and light is coming your way to cheer you up, and I so hope that Steve\'s pain does improve soon.
Such a lot of work going on in your yard! Lots of luck with getting it done - I certainly wish our outside area was better for a wheelchair - it would make things quite a bit easier. You\'ve got a great guy there Wanda - such a lot of care and concern for you. Blessings to you both
with all my love, Meriel x x x x
Wanda, I\'m SOOO GLAD that this is at least SLOW growing. In the grand scheme (whatever that is), it could have been much worse I know, and know that as much as it is not the news trhat is hoped for, it has the promise of more TIME. THAT is a gift,
I think that what you and Steve are doing now together, is something that hopefully the two of you can enjoy for a long time to come, and if either one of you have to leave? The other will have this to remind yo0u of a never ending love. A love that YOURS AND YOURS ALONE \"Always\" summs up the two of you truly. And the two of you have loved and will love each other ALWAYS. What more can you ask of this life?
Love to you and Steve both, and FINGERS crossed for ALONG TIME to enjoy that patio!!! Diane
To listen to together on that patio! :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_GqTm02a4w&feature=related
Dear Wanda, When M was alive and fighting his cancer, if we got news that things were \"basically unchanged\"...meaning growth, but very slow growth, we\'d consider that a blessing. Of course hearing \"shrinkage\" would be the best news in the world, but hang on because I feel it is possible for that news to come to Steve. I just heard on the TV about amazing developments with breast cancer research, where meds target just the tumor and then blast it away...M\'s Oncologist said that breast cancer and melanoma cancer tends to act similarly to kidney cancer...so, that reasearch is hopeful for all. M was on a number of trials that also included breast cancer/melanoma cancer patients. So when there is a breakthrough in any of these areas, it can have a positive outcome for other cancer patients I am praying so much that Steve will hang on long enough to benefit from this research. I understand how he could feel depressed. He has been so brave as all our loved ones have. But, as far as I know, he has battled this serious cancer for over 13 years. That is so incredible. I know it has also been a very long, worrysome road for you dear Wanda...please stay strong as you can so you can help Steve. Love you and will keep you both in my prayers. Love, Linda
My dear Wanda.. we will take slow growth any day over the other option, sounds like you have a busy time making the back yard a wonderful place for you both... God is so good and he proves this daily. continued prayers and luv from Texas, Annette
Hi Hon!
I, too, think this is a good report. As you know, Ray continues to have a very small amount of growth with his lung mets. I always consider \"relatively stable\" as an excellent thing! Full scans, etc. coming up for us on the 19th.
Covering the pool sounds like a big project. A future sun room would be a piece of heaven. God bless Steve for wanting to take care of as many things as possible. Ray continues to do the same. We have special hubbies.
Take care, Wanda.
Hugs,
Ingrid
Dear Wanda,
God continues to bless you and Steve, and he has given you a wonderful gift of fourteen years to have each other and value each other and live the best lives you can. We should all be so lucky. Pray that things stay slow or stable. Is Steve in a wheelchair? I did not know that.
Watch out for the tax man now!!!
Lvgloria
Thank you everyone. No Steve is not in a wheelchair, he is preparing for the future but hey who would not want a paved walkway to the back yard. All these years it has been stepping stones surrounded by gravel. Nice in itself but not good for a wheelchair. I thank all of you for your concern for Steve and myself.
prayers for my friends,
Wanda
It is a blessing to be able to see and understand that God is in control, He is good, and He will carry us through. Thank you for your continuing inspiration!
Love
Angie
Dear Wanda,
please try not to be discouraged about the slow growing mets, gosh millerimeters are very small, if you look at it this way that 1 mm is the size of a strand of hair and 10mm\'s is a 1cm.. So i think that news is really good especially in a few months Steve will be at a 14 year mark and slow growing and 14 years is remarkable with this cancer.. So please don\'t be disappointed about this news..
I can feel for Steve learnng about his rib not healing, pain is so deliberating, it has taken so much away from Steve, everything he used to be able to do, he can\'t do.. I can see how & why Steve is depressed, his life now is sitting in his recliner and not being able to do the outside chores, and little jobs around the house isn\'t what he is used to.. Is Steve willing to take an antdepressent ?? I am sure Dr Amin would be more than willing to start him on one, there are many excellent antidepressents out now that will help Steve feel better.. JUst being in pain all the time will also make Steve feel like is this pain ever going to subside ?? You two have been through so much for sometime, i hope & pray you check with the oncologist about prescribing something for Steve\'s depression.. All i can tell you living with depression will only get worse if Steve doesn\'t get any help..
I care about the both of you, maybe this isn\'t the right advice for Steve, i just thought mentioning this might help, depression is a very hard road to live with..
LOve you Wanda,
Becca
Wanda, As you know I care a great deal for you and Steve and all that is going on in your lives...you said it when you said lots of changes going on around here and that is what fighting cancer is all about...changes...and what it takes. You have been blessed with the time you have had with Steve...it is only natural that he get depressed. Buddy and I went to a therapist to help us face the reality of what it all meant. It did help....your Steve sounds so much like Buddy ...getting things done. Buddy had an alarm system put in the house, we traded in both cars and bought a new one so I would have a safe new 4 wheel drive to use. And he left me a list of all the things that needed to be done to the lawn and what time of the year to do them. He also called the funeral home and made an appointment and helped me write his own obituary. An amazing man..always put everyone else before himself...
I am pleased to hear that his cancer is a slow growing form....Love and Peace ...Ellen