A long delayed update

Okay, so I knew it had been a long time since I'd posted an update, but I'm embarrassed to see that it has been even longer than I remembered. I think my silence since the last post likely left many of you to speculate on how things were going with me, if you aren't able to ask me in person or by email. I apologize for waiting so long to post. I'll try to be a bit less long-winded in the future, so I don't burn myself out and then forget to give timely updates. However, this post will be a bit long, in order to catch you all up on how I've been doing the last six weeks.

First, back in late March, I got the results of the CT scan. It showed that there had been some small reduction in the size of the spots on my lungs. The spots near my spine and pelvis were stable. This definitely seems to be good news, as it means that the lung nodules were responding to the chemotherapy. The spots in the pelvis have been treated twice now with radiation, so it is possible that the changes we saw in December were really just scar tissue or inflammation, not active cancer. Even if it was active disease, the lack of progression in three months is also a good sign.

At that point, my doctor and I agreed to drop the irinotecan, which is one of the four drugs that I was on, and the one most likely to have been contributing to some of my worst side effects. That treatment was during Holy Week, and I pushed myself pretty hard to participate in things at church, which might have led, along with some unrealistic expectations, to me crashing pretty hard and not noticing much benefit from dropping the irinotecan. I was a bit depressed by the fact that I wasn't feeling significantly better, but I do think that things have improved some and stabilized, so that I know what to expect from my body's recovery from the treatments. The irinotecan made things more unpredictable and I am glad to not have to deal with that for now.

Today, I am in the middle of my seventh treatment. I am doing alright, as Friday and Saturday after the 5-FU pump is disconnected is when I feel the best. I usually start to crash Saturday night and feel a growing fatigue and lethargy which seems to climax on Wednesday. Then, I start feeling steadily better leading into the next treatment, which begins again the following Wednesday. I am able to work part time once the pump is disconnected, and as long as the fatigue is under control. Mornings are especially hard, so I generally work afternoons early in the week, but find myself really dragging by the time the day is over.

While the side effects aren't great, it is good that things have sort of gotten into a routine that I can predict and plan for, rather than it was early on when it seemed like I didn't know what was coming next. Right now, I am focused on finishing the school year, and trying to find the time and energy to write the last chapter of my dissertation. Both of those things will hopefully be wrapped up in late May, so I can meet the deadlines for August graduation with my PhD. in Educational Psychology.

I have quite a bit of work to accomplish between now and the end of May, and plenty of work even I after I finish writing and editing the dissertation (i.e. the dissertation defense), but the goal is finally in sight, and my advisor and committee have been very encouraging and helpful along the way. Please pray that God with give me the strength and determination to finish strong and honor the commitment and work they have put into me these many years.

Thank you for the many prayers and encouragements that you have sent me these last six weeks and beyond. I will try to update you all at least on a monthly basis, but hopefully more often, with shorter updates. I appreciate the love and care that you all show me, and I want to make sure that I am letting you in to see how the Lord is using your prayers and actions to encourage me.