God Showed Up and Showed Out

Here's a recap of our journey: When Harry and I married in 2009, he was the answer to my specific prayer request. I prayed for a companion for my older years. But in 2015, Harry was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and given nine or 10 months to live. Along with our family and friends we prayed. My specific prayer at that time was that God would not take my companion away. By God's grace in 2018, the cancer treatments ended. Since then, with every CT scan, we were given the same report--the tumors in Harry's lungs and other parts of his body had stopped growing. They were quiet. 

Harry stopped in the
chemo room today to say
thank you. 

However, this year we received bad news. Harry's prostate had hardened, enlarged, and was cancerous. He had high risk prostate cancer. Through the summer, Harry received 44 treatments of radiation. When we inquired to learn whether the treatments impacted the cancer, we were told we would have to wait until October to give the radiation time to work.

Today was the day when we received the results of the prostate cancer treatments. First Harry's PSA, the blood test that identifies as positive or negative for prostate cancer, did not reveal any cancer at all. I had to ask the doctor twice what she said. She repeated it again--no indication of cancer. God showed up.

The other news that we had not heard before and were not expecting is that Harry's latest CT scan, which was this month, did not reveal any cancer either. Even those quiet tumors were not there. The only thing that is visible on the scans is the aftermath of the cancer treatment he received. God showed out.

I know you are praising God with us. Thank you so much. We absolutely appreciate every prayer from each and everyone of you. But please don't stop, because Harry and I are still fighting small battles. Harry is continuing to receive hormone treatments to suppress his testosterone level. Testerone prevents the radiation from being effective, even two to three years following treatment. So, he will continue to receive hormone shots for awhile. As a result, Harry is experiencing male menopause, which are causing very hard hot flashes and depletes his energy. The doctor told him today that he can choose to forego the hormone treatments, but he would be not be helping the radiation to be effective. So, he has decided to fight through hot flashes to continue to do all that is possible to make sure the cancer is gone.

God has truly showed up and showed out in our lives.

Ringing the Bell

On Thursday, Harry received his last radiation treatment. YEAH!!! With the end of treatment patients do a ritual that the treatment staff call, "ringing the bell." (See FaceBook post for video.)

Getting reading to ring the bell.

We wanted to share the whole experience with you. After 44 treatments which Harry endured for nine weeks, we became attached to the staff who showed us so much kindness. Hope you enjoy the photos.

What's Next

The informed us that Harry's prostate cancer is categorized as "high risk." Which means there is a potential for it to spread beyond the prostate. The only area that has been impacted is surrounding lymph nodes, so doctors targeted them first during treatment. Harry has been scheduled for scans to make sure the cancer is not anywhere else, especially in his bones.

Hormone therapy will continue for three years. Therefore, he will be 

Checking in for the last time.

enduring with the side effects of hot flashes and low energy. The hot flashes take everything out of him, so the doctor has prescribed medication that we hope will help.

We have to wait three months to learn whether the radiation has done it job on the prostate cancer. The doctor says it's too early to get an accurate PSA reading. 

The side effects of the radiation (bathroom issues, low energy) will begin to subside. But it will take around three months for him to be 50 percent well and around six months for Harry to begin to feel like himself.

The doctors are optimistic that Harry will recover fully. There's no reason for 

Harry and some of the 
VA radiation staff.

the high survival rate not to include him. Plus we know God has been with us through it all, and He promised to not leave us or forsake. He has blessed us to have His peace as we go through this.

Thank you for your love and continued support. We will reach out when we receive any kind of news.

In the photos that follow Harry is with the parking attendants who seem to brighten up when we drove up. God gave us favor with them. 

Then Harry is getting ready to order a celebratory hamburger at Gabby's restaurant. It's a place we had never visited before and Harry received a free milkshake.

And at the bottom, Talisa (daughter) and RJ (grandson) put up balloons and messages to celebrate the end of Harry's treatments. They yelled surprise when we walked through the door. It was a blessing to Harry.

Final photo. As we waited for our car to arrive, Harry and I ministered and prayed for the lady in the wheelchair and her family. She was just beginning her cancer journey after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. She had been given 12 months to live. We shared that her story was Harry's story about 7 years ago when the doctors gave him 9 months to live. They received hope. God used us to bless this family. What a fitting ending to this part of Harry's journey.

  

 

 

Anniversary and Treatments

This week we celebrated 14 years of marriage. Because of Harry's treatments and other obligations, we have not had an opportunity to celebrate. But we took time to express thankfulness to God and to each other for the years God has kept us. Compared to the marriages of some couples, 14 years is not a long time. Even so there are many that don't make it 5 years together. There seems to be a spirit of disunity, discontent, and deceit that is pulling families apart. We have felt it too, but early in our marriage, we made a pact between each other to never use the "D" (divorce) word in our home.

I love my husband, and he loves me. This week he expressed sorrow because he has been ill and fighting cancer for more than half of our marriage. I reminded him that the vow we made was "through sickness" and every other trauma that crosses our lives. What happens to him, also happens to me and vice versa. We are fighting his illness together.

Today (June 8) marked 21 radiation treatments. So Harry has 23 treatments to go. We are almost halfway there, and we are both looking forward to Harry ringing that bell. For the most part, the radiation side effects have been bearable. He is experiencing a lack of energy, loss of appetite, some nausea, and some bathroom issues. There have been about three times when he absolutely did not feel well. He has discovered that rest has become his friend and drinking smoothies or protein drinks are beneficial. His doctor told him yesterday that side effects may get worse before they get better. But we are continuing to trust that God will carry Harry through and reduce the effects of the treatments.

His biggest struggle is hot flashes. Harry is experiencing male menopause, which has been brought on by hormone treatments he is receiving. This treatment keeps Harry's male hormones from interfering with the efficiency of the radiation. When he has a hot flash, it overwhelms him and reduces him to hot, sweaty mess. But worst is the reduction of strength and energy he experiences every time he flashes. The doctor informed us that the hormone treatment will continue for about a year and a half, which means Harry will have hot flashes for awhile.

As always thank you for your prayers. We feel them. We also feel God's presence as He walks with us through this storm. God gives us peace, and you and your prayers makes us feel loved and ensures us we are not alone. Love you all.

Treatment Changed

Yesterday morning while reflecting on my devotion about the endless love of God (Psa. 42:8), I began to think about Harry’s radiation treatment. He was scheduled to begin receiving radiation to his prostate this Wednesday, May 10, for 27 days. "Was" because all that has changed. Around noon Harry received a call from his radiation doctor, suggesting a change to the radiation schedule.

Choosing the best path

As I mentioned, that morning I had reflected on Harry's treatment. My thoughts were not pleasant because I saw Harry at the end of the 27 days of treatment still with cancer. I shook those thoughts off because I did not want to begin to think in that direction.

The doctor evidently had those same thoughts. During his phone call, he expressed his concern that the radiation treatment may not destroy all the cancer. He said because of Harry's previous radiation several years ago on his hip, because of the aggressive nature of the cancer, because of the high probability that the radiation will damage surrounding tissue, because of the positioning of the tumor, he wanted to take his time and get all the cancer. Therefore, he recommended that instead of 27 treatments, 44 treatments would be a better option for Harry. He felt that rushing and using such a strong dose of radiation each time would not have the best results. 

Harry and I agreed to the 44 treatments. That means instead of five and a half weeks, he will receive nine weeks of radiation. Each dose will be a smaller dose of radiation and will allow the radiologist to focus more on the diseased areas.

When Harry was first diagnosed with cancer, his oncologist told us she would be working to extend Harry's life. We praise God that over the years each doctor seem to have that same goal. Thank you, Dr. Shinde for your reevaluation of Harry's radiation treatment. Thank you God for sending the doctors we need. And thank you for your prayers.

 

Radiation Simulation and Treatments

This will primarily be a medical blog to give you details about the radiation therapy Harry will be receiving to fight his prostate cancer. We are also including the side effects of the treatment so that you will know how to pray for Harry. 

We spent the weekend before doctor's
meetings with family at our grandson
RJ's track meet. He's a superstar.

On Thursday, April 29, Harry and I attended a simulation. At that time doctors mapped out a personalized treatment plan for Harry. We spent over an hour at Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center meeting with one doctor and then another, and finally both. The initial discussion was a confirmation of what we have already been told: Harry has an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has already begun to impact his lymph nodes. Then they guided us through options for the duration of the treatments. Option one was radiation every day except weekends for four months. I believed this totaled around 70 days of raditation, whereby the radiation exposure would be mild. The second option is for 27 treatments over five and a half weeks. Of course, the radition exposure would be a little stronger. The doctor said there was no difference in the results between the two options. Harry and I opted for the shorter duration. 

Waiting for doctors at
simulation meeting.

The radiation therapy will begin on Wednesday, May 10 and continue each day, excluding weekends, until June 19. Harry has a little prep work to do for each treatment. He simply has to drink water to make sure his bladder is full and bowels are functioning well. This preparation will pull his bladder and bowels away from the prostate to protect them. If he does not do this each morning, the doctors will not do the therapy until he is ready. 

Doctors are strict about this preparation because of possible side effects and radiation damage to the bladder and bowels. Possible side effects to the bowels include a scaring of the bowels, blockage, sores, bleeding, diarrhea, poor intake of nutrients, and a hole may form between the bowel and other organs. If the last two occur, he will need surgery. Possible side effects to the bladder include not being able to hold urine, feeling the need to urinate often, bleeding, infections, pain and cramping, and damage to the bladder. With this we know that the preparation before each treatment is very important. 

Ready for shot

The treatment includes one or two hormone shots, depending on Harry's tolerance of the side effects from the shots. The doctors told Harry that he would go through male menopause, which includes hot flashes, mood swing, and lack of energy. He was also told to warn me. (I told him we have an extra bedroom to which I can retreat.) 

Harry received that first shot yesterday, Monday, May 1. I noted that it must be some awefully powerful medicine because he will not receive the second shot for another three months. The purpose of the shots are to prevent his male hormones from interferring with the radiation treatments. A few hours later Harry began to experience symptoms of menopause. He had hot flashes and just did not feel well.This morning he is still resting because of weakness. 

Thank you again for your support. Please pray that Harry can get through this with few side effects. God is able. "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." - Ephesians 3:20

On the Road Again

"It's been a minute." To be exact it's been five years since our last post. And it's been seven years since Harry was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. His prognosis was that he had 9-10 months of life left. But God intervened, and Harry recognized immediately that God was not on the oncologist's timetable. His focus was on God as he declared to the doctor, "God haven't told me that yet." It was a profession of faith and a profession of hope from a confident heart. From the start, Harry put his trust in God who gave Harry boldness to give God all the glory even though he was on the threshold of his doctor's proclaimed demise.

Waiting to undergo test.

God has been good to us. Like many of you, we have been through it--a pandemic, political divisiveness, racial unrest, wars and rumors of war, extreme climatic conditions, widespread mass shootings, personal hardships, and the traumas that have branched from each of these events. And though we have been through it, many of us have surfaced unscathed, blessed, and closer to God then we ever have been before.

That was our testimony until about three weeks ago (March 28, 2023). When once again, we received the report that Harry has cancer. It was difficult to digest because year-after-year, test-after-test, the doctors reported that Harry's cancer was not in remission, but it was quiet. And that was good enough for us, because he continued to live.

With this positive chemo report, Harry and I decided to revive our "Journey of Faith" blog. Just like before we need the prayers and support of our family and friends. Through prayer, God raised up a standard against Harry's lung cancer, and we believe He will do it again. This time, Harry has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The doctor categorized it as grade 5, which means the cancer cells look very abnormal or different when compared to healthy prostate cells. 

Following tests and scans over the past couple of weeks, we have received mixed news. The bad news has confirmed that the cancer is aggressive and can metastasize at any time. The test also revealed that some of his lymph nodes have been impacted, but at this point they are not cancerous. They urged Harry to go ahead with radiation treatments as soon as possible to prevent a metastasis. They said the cancer can spread at any time. (We will consult with radiologists next week.)

The good news is that chemo is not scheduled. If you recall, the chemo made Harry very sick, so we are happy to avoid that. Instead, if necessary he will receive a shot every other month and will be on oral chemo medication. The doctors also said that there is no need for a negative prognosis. One of his doctors said, they have good results from the treatment of this type of cancer. Another doctor said this type of cancer will not culminate in death. 

But still another doctor said that cancer is cancer; any type should be treated as serious. We agree with that, so once again, we ask that you join us in prayer. Please pray that the treatment will work, there will be no metastasis, and there will be minimal side effects. Ultimately, pray for healing for my precious husband. Thank you so much for your prayers and your love. 

Our journey of faith continues. 

One More Leg

Why, one more leg? Harry and I have been coasting a little on this journey for the past month and a half. It's been a welcomed rest from chemo and doctor visits. However that changed yesterday. Still no chemo, but Harry had surgery on his left leg.

You may recall that about a year and a half ago, Harry had surgery on his right hip to rebuild what cancer had eatened away. This time a PET scan revealed cancer on his left femur that was doing some damage and creating the potential for that bone to break. It was only God that it did not break with all the walking we did in New Orleans last month. Surgery to repair is more difficult than surgery to prevent.

His doctor said it's rare that the disease is detected that far away from the upper body where it began without pain. (Harry had no pain in his leg.) The miracle is that his oncologist saw it in the first place. It was on the edge of the scan.

So to prevent breakage, yesterday doctors inserted a rod inside his femur. They also removed the tumor and cleaned that area, sending it off to pathology. We will know in a couple of weeks the condition of the tumor (active or inactive). Harry said this surgery has caused him to experience the worse pain yet since he's been on this journey. The doctors will not release him from the hospital until they get it under control. Hopefully, he can go home tomorrow.

Enduring first
physical therapy

Please pray the pain will subside. It's been difficult to watch him suffer through this. Also, pray that the pathology report will yield good news. And finally pray for the next step--more radiation. The doctors want to make sure there are no lingering cancer cells on Harry's thigh bone.

One more leg, not only because of the surgery on Harry's left leg, but because this is one more leg of this faith journey. We've been traveling this road for two and a half years now. And all along the way, God has made His presence known and He has placed all of you in our lives. We have never walked alone because of God and because of you. Thank you, God, and thank you FB friends and family.