Just a quick update for you all. A lot has happened since I last posted (was that just last night?). I'll try to be brief.
I had the hi-res CT scan this morning, and Dr. Burfeind (oncologist) called me to say my pancreas looks perfectly normal. So even though the tumor markers from my blood tests and the biopsy point toward pancreatic cancer, they really don't know what's going on now.
Also, the tumors in my liver have increased 20% in size in the last 2 weeks. Dr. Burfeind does not believe this is "cause for alarm" but wants to make sure we get to the bottom of this asap. Let's pray that they do not grow anymore...or that they shrink! Or that they go away!!!
On that note, I have appointments Monday and Tuesday with Dr. Douglas Evans and his team at Froedert Hospital (in Milwaukee). He is a very well known pancreatic cancer specialist who moved to Froedert from M.D. Anderson in Houston in January 2009. (how awesome is THAT?) I am so VERY grateful for the kind and compassionate people I have spoken to at Froedert today. Wow!
Also, I have an appointment next Friday at Mayo Clinic that I may or may not keep. It depends how it goes at Froedert.
I am encouraged, hopeful and confused by the results of the CT scan, but I trust that God is working within my body. Please pray for wisdom for Dr. Evans and his team as they figure this out!
I am feeling a lot of joy today, and I am grateful for that. I slept fairly well last night. God is so good.
Can I also just say that I am so thankful for my daughter? She is so amazing. And if I start listing all the things I'm thankful for, this will be way too long for any of you to feel like reading. So I'll stop. But if you're reading this, know that I am thankful for you!!!
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Rachel- I will continue to pray for you, your family, the doctors as they try to figure out what is really going on. I am so encouraged by you and your blog. God is truly giving you the strength to get through this and my husband nathan and I are praying daily for you! Thanks for the updates!
ReplyDeleteSo I know we aren't super close, but I am incredibly relieved all the same that your pancreas is looking normal! So here's to finding out what's really going and getting better!
ReplyDeleteP.S. A list of what you're thankful is actually a GREAT idea - a merry heart does good like a medicine, right?
P.P.S I'm sure you're getting advice up the wazoo right now, but here's some more...load up on that vitamin D!!
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteYou do not know me, but I am a friend of Megan's who told me about you. My mother has pancreatic cancer and I was shocked to hear about your news. I am grateful to hear that your pancreas looks good, if I may ask, do you know which numbers were elevated? I not only have been dealing with this with my mom for almost 2 years, but I am also an oncology nurse! On top of that we met with Dr. Evans for a second oppinion shortly after he moved here and he is an amazing man, so I am confident you are in great hands. Great care is so close and that is wonderful. I have added you to my prayer list. I look forward to hearing good news about your future appointments! God Bless.
Sincerely,
Andrea Kramer
WOW!!! I am posting this on here again...maybe more than once!
ReplyDeleteJeremiah 32:27 ~ "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"~
I was quoting that all night long and answering NO...Nothing is too hard for you!! The only thing was that I know there are a couple places where God says this and I could not remember where it was...so this morning I prayed and then opened my Bible and it opened to this page!!! That has never happened before...so I have to believe it was God and that He wants us to remember this! I love you!!!!
Andrea, thank you for your note. The levels that were elevated were CA 19-9 (it was 223) and CEA (66.7). This means nothing to me :) I am excited to meet with Dr. Evans.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your mom's struggle with this disease. She is in my prayers.
What a journey you are on. We're all learning from you as you go through this. My niece's husband's boss's wife has had pancreatic cancer since last July. She's gone from practicing Buddhism to visiting a Presbyterian church. We can pray she finds the truth soon! I can also pray that God will use this to draw all of us closer to Him as we struggle to understand and cope with life on this side of eternity. I love Jude's benediction: "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore. Amen" And Amen
ReplyDeleteRachel, I am so glad that they said your pancreas looks good! That sounds super encouraging! I have been praying that they got the diagnosis wrong in the beginning and that you'll be healed. I am so sorry that you have to go through all of this, if you need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to call/text/email me! Jesse Kutz
ReplyDeletePraise God for the miracles he is working in you!! I am SO SO happy to hear this news!
ReplyDelete