Bye Bye Blu
Yesterday was Mike’s monthly Mayo visit with bloodwork, short exam and a talk with Dr. Molina. After discussing all of his side effects (more than I’ve mentioned) and ALL the excess radiation from CT scans every other month we decided together with our oncologist that Mike will stop the Blu Clinical Trial. The other RET, Tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug that is exactly like Blu got approved so if the tumors start to grow Mike could start on that drug but wouldn’t have to have CT scans every other month. Please do not make more out of this than what I am telling you. Mike feels great except for the side effects and he has NOT had progression, we are not giving up in any way! Mike is tough and could deal with these side effects BUT... nobody knows the true long term risks from a drug that is in a trial. It could actually be causing skin cancer or some other cancer and 1 CT scan is like 600 X-rays and for the trial they also scan his whole upper body causing even more iodizing radiation and possibly other cancers. Mike’s oncologist even said he has had way too many CT scans for someone his age (well above 40-50)! We feel good about our decision to give his body a break and pray the tumors “behave” and don’t grow! Faith over fear!
I have read and listened to (🧡 Audible) so many books in the last few months and some of my favorites include: Fortitude by Dan Crenshaw; The Coffee Bean and the Change Agent by Damon West; It Takes What It Takes by Trevor Moawad, Plague of Corruption by Judy Mikovits , and Radical Hope by Kelly Ann Turner (her first book Radical Remission was also great) and American Values by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. all are great and only one is about cancer but I have learned a lot from all of them. In Radical Remission and Radical Hope the author says that after interviewing thousands of “terminal” cancer survivors She discovered that EVERY ONE of them did the following 10 things:
1) Exercise-it doesn’t matter what, just move your body
2)Found a spiritual connection
3)Empowered themselves
4)Increased positive emotions
5)Followed their intuition
6) Released suppressed emotions
7)Changed their diet-some ate Vegan, some Paleo, some Keto, just not the typical SAD (standard American diet) not every diet works for every person or every cancer
8) Take herbs and supplements
9)Have/Define a really strong desire to live
10) increased their social support
We have worked on most of these things for at least the last 9 years since Mikes last thorocotomy. We aren’t perfect but we will continue to work on these things and trust God to guide us through this scary/crazy world we live in. Dan Crenshaw writes in his book Fortitude that we should all try hard not to offend and try even harder not to be offended... not always easy but something to strive after!
Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. 🧡
Don’t give up, Don’t ever give up... has been one of our life motto’s since Jimmy V. said it in his ESPN speech years ago, and we will continue to live by it!
Be blessed,
Paula