Trials: Clinical & Life
I have tried to write a new blog post so many times but just can’t seem to put my words together but after several calls from out of town/state friends I decided I better get busy. Mike’s Clinical Trial drug Blu 667 now has a name (Praletanib) so that must mean it is closer to being approved. Mike’s CT scan 3 months ago showed either stability or slight shrinkage in all 7 nodules in his right lung so that was great news! Like all drugs however, Blu has a long list of side effects and Mike has several. He continues to have neuropathy in his hands and feet but it has not gotten any worse. It has also caused crazy hair growth...he has even had to have his eyelashes trimmed several times so he can see. The medication also causes dryness (skin, eyes, throat) and he was having trouble with his vision due to such dry eyes but after several trips to our eye doctor and new moisture drops and gel, he is seeing well again, if he keeps up with them. Blu also causes sensitivity to the sun which caused pretty bad blistering on his ears and hands which don’t really want to heal up. There are other side effects, but what matters most is that it is working on the tumors so we are focusing on that.
We took our whole family to Arizona for spring break after Jack’s college basketball season ended. We had a great time until the world went crazy due to the C- virus. We had planned on staying an extra week in AZ after the kids all flew home and were going to fly into MN for Mikes bi-monthly CT scan at Mayo, but due to the “pandemic” Mike’s oncologists highly recommended we stay in AZ. They scheduled the CT scan and bloodwork at the Scottsdale Mayo campus. The day before the appointment however, Dr. Molina called again and did a phone consultation and they canceled the CT scan and blood work because they didn’t want to risk him going to the hospital. We love Arizona and normally would be happy for extra time there, but with a crazy world it just seemed weird, so we eventually made it home and have been staying safe here in Iowa. We were supposed to go to Mayo last week for blood work but they called and switched it to Charles City and we did a phone consult again with the Doctor. Mike’s lab’s were actually better than they have been and his liver enzymes have come down some, so that’s great news!
This pandemic/lockdown is hard on everyone, even introverts like me, and especially extroverts like Mike. It’s hard for business owners, employees, teachers, students, (especially seniors). Right now the future is uncertain for everyone. As a cancer survivor/thriver and caregiver we live with unknowns every single day! Every ache, pain, cough, makes you pause…and question the future, and I think C-19 is causing this in the general population! I was hopeful that this “pandemic” would bring people together, but it doesn’t seem to be, it actually seems to be dividing people and that is sad to me! Living with and not dying from cancer is our motto! None of us knows what the future holds so we need to live! Don’t WATCH the news, just check it, get enough information so you know what’s going on but if you’re WATCHING the news, no matter what source it is, it is having a negative impact on you and your health! We can either choose to sit around and complain or we can choose to live each day to the fullest! Get things done while you have this time to do them. Call or text Friends, clean and organize your house, listen to motivational and uplifting Podcasts] or Books, read books, heck start writing a book, start a garden, walk, run, get out of the house and get some sunshine because vitamin D is super important for your immunity. Do things that bring you joy.
A couple months ago I somehow (God-thing) started following @Kimcankickit (she played soccer at the university of Iowa) and her husband @heyurkim’shusband on Instagram and I binged on Kim’s post because even though she had metastatic cancer she was trying so hard to truly live! Sadly the day after I started following her, she passed away leaving behind her husband and little girl, which was super sad! Her life was way too short, but she showed up for her family and herself everyday. Also, if you haven’t heard of Jay and Katherine Wolf you should check them out on Instagram @hopeheals and their books Hope Heals and Suffer Strong are excellent! Katherine suffered a massive brainstem stroke at the age of 26, when their first baby was only six months old! They could have been bitter and turned away from God but instead they turned their struggles into helping others through Hope Heals. They are so inspirational!
None of us knows what tomorrow will look like, but God does! I am not saying any of this is easy and we certainly have our days when we get negative and down, but we do know that our Lord does know what’s best and we will persevere. We believe in his word and trust that he will get us through this trial of COVID-19 just like he has gotten us through the cancer trial and every other trial in our lives. Don’t give up… Don’t ever give up!
James 1:2-4 and 12...2)Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3)for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4)And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 12)Blessed is the man who remain steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.
Be blessed,
Paula