Mayo Day/CT Scan

It’s been way too long since I’ve blogged. We have been living life and “pretending” that Mike is in perfect health because he looks and feels like he is, except for when he tries to run or exercise too fast and then his decreased lung capacity reminds him he isn’t.

Yesterday was Mikes 9 month CT scan/check-up at Mayo and to get right to the point, as his radiation oncologist said the tumors in his right lung each showed about 1-3mm growth and have become more “dense” and not “opaque or ground glass” looking. So in the last 3&1/2 years since these new tumors appeared on scans, they have doubled in size. In the Lung Cancer World these tumors are “very well behaved” and slow growing but growing… so although Dr. Oliver thinks he could do SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy) he doesn’t want to do that at this point because it causes tissue damage and Mike already has decreased lung capacity. Instead he wants us to meet with Mike’s lung Oncologist Dr. Molina to discuss RET targeted immunotherapy. RET is a type of gene mutation that is found in only 1-2% of non small cell lung cancers and is the mutation Mike has.

We will meet with Dr. Molina soon to discuss our options. We will also continue to live as healthfully as possible and do all the natural protocols (supplements,diet,exercise, sauna,ozone, etc...etc...)we have been doing because Dr. Oliver thinks that is what is keeping Mike looking and feeling so good and keeping those lung tumors growing so slowly.

Although we would have loved to hear that the tumors had not grown at all or shrunk, that is not our reality, but we still believe that healing is possible. Our children, and grandchildren have been amazing and are such a motivation! We thank God for this wonderful life full of peaks and valleys and trust in Him!

I will update after we go to Mayo to discuss our options, but until then hug your family and friends and let them know what they mean to you, because you honestly have no idea what tomorrow brings! Here is a quote I have hanging in my kitchen: Prayer is bringing your wishes and worries to God; faith is leaving them there.


In love and faith,

Paula