6 weeks of misery...

6 weeks of misery is what Dave wanted today's post titled.

We went to the LRCP today for blood tests and to meet with his oncologist again to discuss the results of Sunday's cat scan. This is the halfway point of the treatment. There was a lot of the usual waiting around. Fill out the weekly survey of how Dave's feeling, wait in line to check-in, sit and wait for the pager to go off to go get his blood taken, sit and wait some more for the pager to go off again to meet with a nurse to get weighed and discuss any issues/concerns we have before we meet the doctor, then wait some more to actually see the doctor.

The doctor asked a few questions about how Dave was feeling and about the ongoing issues with the feeding tube, and  went on to discuss Sunday's catscan. He said it showed mixed results. Although some parts of the tumor decreased, other parts didn't change or increased, and the lesion on his liver has increased about 20%. We had already kind of decided that we didn't want to continue with chemo given that it isn't a cure and it's so hard on Dave's body. (All four doctors we've seen have been very clear that treatment was just to buy a few more months. And I gotta say they're a few lousy months of treatment.) We had been praying for clear guidance as to whether or not to continue with the chemo at this point. Well the doctor made it pretty clear after discussing the results he said he would recommend stopping chemo at this point because the results are not good enough to warrant continuing with it. (It's basically doing more harm than good.) They also removed the PICC line today, as it's no longer necessary.

We took it in stride but Dave was very disappointed when we got home. Not that we were stopping chemo - as we had already discussed that. But it was just so discouraging to go through all of side effects - exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills/shakes, hair loss, skin rashes, mouth sores, neuropathy, chemo fog, for 6 weeks, for little to no results. They are going to set up an appointment to see the radiation oncologist again. (They said it might be required in the future to make swallowing easier.) We would like to review all our options there but will keep the appointment as we would like to have the option to have another catscan in the future to see how things are progressing.

On a positive note I spoke with a woman today about somebody else that was given a limited time frame and who switched to the raw living diet and is a huge advocate now - many years later. I emailed a local organic farm yesterday, briefly gave them our story and asked if it would be possible to order a bulk order of organic carrots at a discount. (I figured carrots are fairly easy to store and they might not mind selling me a huge order.) They were awesome and got back to me right away and said that they don't normally sell to the public but would make an exception and would sell them to me at the wholesale price (which is 40% less than what we're paying now). She said they'd even deliver them for free as they come to London anyway on Wednesdays! So, I'm going to order about 400 lbs. Yep. You read that right - 400 lbs which is about 2 months worth. We're going to store them in my parents cold cellar. (They only live a few minutes away from us.) Anyway, it was the woman I spoke with at this farm that told me about a customer who used the raw living diet to cure their terminal illness as well. They also sell wheat grass there! (I might order some of that too if I don't have it growing by then!)

Tomorrow morning Dave and a friend are going to pickup a hydroponic unit we've been looking at for growing our wheatgrass. (You can grow it in soil, but I just think hydroponically will be easier/cleaner than soil, and it seems like a pretty mindless system. The easier the better!) We need to make room in our laundry room for it as it needs water and a drain. And I will pester my brother to come help install it! (Sorry Nick.)

After being initially bummed out Dave is feeling a lot better this evening. The bottom line is that we were told and understood that chemo wasn't a cure, and so can now move forward without it and not have to second guess ourselves. Dave should quickly start to feel better as his body heals from the side effects of chemotherapy, and now the raw living food diet, + wheatgrass can help the healing begin. We are leaving this in God's hands, as that's where the healing has to come from.

This evening we're enjoying the fireplace. (We're not the only ones. The dog always loves to crash in front of the fireplace when the fire is roaring!)

Thank you again everybody for your continued support, prayers, and genuine desire to help out.

Val