Family Life and Friendship Network

Monday's scan results did not show as much cancer cell growth as the previous scan. Here are two points directly from the MRI Brain scan report:

1. Large multilobulated lesion within the corpus callosum extending superiorly through both hemispheres. Decreased enhancement within the lesion compared to the prior study.
2. New faintly enhancing nodule in left lateral precentral gyrus worrisome for progression of disease.

Julie made the decision on her own to continue her fight against cancer, and we went forward with her new treatment. Julie's decision to continue the fight is not a light one. This time, they will try Lomustine. All chemotherapy has consequences, and this one is no exception. If you click the link and read about Lomustine, or search HopeGuide.org for the drug name, you'll learn more about it. It's been around for a while. Julie took her full dosage on Monday, and that one dose will last six weeks. During those 6 weeks, the Lomustine will hopefully stop the cancer growth, or at least slow it, but it will also attack her bone marrow, lower her resistance to disease, and lower her blood cell count for all three types of blood cells. If the cancer grows anyway, she suffers all this, and at the same time continues to lose more mental capacity while getting weaker.

Let me add that the decision to fight is no light decision. It's much more difficult than it sounds. If Julie decides at some point to stop trying to fight cancer, and to just treat the symptoms as they come, I will support her, but I'm glad she's going to keep trying at least a while longer. It's no light decision for either of us. The scariest thing to me is if it gets to a point when she can't decide, and the decision rests on me. I don't want to see her reach that point. It's been very difficult to see her lose so much of herself. Yet so much of her is still alive! I can't do many of the things I once could with her, or even have the same kind of conversations, but I can still do many things, and we enjoy the time we do have - perhaps even more than before, because now we realize more than ever how precious that time is. In Julie's case, should she choose to stop treatment, I won't call it giving up. I'll call it finding peace in herself.

Whatever happens, we know God will help us through it, and the thoughts, prayers, and encouragement from all of you, our friends and family.