Update on Sue

Yesterday (Friday morning), Sue was admitted to Emanuel Hospital (503-413-7711) in Portland due to having trouble breathing. The doctors have determined it was pneumonia and she is currently transferring from the ICU to the 6th floor (room 682) which is where they house cancer patients. She is responding well and on medication. The good news is that she is on the road to recovery and the current radiation is working. The troubling news is that they found two additional nodules in her liver and a few existing smaller nodules have enlarged over the past few weeks.

Sue will continue with radiation and will start the chemo procedure this Friday to address the new liver nodules. As you can imagine, Sue's attitude is positive and if you wish to send her a note or call with support, make sure the nurse checks in to see if she is awake. They had her on morphine last night which knocked her out.

Prayer support is also appreciated.

Matt

"Won't be dancing the Argentine Tango anytime soon...not such great news this time"

After a brief respite, it seems the cancer has taken another road trip and stopped in yet another place in my body. A couple of weeks ago I started experiencing pain radiating from the top of my neck down into my right arm, with tingling in the lower part of the arm and numbness in my right thumb. Talked to Dr. Karamlou about it during my last visit and he scheduled a CT scan and MRI to check it out - said it was clearly nerve pain and it could be anything from a pinched nerve to a bone spur to arthritis. A tumor was a possibility but the symptoms and other tests (arm and hand grip strength, etc.) didn't jive with other symptoms that would indicate a tumor so it did come as a complete surprise (more like total shock) to discover that there is a tumor on a cervical vertebrae, affecting blood flow and causing the nerve pain.

Once the shock of the news wore off, or better said, sunk in the next questions were "How bad is this and what do we do for treatment?". Unfortunately, the news is not good. The tumor is in the bone and the soft tissue around the vertebrae - this means that even if surgery is an option, we can't get all of the tumor because it's invaded the bone too. Of additional concern is weakening of the bone which could cause a pathological fracture. That could mean compression or collapse of the vertebrae and quite possibly, paralysis to arms and legs. Now before everyone freaks out, that is worse case and something I need to be careful of in not overexerting my neck (thus hanging up the dancing shoes for the tango for awhile) until we begin treatment. And the good news is there are options.

I'm meeting Drs. Kee (my radiation doc) and Chen (neurosurgeon) on Monday morning and we'll develop a plan for treatment. Best case is Dr. Kee can zap this tumor (it's about 2.3 centimeters in size) with radiation and no surgery is needed. If radiation isn't an option, then we talk about surgery. In this mix will be an adjustment to the chemo protocol (I think) and I'm guessing Dr. Karamlou is going to want more full body scans to be sure this "cancer road trip" hasn't stopped somewhere else we don't know about.

I must say, these doctors are on it....I had the scan and MRI late in the afternoon on NYE and Dr. Takahashi (the on call oncologist) was on the phone with me at noon yesterday. He had already been in touch with both Drs. Kee and Chen to get things scheduled for Monday and had my latest prescription ready to be called into the pharmacy. All this on a holiday weekend. When I hear people talk about unresponsive doctors or having to wait days or weeks to hear from their medical team, I am so grateful for the good care I am receiving.

One big question I had was how can I be healing in one part of my body, have the other two areas stabilized and then have another tumor show up somewhere else? That's the mystery on metastasis......I was told months ago that cancer, once it gets in the blood stream (lymph system) is like a car on a road trip that, unfortunately, no one knows where it's going or where/when it will stop. This tumor is another aggressive one....it didn't show up on the last scan and now, here it is.

The good news is there are treatment options and I am feeling really good, strong both physically and emotionally, and ready to take on this newest development. I cried my tears long and hard after hanging up the phone yesterday and dreaded another round of suck phone calls to my family. There was a short period of just feeling too exhuasted to think about this latest tumor and all it's implications and after some time in deep prayer, was fully renewed in His strength. Thank you, God, for the peace and comfort. I got off the couch, threw off the pity party mood and said "The heck with this, I'm going with friends to see a George Clooney movie"....what better way to restore my spirits than to gaze adoringly at him on screen :) And for what's it worth, "Up In the Air" is really a good movie.

My Christmas holiday was absolutely wonderful and I hope your's was too. It was low key and close to home with a few surprises thrown in....a very dear friend from SD and her husband showed up for a surprise visit and it was wonderful to spend time together. That's her, Tricia, in the photo. We've known each other since 1985 and the friendship just gets sweeter every year. My niece, Kelli, came to Portland to celebrate NYE with college friends and stayed with me for a couple of days. We had a good time together and she loved our other surprise.....a snow storm on Tuesday. Completely unexpected and as a result, a traffic nightmare for many but it sure was fun to watch her get so excited with the snow and send photos to all her friends. Portland does rain well, but snow? Not so much. It's been a time of rest, relaxation, reading, movies, friends, laughter, a project or two here and there, great food and wonderful celebrations. I've enjoyed every minute of it!

Not sure what this treatment for the neck tumor will mean for the rest of the teaching year. I'll know more Monday and will go from there. Clearly, I'll have to take time off for radiation and/or recovery from surgery but I am praying that I will still get to finish the school year with the kids. God knows my heart and my passion for my kiddos and I pray I can quickly return to the classroom. May be in a neck brace this time around, but that's ok, I can deal with that.

Please continue to pray with me and pray hard for recovery as the next step of the journey begins. It's been a long haul, but I am still fighting this cancer with everything I have and am determined to come through it healed. Still too much to do! I'll update as soon as I can after Monday to let you all know the next steps.

Love and hugs and Happy New Year!

Susan

"Do a happy dance!"

The news continues to be good....saw Dr. Karamlou before chemo yesterday and the tumor markers are continuing to come down, a good indication the chemo is working. Praise God for answered prayers! Tumor markers are an indicator in the blood of the presence of cancer. In my case, it's enzyme CA 9-19 that is monitored and a normal range is 9-30. In August, when we had the scan that showed the liver tumors growing, the tumor markers were in the 20,000 range (yep, folks that's not a typo). Currently, we're in the high 15,000 range which is a significant drop. Nowhere near normal, obviously, but headed in the right direction! Yahoo! All vital signs are good, weight is steady, skin color and texture are good. Huge praises.

We're in the countdown for Christmas break and the kids are more than ready.....it's been a little squirrely with the very cold weather we're having (not many options outside for them to burn off energy) and knowing a two week break is coming. The days are still good, fun and I wouldn't trade this job for anything. Come spend a day with me and see for yourself how fun 6th grade can be....or you might run screaming from the room. :)

I'm thoroughly enjoying this holiday season, celebrating the best gift of all, the birth of Christ. Loving the lights, decorations, activities and time with family and friends.

Hugs, love and huge thanks for continued prayers and praise,

Susan

"voodoo doughnuts and gal pals"

It truly was a weekend of celebrating the good news from the latest scan - answered prayers and gratitude for healing. It's a small step, but a positive one and it was so wonderful to make the phone calls to family and friends this time. Dr. Karamlou had to repeat himself twice when he told me and mom the news :) I think I was so used to discouraging results that it took a moment to really register what he was telling us - all the tumors in the liver have shrunk, there are no new spots anywhere else and the lung and pancreas tumors have continued to stabilize. All three of us were grinning from ear to ear though as I left the office to go for chemo treatments. A great day!

Dr. Karamlou said to go and celebrate and I certainly did. Dear friends from Atlanta, Wyoming and Charlotte flew in for a long weekend and we kicked up our heels, Portland style. No trip to Portland is complete without a stop at Voodoo Doughnuts and we, along with many other Portlanders and visitors, joined the long line outside the shop on Saturday morning. If you're in town, I'll be sure to take you there and if you're truly adventurous, we can also go to Velveteria, the largest black velvet painting museum in the world (as far as we know :) And yes, we went there too. Who can miss the opportunity to see such a wide array of dogs playing poker or the requisite Elvis paintings?

I'll continue with this current chemo protocol for 3 more cycles (about 6-7 weeks) and then we'll do another scan. Side effects were a little stronger this time, but overall, I feel good and am still teaching full time. I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is next week and we've already finished the first quarter of the school year.

There is so much to be thankful for, not just with the holiday approaching but in the blessings of every day. I'm deeply grateful for so much and thank God for His healing and continued provision for me. I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, surrounded by the people you care most about. We are all so blessed, aren't we?

Love and hugs and heartfelt thanks,

Susan

The climb

I have been reflecting about Sue's great news yesterday and feel it's been a long time since we had something to celebrate when the words "scan results" come from the mouths of Sue's medical team. Well, as I'm reflecting upon Sue's positive results, a song from a young 16 yr old plays in my head as it does around our home these days. Powerful words from one of my daughter's favorite singers: Miley Cyrus.

The song is "The Climb" and can't help but think of Sue during this cancer journey. I have played the words in my head over and over today and would like to share the words with you.

Thank you Sue for showing a younger brother that prayer, belief, strength, hope, inspires me beyond words. I picture you dancing at my daughters weddings and holding their babies one day, eating garlic fries cheering the Giants and walking the finish line with me. These are my dreams and yesterday's news kept those dreams alive.
By the way, I speak for many many others when I say "you inspire me"


The Climb
I can almost see it, that dream i'm dreamin but, there's a voice inside my head sayin, you'll never reach it. every step im takin every move i make feels lost with no direction, my faith is shakin, but i, i gotta keep tryin i gotta keep my head held high

there's always gonna be another mountain im always gonna wanna make it move always gonna be an uphill battle and sometimes im gonna have to lose it aint about how fast i get there aint about whats waitin on the other side its the climb

the struggles im facing the chances im taking sometimes might knock me down but no im not breaking i may not know it but these are the moments that im gonna remember most yeah just gotta keep goin and i i got be strong gotta keep on pushin on cuz

theres always gonna be another mountain im always gonna wanna make it move always gonna be an uphill battle sometimes im gonna have to lose aint about how fast i get there aint about whats waitin on the other side its the climb x2

keep on movin keep climbin keep the faith babe its all about its all about the climb keep the faith keep your faith

Whoa oh oh oh

Quick update...answered prayers

Just received a phone call with Sue's scan results and for the first time since the lung tumor shrunk back in the spring, we have GOOD news. Dr. Karamlou greeted Sue and Mom this morning with "we have good news, the chemo is working and all nodules in the liver are shrinking, no new growth anywhere else and the lung and pancreas are still stabilized.

Sue will follow with a blog update this weekend, but right now she is celebrating and praising God.

A big answer to all of prayers!

Matt

An Anniversary

October 30th was a day of reflection and thanks for me as I "celebrated" the one year anniversary of the original lung cancer diagnosis. In some ways it is hard to believe a year has passed already and, in other ways, the year has gone so quickly that I can't believe it really is one year. And you all know what a year it has been, the ups and downs of all the tests and diagnoses, beginning chemo and radiation treatment, the pulmonary embolism scare and everything in between. I've spent many of the last days really reflecting on this cancer journey and it still comes back to what I've said from the very start......God has a purpose and a plan for me, He is beside me every step of the way and though I don't have a clear idea or understanding as to why we're on this journey, I am so grateful for all the blessings along the way. It would take pages to tell you all about all the wonderful people and blessings that have come my way in this past year.....just recently I received cards and packages from my "chemoangels" - an organization I have never heard of that lends encouragement and support to cancer patients. These women are as far away as Oklahoma and Virginia and I really don't know how they found me (they're keeping that a secret, I guess) but it has been wonderful.

I guess I am now a veteran of sorts in this cancer battle. Last week when I went for chemo, there was a woman about my age and her husband sitting in the lobby. I checked in and sat, waiting for the nurse to call me back. The woman asked in a hesitant voice how long I had been having chemo so I shared a bit of my story with her. Turns out this was her first chemo treatment and she was quite apprehensive about the whole thing. Everyone has a different experience and I'm hopeful hers will be as easy as mine has been, in terms of side effects, and I was so glad to be able to talk with her and her husband and offer some positive information. I remember as clear as day the first time I went for chemo and radiation - the unknown can be pretty darn scary.

Some of my best medicine is, and continues to be, teaching and all my wonderful kiddos. My desk is littered with candy they've brought me from their Halloween stash (guess my repeated hints about loving all that Halloween stuff paid off :) and last Friday when they wore costumes to school was just too darn cute. It was a fun day.....my costume was as corny as they all have been in years past. If you look closely at the picture, you may be able to tell I have coins (quarters) glued to my shirt, am holding a hammer and a block of cheese. Wait for it, wait for it......I was a "quarter pounder with cheese".

The next CT scan is scheduled for Monday, November 9th, in the morning and I see Dr. Karamlou on Weds., the 11th, for results. This will determine whether I stay on the current chemo protocol or if we have to pull another bunny out of the hat. I am praying hard for good results and I know you are too. Thank you. Oh, and another huge praise - I no longer have to be on oxygen! I've been off the "leash" for almost three weeks now and am doing just fine. God has been so good and kept me so protected.

Fall here in Portland has been absolutely spectacular and the trees truly must rival the east coast for color and variety. Even though raking all the leaves isn't that much fun, I have really enjoyed the fall season and am looking forward to the holidays. I feel like I'll blink and it will be Thanksgiving already.

Time to go and watch the Phillies-Yankees game and root for those Phillies. I love the World Series but am always a bit let down when it is over because then I have to wait until February for spring training. And I plan to be around for that!

Love and hugs and deep heartfelt thanks to all of you,
Susan