Our oncologist, Dr. Carter said "People don't think that lightning strikes twice, but it's not uncommon."
Not what you exactly want to hear about cancer, but at least it's not an unusual situation, medically speaking.
For us it's unusual though, Jeff having cancer again, but really it's the best of a bad situation. Jeff is young, he is healthy. We found this on a 6 month scan following up from the renal cancer of 2006. He has no symptoms present and wasn't even able to feel anything until our urologist examined him to find for himself what was shown on the CT scan.
The biopsy last Wednesday, revealed two nodules. One is 2.3 centimeters and tested negative. The other is 4.6 and that is the one that tested positive for small cell cancer.
Where is it coming from? We don't know yet. The pelvic and abdominal scans revealed the nodules. Jeff gets a chest scan on Tuesday. And there is a colonoscopy in the works and he'll have his stomach scoped and a few other tests.
Since it's so early in the game the bottom line is instead of spending time trying to track down a source which could be in the lungs, stomach, prostate, wherever, and maybe unable to be found, he gets started in treatment. Because the treatment is the same for these cells no matter where the source is. We get started now, and if we find the source, we irradiate that too.
Prognosis is very good - with 2-3 treatments it should be in remission, maybe out 4-6, but who knows. We do know that God has this and although we cannot understand why He allows things like this, we have the free will in how to handle it.
Speaking of which, Jeff is handling this well. He's nervous, but he's so rock solid in his faith and calm. He says that years of team sports learning patience and awareness does really pay off.
(I also believe it's his conversion and total acceptance of the Lord's will for himself which I have noticed seems to often come unquestioned with choosing Christ a an adult, I'm just sayn'.)
I wasn't so rock solid at first. Trading off being the spouse who watches again right after being the spouse on the table, wasn't in our plans. But my mother always says "God doesn't give you anything you can't handle." So we can handle this. We have a great team of doctors, a number of whom are our friends and are blessed with such great friends in general. Family really.
People have already begun asking how they can help, what they can do and the biggest thing is to pray, for strength, courage, peace, calm, openness to the Lord for whatever the Lord leads you to to pray for Jeff.
Don't worry, when we need something more physical we'll list it here and put out the call - honest, we, O.K., I'm learning more and more what it really means to be part of the Body of Christ, a limb separated from the body doesn't survive.
In saying this, we are so thankful for you being in our lives and words can't express our gratitude for your prayers and positive thoughts. The plan is that Jeff and I will be sharing the writing on this blog. I encourage you to leave comments even if it's just a hello to let him know you're thinking of him.
Thanks and Peace,
"The wife"
