Cancer Update

Yes, I know it's been some time since I posted an update on ministry or health issues. Sorry about that. This post is to let you know that I'm doing well. I am nearing the end of my third cycle of oral chemotherapy and will start the fourth cycle on Thursday. There is a pattern that is starting to develop. There are two different pills that I take during my six-week chemo cycle. One involves four pills each morning for four weeks. The other is two pills in the morning and two in the evening for six weeks. Based on my first three cycles, things start out easy, build up to mild complications in the later part of the second week, then get harder by the end of the third week and continuing that way until the end of the fifth week. From that point to the end of the cycle things get much easier.

Okay, you say, so what does it mean to be easy, mild, or hard. Well, there has really been no consistency with those definitions. The first cycle was devastating to me. There were times during the hard days that I could hardly move and I was so tired that I didn't even want to get out of bed. However, since then, God has bless me. The hard periods of cycle two and three were both better than the mild period of cycle one. My nurse tells me that it is normal for patients to develop resistance to the toxicity that causes the side effects. However, it is also normal for side effects that seemed to be behind a patient to suddenly flare up in a future cycle.

My prayers for this period of my life remain consistent. I am asking the Lord to give me the courage to walk down this path He is taking me down and to help me to have the strength to overcome any physical issues that may arise. I've also been praying for my hair, but it does not appear that my hair is on the top of God's issues list for me. But that's for another posting.

Thank you for praying with me and my family. We feel your prayers and I know that God is listening. I am getting stronger with each cycle of chemo and I fully believe it is the hand of the Lord that is making that happen.

One more note: I'm losing weight like crazy. I don't recommend cancer or chemo as a traditional weight loss plan. However, it feels good to be 30 pounds lighter than I was before the ruptured appendix that started all this one year ago.