We saw the cancer doctor yesterday.  We both had just a small flutter of trepidation in the gut as we were driving to the appointment.  Something about walking into a facility whose sole reason for existence is to treat cancer patients, makes the whole thing a few degrees more “real”.  But our mind was soon set at ease by the directness, compassion, and professionalism of the staff and doctor.  Lots of information in written form was given to us to take home and read, and a “next session” with the Nurse Practitioner was scheduled.  Bloodwork was drawn and his hemoglobin is up to 10 now.  Praise God!  Chemo will start on the 23rd.  Between now and then we will go to three different facilities.  One for him to have his port-a-cath inserted, one will be my own appointment which is a follow-up with the rheumatologist who is treating me and my ailments, and then that educational session with the NP.  The chemo regimen will be as follows: 23rd is a Wed, and he will sit in chair at the Cancer Hospital for 3 hours to receive the first drug of his particular “coctail” via I. V. infusion, then he will be hooked up to a portable pump to carry the other two medications of the coctail which will infuse over 48 hours.  We’ll return to the hospital on Friday after the infusion is finished, for the nurse to disconnect pump and flush his port.  We will repeat this process two weeks later, and follow that pattern every 2 weeks for the next 6 months.  The doctor did a genetic test as well, and ascertained that my husband has a hereditary genetic anomaly called Lynch Syndrome.  Lynch Syndrome significantly raises the risk of colon cancer development, as well as increasing the risk of other cancers.  Regular (yearly) colonoscopy will now be requried.  This will mean our sons must also test early and often for colon cancer.  I’d never heard of Lynch Syndrome before now.  Seems there is no end to the things that can go wrong in the human body.  This is a result of our fallen state as humans.  God’s original design for the body was perfect, but when sin entered, death and decay came with it.  That only makes us long all the more for the day when Christ will redeem us physically.  We will be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye. When we see Him, we shall be like Him, Praise the Lord!

You can learn about Lynch Syndrome, it’s symptoms, causes, complications, diagnosis and treatment HERE.  I will probably also add a page under Nurse and Patient about this condition as well at some future date.

We were told to expect that with chemo treatment comes a cumulative effect of fatigue and loss of stamina.  So even as Garrett’s wound continues to heal, and hemoglobin improve, (which is why the chemo hasn’t yet been started), as the weeks progress on chemo, he can expect to feel worse before he eventually feels better.   This particular regimen does not generally cause a lot of nausea, nor does it generally result in a great deal of hair loss.  Any chemo causes immuno-suppression, so a big thing for us to be vigilant about would be any fever or symptoms of sickness, and caution about his environment.  Working in a call center, he is around every bug that is known to man.  This may necessitate his being out of work longer than expected, although I suppose he could wear a mask.  For now he is still mending at home.

So, there you have it.  We look forward to seeing all that God will do in the midst of these circumstances.    We are so thankful for all the folks who are praying for us, and we ask that you continue to remember us in your prayers over the coming 6 months.