Friday, June 17, 2005
MEDICAL UPDATE
Over a week ago Karon and I made our most recent visit to the oncologist. It was not an encouraging one. The oral chemotherapy is having no effect on the cancer and it is very harmful to her hands and feet, in addition to the other side effects. The drug had the cancer count reducing for a time. But now it seems to have flat-lined and is even increasing a bit.
So…We all decided it is time for a change. Dr. Birhiray obviously subscribes, at least in principle, to the classic definition of insanity. “Insanity is to continue doing the same things in the same way and expecting different results.” We do this far too often in church life and wonder why our churches for the most part aren’t healthy and don’t grow!
So a change in the approach to Karon’s treatment is at hand. She and the doctor agreed that she could go on a little “medical leave”. She is off of the oral chemo drug and waiting for her hands to heal once again. The healing is very slow this time. We will do nothing further in the way of treatment until the middle of July.
The week after next we are going to the North American Christian convention in Lexington, Kentucky. Following the convention we will go on to the Atlanta, Georgia, area to visit our daughter, Anita. We’ll come back to Indianapolis July 5th. July 13th we go back to the oncologist. She will likely begin her new treatment that day.
The next line of treatment is to use a stronger chemotherapy drug that can only be given by infusion. That’s introducing the drug directly into the blood stream through the veins. She’ll have to go to the treatment center to have the drug administered. The doctor has decided on which drug to use. We have to decide if she wants to take it once a week for three weeks and then off a week or if she will take the stronger dose once every three weeks.
There will be side effects either way. Taking the lesser dosage more often may lessen the side effects somewhat. The two main side effects are loss of body hair and destruction of the immune system. Neither is pleasant to endure. There are additional drugs they will administer to mitigate the other side effects.
We are going to try to enjoy our vacation and Karon’s “medical leave” as much as possible and try not to think too much about the future at this time. We just pray this treatment will be effective in destroying the cancer—and not the patient!
Jim
posted by jim 10:30 AM 1 comments
Comments:
Jim, I hope you and Karon have a good vacation - you'll both be in my prayers!
-Jennifer
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-Jennifer
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