August Update

Time files when you’re having fun, and I’m having so much fun it’s hard to believe!  I love God, my wife, my kids, my family, my friends, my job, …, my LIFE!  Between church, hockey, drives in the foothills and mountains, movies, tennis, canoe trips, soccer, weekends with friends, etc., it’s hard not to think of this as a good life!

What I hate is cancer, and its potential to separate me from all of those things except God.  But, for today I don’t have to worry about that.  Last week I had a CT scan and blood work in preparation for my 3-month check-up.  Today I went to said check-up.  One of the first things they do after you sign in is check your weight and blood pressure.  I lamented that I’d been gaining too much weight.  Their response?  Well, we’re glad it’s not going the other way.  Always look on the bright side of life.  ?  Then I got the really good news:  both the CT scan and the bloodwork were clear!  There is no sign of cancer returning.  My next significant scan, assuming all else continues normally, will not be for another six months (i.e. in the February timeframe).

It’s interesting, though, that God has a way of tempering joy and/or reminding us that it’s in His hands.  On our way out of the doctor’s office we met an acquaintance.  It seems she is not, from a cancer perspective, as fortunate as I.  She also had stage 4 colon cancer, but hers, as I understand it, has not only returned but spread.  So, while you’re thanking God for my progress, perhaps you can also petition God on Katrina’s behalf.

USB Port

I had to post a follow-up because a friend sent me a joke after the last post that I had to share:  I'm getting my USB removed - my Unsurprising Surgical Bump.

Yet Another Surgery

If you read my last update you know that I was scheduled to meet with the doctor to get my latest test results back.  That was over a week ago.  I don’t know why it took me so long to send out an update.  Unfortunately, they found a lump on my chest, so I’m going under the knife again on Monday.  The good news is that finding the lump was expected:  after all, they put it there!  I’m referring to the port I had installed for chemo.  Yep, I appear to be cancer free for now, and the three month checkup was so good that 1) they’re going to remove my port (which, by implication, means they don’t anticipate any more chemo in the foreseeable future), and 2) I don’t have to have another doctor visit for SIX months!  So, barring a sudden change, I probably won’t send out any more updates for approximately six months.  Life is good.  God is good!

Signing off for now with Philippians 3:20,
Brad.

P.S.  For those that misunderstood my last update, no, I’m not writing a book.  That was just an excuse for a joke/play on words. J

My Book

Sue tells me that in writing circles it is often suggested that coming up with a title is half the battle.  In that case, I guess I’m half way done writing my book!  I hope you’ll enjoy it:  it’s called “How A Semi-Colon Punctuated My Life’s Sentence”.  I admit I’m dubious, though, that you’ll ever be able to get that one on Amazon, unless Sue takes ownership of the project.  :-)

Anyway, what I’m really writing about is to provide a short update and to remind you that 1) I’m not dead yet, 2) I haven’t forgotten about you, and 3) that I’d love to hear from you, too.

So, my situation is that I can hardly believe how good I’m feeling these days.  I’d say it’s the polar opposite of how I felt a year ago when I was going through the depression following my first liver surgery.  I don’t think I’m quite at 100% for energy/stamina, but I’m coming close, and I think that’s the only issue left at this point (apart from the neuropathy that I expect to have to live with the rest of my life).  I was able to stand up for an entire hockey game last weekend!  In fact, I’m feeling so good that my family (I and my three siblings and families) are making plans for NEXT Christmas!  Just a few months ago I didn’t know if I’d see LAST Christmas!  Life is good!  God is good!

That, I suppose, is a good prelude for this week.  Today I had my PET scan and blood work done in preparation for my 3-month check-up next week (I know, it’s closer to 4 months by now, but…).  I honestly don’t know what I should be expecting next week.  On the one hand, I’m feeling quite good, but on the other hand we’ve been here before.  Perhaps I should start worrying, eh?  My Mom always said “worrying must work because 99% of the things you worry about never happen”.  But, that doesn’t really seem to be my nature, so I’ll live my life and send another update after next week’s appointment, when hopefully we’ll have just a little more idea of what God has in store for me in the coming months/years.

Thanks for reading!
Brad.