Scans Round Two: No evidence of disease :D

Well if you didn't already see the title, I am ecstatic to inform you all that Chris's scans came back clear of cancer this go around :D  I knew it would come back fine but we couldn't help but be a bit nervous. Dr.Nair called with the good news a couple of days ago. What a wonderful Christmas present for me ! :D

Feist-Weiller Cancer Center

So this past Thursday Chris finally went in for his appointment at the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center
an extension at LSU. We met with Dr.Nair where Chris and him just went over his history. MD Anderson didn't really send too much info. So maybe the VA wasn't just jerking our chains about having trouble with MD Anderson sending over his records. Chris was eligible for free  care and I can't tell you how much of a relief that was. He also already has his appointments set up for his scans!



The next day Chris had an appointment with the VA. He will continue to go there to see Dr. Wolfe  as his primary doctor but for all things Cancer we will now only deal with LSU. The results to his Brain MRI came back with no new lesions. The tumor that was zapped with the gamma ray is still there but shrinking. I just can't tell you the relief I feel about getting everything back on track. Thank you all for your continued prayers and thoughts.

All my love

xoxo
k

Dear VA stop pisssing me off :/

So this past Thursday we went in  for what we thought were Chris's full body scans but turns out he only had orders for a brain MRI. Apparently they are having difficulties getting records from MD Anderson. I honestly don't believe it. I think they are just slow and don't care. It's impossible to get anyone of any importance on the phone (not the front desk clerk isn't important, but you know what I mean) He hasn't spoken or even had an appointment with an oncologist. Its all very disheartening to me. It just makes me mad because he is almost a month behind of when he is suppose to be having this done and I know how fast this stuff spreads when it comes back. We will be trying to get into LSU soon. We are suppose to  find out the results of his MRI tomorrow , I guess we should start calling in the morning when they open up maybe that way we might find out by Friday whats going on. hmph. Pessimistic? yes. Hopeful? Always.

nighty
xo

k

Scans coming soon... I hope?!?

So its been a while huh? Well things are about as normal as they probably will ever be. I have learned as much as you try and not think about it once Cancer strikes it feels like a little black cloud that is always looming overhead. You never know when its going to strike and you just have to keep praying for it to stay at bay for as long as possible. Well as you may know Chris's no longer is covered by Insurance so no more trips to MD Anderson. Thank Goodness Chris is a veteran  so now he is covered under the VA. I am concerned though because he has been in the system for a while now and still has not been appointed an official oncologist. So.... since they have not given him one yet they have not scheduled any scans for him which are DUE this MONTH. It's all I can do not to go loco on them. I will have Chris call AGAIN Monday and see if any progress has been made. I am so used to the wonderful care and treatment at MD Anderson and with the VA it just seems like we keep getting the run around. Lost forms, calls not returned.. and so on. Blah. Hopefully everything gets straightened out soon. Chris is still unable to work, he looks great on the outside but is still so weak. It makes me sad. I have been working at a Salon downtown in Natchitoches trying to make some extra income but its slow starting so please say a little prayer for me to get some more business.Click here for my business Website Its really been quite an adjustment financially BUT we are making it and we have each other and all of you so that's really whats important!  This spring I decided I am going to go back to college for Business Administration. I am learning that its now my turn to become the bread winner in the family so I figured  a degree couldn't hurt. I became so dependent on Chris financially throughout our marriage that anything I made from my previous jobs was more like "spending money" then bill money. Anyway ok no more talk of money and blah blah. In other news our dog tootie had pups a few months ago and we kept one his name is GUS and and he is the sweetest thing ever and blind as a bat. He makes us uber happy. :D Isn't he so cute?

Oh I wanted to ask my readers who had cancer if you have tried Turmeric? A lady at the Salon told me about it and all of its wonderful Cancer preventing qualities. Has anyone tried it?. I was going to pick up a bottle next time I was in town, I read alot of good things about it including a study from MD Anderson .So its worth a try! Also I wanted to ask you caretakers if you have suffered any kind of post traumatic experiences from going through the same situation as we have?  I have had lots of bad dreams lately involving cancer and also  you know how soldiers  have flashbacks of war, sometimes I flashes of being in the hospital with Chris watching him be sick and it brings up lots of really strong negative feelings, like I am reliving in my head over and over again. It's weird. I dunno I am sure its just normal at least I hope it is, I would just like to someone to tell me it is! Anyways just please keep us in your prayers and pray the scans are good I am worried because Chris says he has a weird feeling in his lung hopefully its nothing. i love you all so much. Its past my bedtime so night night!
xo
k

Update and 3 month scans

Its funny how in just a few months time how things started to feel normal again, that is until we hit Houston traffic and that old anxiety started brewing once again. It was time for 3 months scans. Chris started early Monday morning and had a Brain MRI and a PET scan. We wouldn't find out all the results until Wednesday.,, ugh.. waiting.. waiting.. waiting... I am so tired of waiting.. Well needless to say Wednesday couldn't come soon enough and that's when we received the happy news that Chris had no more new lesions in the brain and the tumor they treated with gamma knife is fading fast. Then we received the good to questionable news about his PET scan. Dr. Patel told us everything was good except for a few spots in the Lung. She couldn't say what they were because they were too small. She asked if Chris had a lung infection recently because that could be the reason... he hasn't. hmph so I don't know its something I am trying not to freak out too much about. On his report it said, "could possibly be new metastases ".. but then Dr. Patel told us they HAD to put that in the report because Chris is a cancer patient. So besides the obvious I think Chris had a pretty good report and I am just happy he's here and he is as healthy as he is. I would like to thank my  funny and generous cousin Laurette for putting up with us for the past 3 days and also would like to thank the Cancer League out of Monroe for helping us with transportation costs, you guys rock! I also want to thank Chris's ex employer MPH inc. for helping with the insurance as long as they did, we would have never been able to receive such Awesome care without them. And thank you for all the continued prayers we appreciate them from the bottoms of our hearts. Please continue them and please include our friends Robin and Stacey who are sisters and both going through this horrible Cancer. Well as always thanks for keeping up and I hope to bring you wonderful news throughout the year. Don't forget to wear your sunblock!

xo

k

No evidence of Disease!!!!!!!!!!!

Well..................... yeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hallelujah

Chris is cancer free. All his scans came back perfect :D   Thank you God!  Thank you Thank you THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot express the happiness in my heart, I just feel like God just keeps answering all my prayers and its such an Amazing feeling.

We go back next month again for brain scans and then in 3 months he will go back again for Full scans.
I am so excited to be able to move on to a new chapter in our lives. One where Chris continues to grow strong and one where he stays cancer free.

Love you all
xo
Kendra

Appointments Rescheduled

In case you were looking for an update we rescheduled Chris's appointments due to all the bad weather. Its flooding galore everywhere it seems. So looks like we will be there Friday morning! In other news I heard from the Cosmetology Board today and I am finally going to be able to test and get my license transferred over from Texas. I just keep getting all my prayers answered and I just am so grateful. I can't wait to start working and being able to give my husband the peace of mind that he doesn't have to work until he is completely healed up. We are so blessed. Well just wanted to give that quick little update. I will let you know the results when we get them. Until then, all my love.
xo
k

Cancer Restaging starts Tomorrow

Well we leave early tomorrow for another fun filled trip to MD Anderson. ha! Chris has appointments starting at 12:45 for a full body PET scan. They will be scanning everything to make sure nothing new is growing. So say a big prayer for him tomorrow!!! Then Wednesday we will meet with his main Doctor, Dr. Patel for all the results. I am nervous but I know God has been healing Chris and he's not going to stop now! I still just can't believe the magnitude of this past year, how utterly life changing it has been. Just when you think you  know where your going in life, think again!  Things can change so suddenly and rapidly it will make your head spin! I will keep you all updated on the results.
All my love
xoxo
k

Just a quick update

I know, I know, I know... I haven't been updating the blog like I should. Well last week  we went back to MD Anderson for a checkup on Chris brain tumor. It was all smiles and happy tears for us. Its shrinking! :D Normally shrinkage doesn't start until the second month after gamma ray but it showed up after only one month. I just can't explain the happiness I feel. When I read past posts I get so emotional sometimes because I can almost feel the dread and anxiety I was feeling in those moments while typing those posts. Its been one big roller coaster. Chris is doing so good but still tires quickly, he wants to go back to work so bad and I know its so frustrating for him. He was our bread winner. I have applied for some jobs also but haven't heard back and as far as my Esthetician license , it just a big mess. The state of Louisiana wants me to go back for another 250 hours since I am coming in with a TX license. Texas tests on another system then Louisiana. It's just not fair really. Every other state except for Texas, Florida, and New York can just easily transfer there license over. The closest school would be in Shreveport with a price tag of 4000 bucks. Its just not feasible. I have the correct amount of hours for Louisiana already. I wrote a letter to the board and hopefully they will address it at their next meeting. So I have been praying about that situation. Maybe I am meant for another path. Anyways I just wanted to update everyone on us. I hope your all doing great.
Alllllll my love
xoxo
k

Bye Bye Sinus Tumor, you will not be missed.

First and foremost let me apologize for taking a week to update our blog! And I am proud to say its the happiest blog yet. Well Chris's sinus surgery was a complete success!  He went in early that day and the surgery was only suppose to be an 1 hour long but after almost 3 hours, I began to worry a bit after not hearing anything, but sure enough his nurse called down to the waiting area and told me he just got out of surgery and was doing well. A few minutes later Dr. Hana came down and talked with me he said he extensively cleaned the sinus and nothing came out but complete black tumor crud. He said although they will be sending in for testing he did not see any active melanoma. Needless to say I was COMPLETELY ectastic!  The filthy tumor that had been invading my darlings head  is gone! GONE!!!  8 months ago, so big they told us it was inoperable!  GONE! God has  truely answered our prayers. I never told Chris or showed  him but on the MD Anderson Website this is what it says about Mucosal Melanoma

Outlook is POOR!?!! And this is  coming from the Greatest Cancer hospital in the World! Well in Chris case outlook is Freakin AWESOME! Chris has come so far and although he still has lots to go, I know by the time March rolls around and he goes for his scans he will disease free. :D

In the meantime.... Chris has been in alot of pain he couldn't blow his nose for a week and although he can now, its extremely painful. He is having really bad head pains and most of time you can find him with an icepack on his face in the bed. There is packing in the sinus cavity but its of the dissolving sorts so I am not sure if it is still there or not.   Now that they cleaned it out there is lots of exposed bone and scar tissue, plus all the extensive cleaning  making it tender and swollen, so this all leads up to alot of pain but I say its a good pain! ha   Anyways we will be headed back on the 10th for a followup on his surgery and hopefully everything is looking great. Also they will probably let us know then the results of the "black tumor crud" they removed. I feel happy for the first time in a long time and I hope I don't lose that feeling anytime soon.
xo
k
"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted."
Job 5:9 NIV

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Meeting with the Anesthesiologist today

Well we are back in Houston and Chris has an appointment with the anesthesiologist this morning. He should have surgery tomorrow sometime as long as everything looks good to go!  He has been feeling good but still tires very easy. I know its discouraging for him not to have his strength back but as I remind him everyday just 3 months ago you could hardly make it out of the bed. It will take time! Chris is so excited about being able to have this tumor removed and I am too. Anyways wish us luck and keep Chris in your prayers.
Love you all!
xo
k

Endoscopic Surgery

Sorry I haven't updated this sooner but on our last visit to Houston, Chris ended up with another appointment before we left with the head and neck surgeon, Dr. Hanna.
They discussed removing his sinus tumor and decided on Endoscopic Surgery for the 26th of this month. My birthday is on the 25th so I am considering this a birthday present for my soul and mind. I am so ecstatic that the tumor is now small enough to for them to be able to operate. The Doctor said there were no hot spots on Chris's MRI and the tumor appears to be dead but we are going back to Houston tomorrow for a new catscan and another Brain MRI. This new MRI will show sections spliced in the opposite way to give the Doctor a clear view of the bones and nerves near Chris's tumor. He said it was good the tumor had receded upwards towards the front of his head because before it much to close to some arteries and inoperable. He told Chris the reason for his headaches is probably because of exposed bone in the sinus cavity. Normally the bones would be covered with tissue and mucous but the Chemo probably killed that tissue as Chemo not only kills cancer cells but normal cells as well. We failed to ask if it would grow back. I will be sure to remember to ask that on the next trip to the head and neck center. Chris is so happy to be able to get this out of his head!  Dr. Hanna assured Chris though if he saw anything that might be a risk he wouldn't chance it and won't do the surgery. The tumor is very close to the optic nerve but as of now he does not see a problem I guess we will know after he looks at the scans that they will be doing tomorrow. I can't believe its been almost 8 months since this began. Its been one heck of roller coaster ride but things just seem to be looking up now and I pray that they continue that way. Life and my perspective on things have changed so dramatically. I hate that it took my husband having Cancer for me to appreciate life and my love ones in a way I can't explain. It took my husband having Cancer for me to experience a closer relationship with God than I have ever had before and for me to truly never ever take anything for granted. I have found that I had more friends than I ever thought I had and I have experienced  complete true kindness from friends and strangers alike. I have said it a million times but I feel so blessed beyond words for all of you. Thank you for that.
xo
k

Gamma Ray Knife

Well today started early, we got to the hospital at 6:30am.  Chris was first taken in and fitted with a Halo, they don't screw this into the skull but into the skin. It looked like it hurt but Chris assured me it didn't he just felt alot of pressure and while he was being pushed around  in a wheelchair he thought he looked like Magneto from X-men LOL. I was thinking more along the lines of Hannibal Lector...

Next he was given another brain MRI that took smaller splices in case any other tumors were present. No new tumors! Yay!  Chris then finally went in and received his treatment.

 He told me he didn't even know it had started until a voice across the microphone said 4 minutes remaining. I am so happy that  this was an easy treatment for him. When he was finished they observed him for a little while and gave him some steroids to prevent swelling in the brain.  We have to stick around Houston for the next 24 hours to make sure everything is OK and then we will be able to get back home to our kitties and doggies :D Next thing we need to find out about is what in the heck are they going to do with this tumor in his sinus. Its still there and it gives Chris bad headaches. It hasn't appeared to grown and has shrunk ALOT, enough they should be able to get it out. So that's where Chris stands right now. Thank you everyone for the prayers and for keeping up with our blog!
xo
Kendra