Thursday, October 6, 2005 

Thursday, October 6, 2005

Hello, Everyone!! I have very good news for all of you. It is what we have been waiting for these past few months since Rick started chemo. Yesterday he had an appointment with his regular doctor for his 6 week follow up. On Monday Rick had the CAT scan done and the results were in yesterday. The great news is that the tumor in the lungs has shrunk from a bit over 10 cm at its widest to 5.9x 2cm. The report noted that the mass has "decreased significantly in size compared with the prior chest CAT scan". There were 3 lesions in the liver in July which meant that the cancer had spread to the liver. Now there is a 1cm low density lesion in the liver that has decreased in size from the prior studies. I asked the doctor about the other two that were there ( as there had been 3 lesions when he was first diagnosed) and he said they were not mentioned in the report and so were not there...as in gone for good (I hope). I mentioned to the doctor that Rick had been gaining weight and he looked really surprised and said that was a miracle! (This doctor has the flatest affect that I have ever seen and always communicates the worst that might happen first. He is also very guarded with his comments!) When I asked why he responded that Rick was taking the strongest chemo drug known to man on the planet earth and that most people vomit, can't eat, and loose weight. We were so delighted with this news that we went out and celebrated with a ham sandwich for Rick and a decaf, nonfat, sugar free vanilla lattee for me!!!! I'd had a regular lattee the day before and hadn't gotten to sleep until 2:30 am because of the caffeine!! I do try really hard these days not to do the same thing over and over and expect different results!! Rick Sherman wants to know why I even bother when there's nothing in it anymore!

I must mention that I think Rick's weight increase has been due in large measure to Rick Sherman who makes THE BEST grilled steaks for Rick and then leads him astray with these amazing pies that he sneaks into the house for the two of them to devour! Last night it was ice cream sundaes. I did offer bananas but Rick can't stand them anymore since that was the only fruit he was allowed to eat for weeks.

It is all GREAT NEWS. Thank God and all of you for your prayers on Rick's behalf. I ask you to be sure to continue to keep Rick in your prayers and to offer thanks to God for this wonderful report. I am so grateful to all of you that it chokes me up when I think of all those prayers going up to God and feel all of your love supporting us here through this.

Rick goes in tomorrow for his first day of Round Three of Chemo. That is the day he get the cisplaten in the morning (6 hours) and irinotecan (2 hours) in the afternoon. It is an all day thing.

Connie and Chris will be coming up from Vancouver on their was back to Kansas. Connie will spend the day with her Dad and me in the hospital. That will be great to have her with us.

My love to all of you.
Sharon