Before the update, let me clarify my commitment to update this site each Thursday. I don’t actually post the update. A friend of ours (Misty) set up the site and post the updates I send to her. Thank you Misty!! Depending on how long Karen’s doctor visit takes (last one took nearly 12 hours when you add the drive), Misty’s schedule, etc. it may take a day or two before the update is posted.

Today, 01 September (Misty inserting the fact that I didn't receive this e-mail until Sept 4), Karen and I went to see her Oncologist and Gastroenterologist. Have you ever had such good news that was just impossible to hold it inside or just couldn’t decide what to share first? Well today was a day of great news for us and some amazement for her doctors. Karen’s “remarkable” and “amazing” improvement continues.

Our day began early with a 7:45 a.m. appointment (5 a.m. wake up) with Karen’s oncologist. We saw Dr. Galleshaw first and were told of the “remarkable” improvement in the tumor markers . On Karen’s first visit (03 June), the markers were at 2,999. A normal person would have a maximum of 38! Today, just shy of 3 months later, we learned that number has dropped to 586!! While 586 is still bad, it’s a dramatic improvement. Praise God!

As scheduled Karen received infusions of Herceptin and Aredia. Due to chemo she remains anemic and was given another shot of Aranesp in an effort to boost her red blood cell count.

After 5 hours with her oncologist, it was off see her gastroenterologist. We saw Dr. Levert and he expressed his shock at how well Karen looked. He told her the liver function was showing signs of continued improvement! He shared with Karen his “amazement” at how good she is doing. To God be the glory!

Karen came off the chemo Sunday evening 28 August (3 ½ days early) due to some changes in her mouth, hands and other areas of her body. These complications were no where near what she struggled with in the first round of chemo. This would have been her third round. Her first dose began at 3000 mg per day, changed to 2300 mg per day with the second and third, and now in an effort to hopefully eliminate issues with Karen’s mouth, hands and feet the fourth round has been reduced to 2000 mg per day. She will begin this new dose on Thursday, 08 September.

Until the next update I leave you with this quote from Norman V. Peale,

“Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory.”