Thursday, June 29th

Please accept my apology for the delay in getting to this post. I’ve been doing the tango with a cold for a few days and for a while it was winning! Due to the late posting of this update, the upcoming holiday and no scheduled doctor appointments for this week (YEAH) I’m going combine two weeks into one. I will plan another posting after Karen’s next doctor visit on July 13th.

This has been a mixed week of news. First, Karen’s tumor markers dropped 28 points!! From 292 on June 1 to 264 on June 22, which would indicate the Tamoxifen is having some affect. I’m pleased to report Karen completed week 4 of uninterrupted Tamoxifen and continues to feel well! Thank you Lord!

On Friday, June 30th, we met with a nephrologist (kidney doc) for the first time since Karen’s diagnosis with cancer. In the last update we asked for prayer that Dr. Oettinger would be thorough, wise and timely. He was all that we asked for in prayer. Karen’s appointment was at 10:30 and we were talking with the doctor by 10:25. When’s the last time you had that experience with a doctor!? His office setting is easy going and laid back. His assistants, one of which is his wife, were very nice and welcoming. He did a preliminary review of the extensive records involving Karen’s kidneys and spent about 45 minutes getting to know her.

The primary reason for the visit was to determine which is worse for her right now; dropping kidney function or weakened bones. Her oncologist (cancer doc) had been prescribing Aredia due to the cancer that was in her bones. This drug is a bisphosphonate which inhibits the activity of bone-destroying cells called osteoclasts which would normally work in harmony with osteoblasts in order to rebuild areas of bone that need replacing. I still can’t figure out while they call the bone building cells osteoBLASTS and the bone destroying cells osteoCLASTS.
Seems to me if you are building something it would be closer to CLASTS than BLASTS but I digress. Anyway, this process of bones breaking down and rebuilding occurs in all of us to various degrees throughout our lives. With diseases such as cancer that have metastasized to the bone, the normal process of bone growth can be largely impacted resulting in bone loss, fractures and pain. Drugs such as Aredia can slow this degradation down, but once therapy with bisphosphonates is started, it should be continued unless the patient's likely benefit is believed to be less than the inconvenience of receiving the treatment or until significant side effects are experienced, which is where the rub lies.

Karen’s kidney function is dropping as a result of the drug that is helping her bones. After reviewing test results, Dr. Oettinger said Karen’s kidney function stands at about 35% of normal. He recommended the discontinuation of Aredia and all drugs known to strain the kidneys. He told us it really boils down to quality of life and at this point she was more in danger of kidney failure and dialysis than bone damage from the cancer. It’s unknown whether Karen’s kidney function will improve or continue to decline even with the elimination of this drug. What is known is Who created Karen. As we have done with all news good and bad regarding Karen’s health we give it all over to God and trust in His healing and mercy.

Because of…

Today, July 4, 2006 is the 16th anniversary of when Karen and I began courting. We’re planning to celebrate the great gift of freedom we have in this country and our first date anniversary the way we have nearly every year since we’ve met; together over pizza and fireworks. I wish I could tell you every one of those years were filled with wonderful happy times. Most were, but some because we took each other for granted and focused more on ourselves than each other were less than pleasurable for all involved.

Because of cancer our family has been shaken awake and we’re learning to take nothing for granted. Even still we haven’t been able to push past our own selfish desires all the time and probably never will be able to fully this side of heaven. Living with the ups and downs of cancer is helping us to keep it real. Not knowing (which none of us do anyway, but think we do) what tomorrow will bring tends to keep you that way. Speaking only for myself, I know that having my world turned upside down has caused me to ponder deeper what if today is my last day with Karen, my children, my family, my friends?

It’s our prayer that you take time to reflect on the great gift of freedom we have in this country and take a long look at your family and friends then ask yourself what if?

Until next week …