Woodland
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
The Community Church
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JulyFriday, July 31
We have a diagnosis! This morning the doctor came in and said, "Well, we have very good news. We have the diagnosis, and it's not what any of us thought!" It seems that the results from Mayo show that this is a Seminoma, a form of testicular cancer. None of the doctors a suspected it because of Keith's age (okay, he's not OLD, but they usually see this in younger men.) The good news is that it is very treatable and has a very high cure rate (95%). The doctor said that Keith would go through the treatment and then move forward and live his life!
The cancer has still not been staged, as we had to do 2 more tests today. The first was a little scary, in that they wanted an MRI of his brain to be sure the cancer had not spread. No reason to suspect that it had, but that would make a difference in the treatment if it had. The second is an ultrasound to be sure there are no additional masses. The only funny in this is that he is having to go to a Women's Ultrasound Center for the test...Keith and all the pregnant women!
If the doctor can get all of these results back by Monday afternoon, then Keith will start chemotherapy on Tuesday. The doctor said the treatment would be rough due to the drugs that they have to use, but he again emphasized that given the choice of this or lymphoma, he would definitely take Seminoma, due to the high success with treatment. If there are no complications or further spreading, he feels like the treatment will last around 4 months.
There are lymph nodes in the groin and one by his collarbone that are affected, but the doctor feels like the chemo will take care of all of it. With a cancer mass this size, he did say that it may only shrink to a certain size, and then will have to be surgically removed. If that's the case, he wants us to have that surgery done at Moffitt in Tampa.
When we got in the car after the doctor's appt., Keith looks at me and says..."So...I have MAN cancer." (deep bass voice on the word "man.") This is the same cancer that Lance Armstong had, so Keith thinks he's in good company.
This is obviously still very serious, and we still have a long road to travel, but how thankful we are that it is something that they anticipate will respond well to the treatment and that he can come through and live a normal life. He is just walking around the house saying, "Thank you, Jesus!"
Please pray that the tests today will not show any spread of the cancer, and that all the results will be in so that he can start the treatment on Tuesday. The first round of chemo for this is a 3 day treatment, so if he doesn't get to start on Tuesday, then he will have to wait until the following Monday.
We absolutely give God the glory for these results. I guess the most significant thing, though, is that we were prepared to give him the glory whatever the results. The peace that we have had, largely because of all of your prayers has been amazing. But God, in his graciousness, heard our plea and we are so thankful.
Long entry today. I'll let you know on Monday what the test results are and how we are moving forward. We love you all.
Thursday, July 30
Today has been a quiet one. No news from the health front. Keith had the hiccups again last night, and they kept him up a good portion of the night. Today they have not been a problem though.
Our doctor's appointment is at 9:30 am tomorrow morning. We are still praying that we will have a diagnosis by then. I promise that whatever we find out I will post here as soon as we get home. Whatever this is, I want all of you praying about it as soon as possible!!
The quiet day has been nice. I have realized that once Keith starts treatment our lives will change dramatically, at least for the first few weeks (The doctor has already told us he will be a pretty sick boy for the first 2 weeks). So, I figure we have about 3 days left before that dramatic change, so we are enjoying them.
Again, our prayer request is that the diagnosis is available tomorrow, and for strength for us as we face whatever this is.
Wednesday, July 29
Well, we received a little bit of news today. The Radiologist called this morning to let me know that he had been in contact with the Pathologist that had Keith's biopsy. Come to find out, the tests are being done at Mayo Clinic. That made me feel better as far as the facility, but sure do wish they would hurry up! He said the the Pathologist said they were still in the process of staining and testing. He did say, however, that the sample is good, so they are not going to have to go back in and do the biopsy again. That's great news, because if we had to do that we'd be in for another 2 week wait! He really feels like we will have the results in a day or so, and is calling them again to be sure they have them as soon as possible.
Another bit of news: he said that the PET scan showed a "hot spot" by Keith's left collarbone. From what I understand, the PET shows the early development of cancer cells. This is what helped to support the Lymphoma suspicion. Our Oncologist has never been able to understand how he could have a mass the size of this one and it not be elsewhere in the body. According to the Radiologist, the Lymphoma diagnosis is better than a Carcenoma. But, we will deal with whatever it is...if we could find out what it is!!
I have enjoyed all of your emails sharing your Ambien stories. Apparently Keith's story is mild compared to what some of you have experienced!
Please continue to pray about the diagnosis. Ask God to really keep that Mayo Pathologist focused and enthralled by Keith's samples!!
Tuesday, July 28
Sorry I am so late updating this today, but I have just returned from Tampa taking Josh to the airport. Keith had the Muga scan today, checking the functionality of his heart. I think they did this because one of his veins is collapsed from the tumor and they want to be sure the surrounding veins can carry the load.
So, we have chemo port in place, and all of the tests complete. Now we just need the diagnosis. We did get a bit of news today, in that the PET scan seems to support the lymphoma diagnosis. We just need to know which lymphoma in order to know the treatment protocol.
Funny on Keith: The doctor has given him an Ambien prescription in case he needs it to sleep. Last night he was having trouble sleeping and took one of those pills around 3:30 am. We got up around 8 am, and he was SO goofy! He didn't know what day it was, couldn't stay focused, mumbled - I was really worried! Then I talked with the doctor who said it is imperative that he get at least 8 hours of sleep when he takes that. Sure enough, right after lunch he was back to his old self, and would not believe that he had done anything strange!
The Lord is using each of you in our lives during this time. I can never thank you enough for all of the prayers, verses, and encouragement that you have sent us. One of the neatest things for me are when people quote Keith's words back to him that he said to them during difficult times. God is sustaining us, and I feel we are truly being lifted on your prayers.
Today's prayer requests:
Monday, July 27
So, here we are in the second week of the Keith Martin journey. The week end was great - so good to have Josh and Bethany both home. We played games, went to a movie, and just had fun being together. Friday night we had a precious prayer time together. Bethany went back to Auburn yesterday, and Josh heads back to Dallas tomorrow.
This morning they put the chemo port in. Just a little bump next to his collarbone. I guess I expected something a little more menacing. He can finally shower without having to wrap his arm in cellophane (pic line), so he is very glad about that. The anesthesia really socked him...Josh and I took him to get something for breakfast and he kept falling asleep. The best one was when he was drinking his hot tea and before he could set the cup down, he fell asleep. I grabbed the cup and made the decision to get him home for a nap!
His spirits are good. He is still picking on us and playing practical jokes. Typical Keith stuff.
Tomorrow we have to have a heart scan (muga scan, I think it's called), just to be sure his heart is okay to withstand the chemo. they are definitely getting all the pieces in place to jump on this monster once they get a diagnosis. Still thinking that will happen by Friday. He had the PET scan on Thursday, and it should be read today.
Thanks for your prayers for me. I'm a little calmer today about waiting on the diagnosis. Every doctor we have encountered says that this is not uncommon, so I guess I will have to take a breath, sit back and wait! We still have a slight hope that it might come in tomorrow. At this point the Oncologist is planning starting treatment on Monday, August 3.
Keith has really enjoyed all of your emails. He personally has received over 500!! Please continue to send him your prayers and well wishes. His email is keith@gowoodland.com, and mine is leeann@lamartindesign.com
Today's prayer requests:
Friday, July 24
Well, we are one week into this journey, and it seems like we have been traveling it for about a year! One week ago today, I was standing on a street corner in Gallup, NM (where we had been on a mission trip), listening to the doctor tell me on the phone that he was pretty sure that my husband had cancer. I thought he had a kidney stone! Turns out he was right, but we still don't know what kind!
Okay, so now I am frustrated. We were told this morning that the test results would be in as late as the end of next week. With apologies to those in the health community (in case I tell this wrong), it is my understanding that because they couldn't remove an entire node, it is difficult to determine the architecture of the cell, so even the most simple of diagnosis oftentimes has to be sent away for analysis. Now I'm in a quandary as to whether to sit quietly and wait, or to raise a little stink to try and get the diagnosis. It was a rhetorical question, actually, as I know I just need to wait (but maybe not quietly!!) These doctors and pathologists don't seem to realize that they have in their possession the most important test results in the world!!
Last night was a rough night. His pain broke through at about 3 am, so I called the doctor (so thankful for a kind and patient PCP) and he had me increase the pain meds. I think we have the formula figured out now, although he is a little loopy for awhile right after he takes it.
Bethany comes in tonight. So both our kids will be here for the weekend. I think we are going to cloister away and just have some fun watching movies, playing games and just being together. I probably won't update until Monday (chemo port at 7 am). In the meantime, please move the diagnosis to the top of the prayer list, but most importantly that it be accurate!
We love you all. Since Monday, Keith and I combined have received over 500 emails. Please don't stop! All of your notes and prayers of encouragement really make his day. Just please understand if we don't reply. I know you do.
Hopefully this time next week we will know a little more.
Thursday, July 23
Keith is home! I look at him in there, sitting in his chair, playing with the dog, and it sure seems like things are back to normal. I know they are far from normal, but I am giving myself this moment!
Still no diagnosis, but this afternoon we go for a PET Scan. A quick prayer request for those of you that are reading this before 3 pm ET - we need his blood sugar to be below 200 in order for them to give him the test. The blood sugar is elevated as they have already started him on some steroids to try and shrink the tumor or at least stunt its growth!
Tomorrow is our first official visit with the Oncologist. If we have any news as far as a diagnosis, I will let you know as soon as I know. It may be as late as next week before we get the final word. They have scheduled to have the chemo port put in on Monday so that we will be sitting on ready when we know what this beast is!
Thanks so much for all the emails. Keith has very much enjoyed reading all of them in the hospital. Again, if you need his address, it's keith@gowoodland.com. We absolutely feel your love and your prayers.
Today's prayer requests:
Wednesday, July 22
I know many of you are going to be checking this page today to see about Keith's diagnosis, so I wanted to go ahead and write early. I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that we still don't have a diagnosis. The pathology report basically came back that it is cancer (I should be a Pathologist...I think I could have given that info!) They have had to send it off in order to identify exactly what it is. The doctor says that this is not uncommon. It will potentially be Friday or next Tuesday before we know for sure. What does this mean? Well, our kids were praying that they would find that this was a big cyst of some kind. Looks like that's not the case. However, this does NOT mean that he has some kind of exotic, rare cancer (it doesn't mean that he doesn't, but...well you know.) All it means is that the findings were inconclusive. The doctor still thinks we are dealing with lymphoma, and to be honest, that's our best scenerio.
The good news...we have found an Oncologist that we really like and we think has a good plan. The way this all happened I believe is a direct result of all of your prayers. This man came highly recommended to us, and came in last night at 8:15 and stayed until 9:45 to meet with us and walk us through everything. We got more information from him in that time than we have received since we arrived at the hospital on Friday. And for those of you that were concerned...he said that at any point that he feels that this is something beyond the scope of his practice, he will send us to Moffitt or MDAnderson. That's getting the cart before the horse, but it made me feel better. I felt such peace in talking to him, and it was like a huge weight had been lifted off of me that this decision had been made.
The doctors think Keith might can come home tomorrow. That would be great, as long as all has been accomplished that needs to be. He will probably get the chemo port today. Wow, I really can't believe that "chemo port" is now a part of my vocabulary (sorry, the realization still comes in waves.)
Josh got in yesterday. It is great to have him here.
Today's prayer requests are the same as yesterday, pretty much, but with one of them answered!! From here on out, I may just add to the list each day.
Today's prayer requests:
I'm on my way to the hospital now, so if there is any more news this afternoon, I will update.
I cannot thank you enough that you guys are there and praying for us. The first day this page was up, it had 655 hits. You are absolutely strength for us during this difficult time.
Tuesday, July 21
Not much news to report today. Keith is comfortable. They are weaning him off of the Morphine in order to get him to the place where he can be discharged when the time comes. Don't worry, they are replacing the morphine with other, super duper pain meds. His one plea is that he not have to go back to the pain!
The Oncologist today said that he hoped to have the results by tomorrow morning. If they do, and can confirm a course of treatment, it is my understanding that they will begin the first treatment in the hospital. No one will commit, until they really know what this monster is, but sometimes they will guess (when I push them a little!!) The only hold up would be if this is something that can not be identified here, then it will have to be sent off, which will take longer.
They have some other tests that they will need to run as routine, to be sure there are not cancer cells anywhere else. They don't suspect that there are, because his bloodwork looks great, but they have to be sure.
We have had a little mixup regarding the Oncologist that was supposed to be treating Keith. We are working with our PCP to get that straightened out. Just one more headache I wish that we didn't have!
Today's prayer requests:
Thanks for all the emails and calls. Keith really enjoys reading the emails on his "blueberry." Your words and prayers are very encouraging.
Hopefully tomorrow we will have a little more direction!!
Monday, July 20
The church has asked me to provide a page on the web site to provide a daily update on Keith.
In case there are some who are not aware of what we are dealing with, Keith has had severe pain in his back for a couple of months. We have been to several doctors, he has had cortisone injections, and the pain would get better, then come back with a vengeance. This past week, we were with a group on our Navajo mission trip and the pain became completely unmanageable for Keith. We made the decision to fly him home, and I chose to stay with the group to lead the remainder of the tour. Keith came home and went to the doctor for more tests. They finally ran a CT scan on Friday and have discovered that Keith has a large mass in his abdomen. They immediately admitted him to the hospital in order to monitor him and help with the pain. He has been resting now, and claims "Uncle Morphine" is his new best friend!
The doctors are pretty sure that this is lymphoma. The tumor is quite large - 4" x 6", which is why it caused so much pain. They did a biopsy this morning to determine what kind of cancer it is. Based on that they will determine the course of treatment. We will not have the results back until as late as Wednesday.
We are doing okay. The realization of what we are dealing with has hit us at different times. The biopsy was a difficult experience for Keith today (he was awake during it and could hear all that was going on). I'm still a little numb, but am acutely aware the the one I love most on this earth has cancer. I can honestly say that a week ago that word wasn't even a part of my vocabulary!
Josh is coming home tomorrow. He already had a trip scheduled, so looks like God has been working in the background preparing the way for all of this! Bethany will be coming in the first of August.
Today's prayer requests:
Keith is able to receive email on his Black berry at the hospital. If you would like to email him, please keep it brief, and send it to keith@gowoodland.com. You can also email me at leeann@lamartindesign.com. He is in Manatee Memorial Hospital, Room 534. If you check with information to try and find him, be sure to ask for Alan, as that is his first name. Some of you have asked about sending cards. Just send them to our home and I will get them to him (4608 4th Ave. E. Bradenton, FL 34208).
Thanks for your prayers and support. We love you all. I'll provide another update tomorrow!
Lee Ann
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