It is August 2014. More than 3 years ago Ernie started intravenous chemo. In January 2011, he first felt pain in his right pubic ramus bone. It has been quite a journey and the journey continues...this journey of faith and trust in the LORD. We are closer to the 5 year mark - only 5% of people diagnosed with this type of disease at this "late" stage remain alive after 5 years. Or so statistics say. But our hope-filled onco Dr Charity insists that statistics is not for individuals..it is for large group of people. And this couple..US....we are not average people, at least not average in the "fight" inside of us.
Last over-all evaluation tests done this month is cause of jubulant celebration!! Almost. The last test, an MRI of the hip showed a slight progression in abnormal bone signals now in a area of Ernie's hip that can affect his walking. Everything remained stable and normal, lungs, liver, spine, pancreas, kidneys, prostate, blood, etc etc...-already quite a feat. It seemed like all the good news was drowmed out by this abnormal bone signal - later confirmed by more imaging tests as metastasis.
Verdict - nobody dies from bone mets - it is like having major osteoporosis. But nobody wants to be walking around worried about not being able to walk or God-forbid having hip replacement surgery.
Ernie was immediately given a new drug for bone strengthening - X VEGA I think the name is. 1 injection a month for 3 months. Pricey as all cancer drugs are. But who cares...whatever it takes. It is suppose to rebuild the bone back to normal and results with other patients in the past were exemplary our doctor says!!
What I am more concerned about is not just strengthening of the bone but more how to put this progression to a halt, a permanent halt.
I have gone to the books again, looking for natural therapies again for bone strengthening and all the sort of remedies out there. Nothing to lose to be obsessed with finding ways, but everything to gain. What if by God's abundant grace I discover a magical combination of vitamins and herbs and minerals and phytochemicals that when working in synergy creates a "cure". We have managed to put his lung tumors to sleep so far...why not the bone mets??
As I bury myself in study about bone metastasis ..I should never lose sight of one fact. That only one word from HIM..and all this is gone. Thank goodness we have our LORD in our lives who carries this burden with us..for HIS yoke is easy and HIS burden light.
Reading a book entitled "Self-Talk, Soul-Talk" by Jennifer Rothschild. Very inspiring, In the book are some passages to ponder...
"But those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint"
(Isaiah 40:31)
Monday, August 11, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Thyroid Cyst?
Christmas 2013 came and went. I love Christmases..it always has a special glow and warmth in my heart! We needed to get back to the normal January days and brush away the tinsel from New Year.
What was harder than putting the Christmas décor away and saying goodbye to the wonderful firefly lights was the thought of another evaluation of Ernie's health condition. Only prayers and trusting in the LORD can calm the tightness in my gut at this time. Seeing Ernie so happily going about with his high school reunions (which has become more often to his delight!!), serving in Sta Rita Church, Knights of Columbus, Kagawad No 1, etc etc etc..re-assures me that our LORD loves him tremendously and has given him so much "work" while here on planet earth!
For this evaluation Dr Charity asked for CT scan of the lungs and chest, MRI of the spine and pubic bone (where metastesis first felt), complete abdominal ultrasound and ultrasound of the thyroid gland where a cyst is being monitored months now.
Bones, spine, lungs, liver, pancreas, etc..all normal, no change! In cancer, no change is glorious news, something that calls for a celebration!! Except for one thing...Ernie's thyroid cyst grew to almost double the size. We immediately found ourselves goggling information about thyroid cysts and the risk of lung mets, after all this butterfly shaped gland at the base of our neck is close to the lungs.
Dr Charity, upon checking all results congratulated Ernie and even introduced him to several patients asking him to give them words of inspiration! She said not to worry about the thyroid cyst ..from ultra sound it looks benign. But just to make sure, Ernie should have a needle biopsy.
An endocrinologist is the md that does these biopsies. Dr Aquino had to perform this procedure at the 12th floor of the Cathedral Heights building in St Lukes QC. They put a anastetic lotion all over Ernie's neck to numb it..but I thought "what about the inside where the needle passes through??..isn't that going to hurt?" I look at him reading the papers and he couldn't care less about pain or worry.
Can anyone beat that attitude!!
The procedure takes 10 minutes and Dr Aquino calls me in to show me the liquid he extracted from the cyst. He says.."from my experience since 1980's, I say there is a .3% chance this is malignant...let's bet on a bottle of Stella something ( a beer!!!). I could feel my breath going back to normal.. after all point 3 % is less than 1%!! But we had to wait for official patho report.
It came by email after 2 days. Cystic Goiter (thyroid enlargement) - a benign condition that never becomes cancer.
Ernie took his 99 year old Mom and 66 year old sister for a cardio checkup at Heart Center a couple of days back. Dr Romy Santos, a family friend and respected cardio of many years was surprised with Ernie's health update. He said science cannot explain everything. His wife Lala passed away a couple of years back from lung ca that metastasized to the brain. It was a painful story.
Statistics will show that there is a 5% survival rate after 5 years for stage 4 lung ca. It has been 3 years since Ernie felt excruciating pain in his pubic ramus. He is upbeat, energetic and excited about life!! Statistics do not apply to individuals, special one who believes that ANYTHING is possible with GOD!
What was harder than putting the Christmas décor away and saying goodbye to the wonderful firefly lights was the thought of another evaluation of Ernie's health condition. Only prayers and trusting in the LORD can calm the tightness in my gut at this time. Seeing Ernie so happily going about with his high school reunions (which has become more often to his delight!!), serving in Sta Rita Church, Knights of Columbus, Kagawad No 1, etc etc etc..re-assures me that our LORD loves him tremendously and has given him so much "work" while here on planet earth!
For this evaluation Dr Charity asked for CT scan of the lungs and chest, MRI of the spine and pubic bone (where metastesis first felt), complete abdominal ultrasound and ultrasound of the thyroid gland where a cyst is being monitored months now.
Bones, spine, lungs, liver, pancreas, etc..all normal, no change! In cancer, no change is glorious news, something that calls for a celebration!! Except for one thing...Ernie's thyroid cyst grew to almost double the size. We immediately found ourselves goggling information about thyroid cysts and the risk of lung mets, after all this butterfly shaped gland at the base of our neck is close to the lungs.
Dr Charity, upon checking all results congratulated Ernie and even introduced him to several patients asking him to give them words of inspiration! She said not to worry about the thyroid cyst ..from ultra sound it looks benign. But just to make sure, Ernie should have a needle biopsy.
An endocrinologist is the md that does these biopsies. Dr Aquino had to perform this procedure at the 12th floor of the Cathedral Heights building in St Lukes QC. They put a anastetic lotion all over Ernie's neck to numb it..but I thought "what about the inside where the needle passes through??..isn't that going to hurt?" I look at him reading the papers and he couldn't care less about pain or worry.
Can anyone beat that attitude!!
The procedure takes 10 minutes and Dr Aquino calls me in to show me the liquid he extracted from the cyst. He says.."from my experience since 1980's, I say there is a .3% chance this is malignant...let's bet on a bottle of Stella something ( a beer!!!). I could feel my breath going back to normal.. after all point 3 % is less than 1%!! But we had to wait for official patho report.
It came by email after 2 days. Cystic Goiter (thyroid enlargement) - a benign condition that never becomes cancer.
Ernie took his 99 year old Mom and 66 year old sister for a cardio checkup at Heart Center a couple of days back. Dr Romy Santos, a family friend and respected cardio of many years was surprised with Ernie's health update. He said science cannot explain everything. His wife Lala passed away a couple of years back from lung ca that metastasized to the brain. It was a painful story.
Statistics will show that there is a 5% survival rate after 5 years for stage 4 lung ca. It has been 3 years since Ernie felt excruciating pain in his pubic ramus. He is upbeat, energetic and excited about life!! Statistics do not apply to individuals, special one who believes that ANYTHING is possible with GOD!
Saturday, January 04, 2014
Be Thankful to HIM...
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations"
Psalms 100: 3-5
As the first few minutes 2014 began with the usual fireworks, wine noise and merry-making...Ryan Ernie and I hugged each other from the front patio of our home. We have so much to be thankful for in the past year...so much over-flowing gratitude to the LORD!!
Counting the blessings :
1. Despite occasional bouts of mucolitis (mouth sores) Ernie continues to eat well, stay active upbeat positive and excited. Truly amazing!!! I have one mouth sore and my whole day goes down the drain with a bad attitude. I watch him with multiple sores...I know he is in pain but he overcomes it with with a indomitable spirit!
2. Despite occasional pin size bleeding in his fingertips and toe-tips when bumped against objects (another side effect of oral chemo)- Mr Overcomer emerges positive and happy!!
2. Ernie was voted NO 1 Kagawad here in Barangay Philam!! First time ever to enter the field of politics and already number one favorite by residents! He is expectant and thrilled about serving the community. He wins people all around with his wit and humor. You have to know him to agree with me all the way! He is simply just so fun to be around with!
3. We have dear family and friends who continue to love, care and support us during these difficult times battling a dreadful disease. It is a time when we need you to be alongside us the most!To all of you who have supported us with prayers, gifts, kind words- words that lift us, many people have no idea about the power of words -power to destroy and hurt as well as power to build up and encourage--- Thank you so much!! For those whose words are like little gifts in "silver boxes"!! And some of you for just being there asking about Ernie's progress and breathing into us hope and unconditional love...THANK YOU!!
4. We continue to grow in our business endeavors - developing new markets and finding new key leaders to mentor and empower so they too can achieve their dreams and goals in life! We find so much purpose and significance in our day to day business activities!!
5. For my continued health..Ryan's continued health and good spirit.. and his leadership in Corridor of Hope St Lukes Cancer Support group of which he is president - a cause we support with all our mind heart and body!
5. We continue to grow in our LIGAYA ng PANGINOON community...develop deeper relationships with our brothers and sisters and strengthen more our personal relationship with the LORD. Only by HIS goodness and mercy is Ernie healed. Thank you dear LORD.
And so much more to enumerate!! So much more indeed.
For the roof on our head and the healthy organic juice and veggies we have.
For the househelp that do the cooking and massive juicing for Ernie (3 liters of organic greens and carrots) each day.
For great supplements we all take that add the vital plant phyto-nutrients into Ernie's bloodstream
That as another year passes...3 year anniversary now since Ernie felt the first pain symptoms in his right pubic ramus, we become more and more an "oddity", a tiny percentage of stage 4 cancer patients that OVERCOME!!
For this and many more...WE THANK YOU LORD!!
Olive
and into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations"
Psalms 100: 3-5
As the first few minutes 2014 began with the usual fireworks, wine noise and merry-making...Ryan Ernie and I hugged each other from the front patio of our home. We have so much to be thankful for in the past year...so much over-flowing gratitude to the LORD!!
Counting the blessings :
1. Despite occasional bouts of mucolitis (mouth sores) Ernie continues to eat well, stay active upbeat positive and excited. Truly amazing!!! I have one mouth sore and my whole day goes down the drain with a bad attitude. I watch him with multiple sores...I know he is in pain but he overcomes it with with a indomitable spirit!
2. Despite occasional pin size bleeding in his fingertips and toe-tips when bumped against objects (another side effect of oral chemo)- Mr Overcomer emerges positive and happy!!
2. Ernie was voted NO 1 Kagawad here in Barangay Philam!! First time ever to enter the field of politics and already number one favorite by residents! He is expectant and thrilled about serving the community. He wins people all around with his wit and humor. You have to know him to agree with me all the way! He is simply just so fun to be around with!
3. We have dear family and friends who continue to love, care and support us during these difficult times battling a dreadful disease. It is a time when we need you to be alongside us the most!To all of you who have supported us with prayers, gifts, kind words- words that lift us, many people have no idea about the power of words -power to destroy and hurt as well as power to build up and encourage--- Thank you so much!! For those whose words are like little gifts in "silver boxes"!! And some of you for just being there asking about Ernie's progress and breathing into us hope and unconditional love...THANK YOU!!
4. We continue to grow in our business endeavors - developing new markets and finding new key leaders to mentor and empower so they too can achieve their dreams and goals in life! We find so much purpose and significance in our day to day business activities!!
5. For my continued health..Ryan's continued health and good spirit.. and his leadership in Corridor of Hope St Lukes Cancer Support group of which he is president - a cause we support with all our mind heart and body!
5. We continue to grow in our LIGAYA ng PANGINOON community...develop deeper relationships with our brothers and sisters and strengthen more our personal relationship with the LORD. Only by HIS goodness and mercy is Ernie healed. Thank you dear LORD.
And so much more to enumerate!! So much more indeed.
For the roof on our head and the healthy organic juice and veggies we have.
For the househelp that do the cooking and massive juicing for Ernie (3 liters of organic greens and carrots) each day.
For great supplements we all take that add the vital plant phyto-nutrients into Ernie's bloodstream
That as another year passes...3 year anniversary now since Ernie felt the first pain symptoms in his right pubic ramus, we become more and more an "oddity", a tiny percentage of stage 4 cancer patients that OVERCOME!!
For this and many more...WE THANK YOU LORD!!
Olive
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