A real update!

We saw the oncologist yesterday to discuss the results of the PET scan. The doctor said that the results were fairly unimpressive and a little difficult to interpret (what a shocker). He said that he and the interventional radiologists at my hospital took a look at the scan and were surprised to not seeing anything "lighting up like a Christmas tree." There was nothing that looked scary or "screamed come get me." Also, they didn't even see the enlarged lymph nodes anymore.

There are still hazy, slightly brighter spots around the newest ablation site, above the liver and slightly above the diaphragm. The options for the spots remain: recurring tumor, infection, or scar tissue/post-ablation tissue.

We told him what the Stanford doc said after reading the CT (wait for 3 months, then check again), and he actually agreed. We'll be sending a copy of the PET to Stanford just to make sure this is the right plan. For now, there won't be any biopsying. Just "watching and waiting."

Dan also got the go ahead for his hip replacement surgery. The official date for that is June 28th. I better put in the paperwork to get work off now!

This has also been a busy week for me from the fertility testing standpoint. All of our labs and scary tests were finished today. Thank goodness. The glucose test was like drinking a whole bunch of concentrated snow cone syrup. I didn't think it was too bad until I got home and had a crazy sugar crash. Whoa. As for the other tests, don't ask. I'm sitting with a heating pad and a constant stream of Advil. "For ze babies!" So far, results are looking alright, though we won't know for sure until we meet with the doctor. That appointment hasn't been made yet.

Alright, I think we're going to try to get off the couch long enough to grab some dinner. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes!

Praises:

- Dan's PET scan didn't look crazy or all lit up!

- Dan's hip replacement is scheduled

- All of the fertility tests are done (for now)

Prayer Requests:

- A good plan from the fertility doctor

- No more cancer!

And it begins.

Cancer/CT/PET scan news:

Nada. The PET scan is still tomorrow, we won't know anything until next week most likely when we meet with the oncologist down here on Wednesday.

Baby news:

We met with the fertility specialist for the first time today. Whoa. Our heads are still spinning a bit from all of the information.

The doctor seemed kind and extremely intelligent with all kinds of awards and plaques covering a wall of his office. Even better, there was a whole wall full of babies he has helped bring into the world. He is very logical and realistic, though optimistic. He took our histories, asked a hefty amount of VERY PERSONAL questions, scribbled lots of notes and described to us the process of fertility treatments.

Dan asked me to use the same analogy the doctor used with us, so I'll try to paraphrase as well as I can: over the next few weeks, we will gathering all of our 'cards' (information, stats, etc.) through tests and monitoring. Once the 'deck' is ready, we'll meet with the 'expert card player' (the doctor) to help us play the best 'hand' with the 'cards' we've been given.

The doctor made it clear that he is not going to be making "something impossible possible, but something improbable probable." We liked that, especially Dan, who has recently taken to thinking like an economist. Math teachers.

As it stands with the information we have now, the doctor has given us fairly impressive odds of having children. Yay! Even with the chemo-induced low numbers, the doctor said that that alone would not prevent us from conceiving naturally. Which led to him thinking that maybe something is going on with me. (Or, he said we just have incredibly unlucky timing!)

Somehow, with all of the focus on Dan's cancer and treatments and the well-known probability that chemo reduces fertility, we never stopped to think that maybe I was contributing to this whole lack of baby issue. Well, Dan did, but he thought it wasn't likely. So, now that that door has been opened, we are a step closer to finding any possible problems and fixing them. Which also puts us a step closer to becoming parents!

The not-so-fun part of the appointment was going over The Plan. Lucky for Dan, most of his part of The Plan is done for now. Unlucky for me, I have a lot to do in the next couple weeks. We'll spare you the details, but if you find me to be a little moodier or grumpier than usual in the near future... sorry. X-rays, blood work, glucose testing, ultrasounds, scary needles going scary places, etc.

Dan keeps reminding me (in a faux French accent): "Iz for de bebe!"

Anyway, once all these tests are done, we meet with the doctor and decide upon the next steps of The Plan. This will include a cost-benefit analysis, too. I hope I don't fall over after hearing the final numbers!

We found out today that my insurance will cover 50% of all the diagnostic work which is FANTASTIC news. This is very rare. Thank you, LORD. That being said...the next 2 weeks alone will be around one of Dan's paychecks. God will provide.

We left feeling encouraged and more optimistic than we have felt for a long time. I'm not expecting a pregnancy to be right around the corner or anything, but I no longer feel that it is a never type of situation. This is a big blessing.

Praises:

1. Insurance coverage

2. Good timing with tests

3. Jamie made it back from Israel safely

4. We feel optimistic!

Prayer Requests:

1. Dan's PET scan tomorrow...let it show nothing lighting up or abnormal at all. With God it IS possible :)

2. Grace in scheduling all of my tests next week.

3. Clear results and wisdom for the fertility doc to help us make a plan.

4. Patience and peace as we wait.

5. NO MORE CANCER!

6. Success in starting a family.

7. Oh, and Dan has a cold that he'd really like to get over soon.

The non-news update.

We haven't blogged because we haven't had any news. Ugh.

No PET yet because insurance took forever to authorize it. It finally got scheduled for this Thursday (3/15). As a reminder, the PET scan may not clarify things as much as we'd like. Since the test shows increased of metabolism, so things with high metabolic needs will light up. Types of things that light up include: tumors OR infections. Good grief. Anyway, depending on how much things light up, the oncologist and interventional radiologist decide what to biopsy. Only a biopsy will actually tell us what is going on and that is several weeks away.

Dan wrote to his doctor up at Stanford who has been with us through every piece of Dan's cancer journey and sent a copy of the CT scan. The doc said he is "cautiously optimistic" about the results. He obviously can't tell what everything is just from a picture on the screen but said that the lymph nodes were actually present on previous scans (surprise?). Also, he said that the liver is looking pretty good to him. The only thing that bothered him was the area on the lung. He is fairly comfortable saying that it doesn't look like metastasis, but was sure to tell us he cannot be positive.

So, cautiously optimistic is our motto for now.

In other news, tomorrow we meet a new doctor...the fertility specialist. It would have been nice to tell you that between the last post and this post that we don't need this doctor's advice, but alas...It will just be a consultation and discussion of financial expectations. Hopefully, the doctor will shed some light on our options and give us some hope in the area of starting a family. Since loans are paid off, we won't be waiting long to start the early stages of treatment. It's still strange to think about what will be involved (medications, tests, invasions of privacy, etc.). Even a little scary, to be honest.

One step at a time!

Prayer Requests:

1. PET scan that shows NOTHING lighting up

2. Biopsy results that show NO MORE CANCER

3. A good doctor's appointment tomorrow...one that gives hope and excitement!

4. Provision for financial expectations of fertility treatments

5. A baby with our good looks, Dan's intelligence, my communication skills, Clifford confidence and the Howen musical abilities! Ha. (Or, just the baby God wants us to raise for Him)

6. Peace and hope and peace

7. A stronger, even healthier marriage :)