Checkpoint

I begged and pleaded with Dan to write this blog post, but he kept saying no or insisted on waiting until tomorrow to do it. So, naturally, I gave in, and you have to read my words again.

(He did, however, title this one. A checkpoint in a video game is where you reach a certain level in the game and are "safe" from losing all the work you have put it. Dan says that he feels like this is where we are in the "game".)

After working ourselves up to get bad news or ambiguous news again, we ended receiving rather good news from the oncologist. To sum it up, there was no evidence of new disease on the scan. There were some things that the doctor will need to keep monitoring.

The CT scan showed several things:
1. The liver abscess from last year FINALLY resolved.
2. No new lesions or malignant spots.
3. No more enlarged lymph nodes above the lungs.
4. No nodules in the lungs (this was a questionable finding from the last CT)
5. Possible colitis (infection of the colon)--Dan hasn't had any symptoms of this but we have to keep watching out to make sure nothing is going on in there.
6. Diverticulosis--no sesame seeds or popcorn for a while :(
7. Haziness around the old ablation site on the liver and around the pancreas (the radiologist called it "misty mesentery")--probably from the colitis, but not malignant
8. Mildly enlarged lymph nodes around the pancreas (same from last time)
9. Portal hypertension and an enlarged spleen--these things could be causing Dan's low blood counts but are not new findings

(I know we've never listed out findings before, but with medical people reading these updates, it's easier to just answer the questions before they're asked!)

The plan for now is to check in with another CT in 3 months. Dan's blood counts remain on the low side, but a touch better. If the low counts persist, there is a chance of a bone marrow biopsy in the future. The doctor doesn't think he'll need immune-booster (Leukine) shots on a frequent basis, but we'll have to be on the look out for signs of infection. Accordingly, if you are sick and feel like hanging out with Dan...please don't! We would love to see you, but will love it more when you're healthy.

So, now we enter another "wait and see" time. In the future, when the 3 month scans show that there is no growth or bad changes, the oncologist may be confident to allow Dan 6 months between scans. For now, though, we are just hoping for a peaceful and calm 3 months!

Thank you for the prayers. God hears every one of them. Dan continues to say that he feels like God isn't done with him. Personally, I hope the LORD wants to keep using Dan in the land of the living for many many many decades!