Cancer Blog #96
By Brian Zimmerman
Begun on July 31, 2021
Email: dyingman1@yahoo.com
My Dying Words
Entry #96– Medical Update
November 30, 2023
Medical Update: My last appointment to meet with the medical providers (my oncologist and his oncology nurse practitioner) as well as to receive treatments was Wednesday (Nov 29). My treatment and the side effects were pretty much like my last one (see the Nov 9, Entry #95, if you’re interested in the details). And, it was the usual suspects: nausea, tremors, weakness, very hoarse. My labs were mostly normal though the platelets were right on the bottom of normal. This time they read 156 (10 to the 7/ul) with normal being 150-400. Mine usually are in the upper 160’s to 200’s, so this drop was pretty unusual (my last one on Nov 8 was 182). But, as I’ve mentioned before – I think – my platelet value was of no concern to the oncology folks as the value was not a dangerous one and this drop could have been caused by a number of things. They’d have to be much lower to become trouble. It’s the trend that’s important, so we’ll see what it reads next time.
The big concern for me was that the oncology nurse practitioner for the first time in 2.5 years heard a sound in my lungs. Though she heard it only once, it was, however, in the area of my left lung where the CT scan showed some growth of several cancer nodules. She called the sound a “squeak”. I had to google that one as I’m no respiratory therapist much less a pulmonologist (a lung MD) and looked at some reputable medical sites who report that a squeak most often is an air obstruction and is usually fixed by removing the obstruction. In my case that would most likely be the growth of cancer in my lungs. As I’m treatable, not curable, and my lungs are full of nodules, not a single, individual tumor, it’s unlikely I would benefit from any surgery.
Plus, my wife and I had asked to push back the next treatment by one week (so, once every 4 weeks rather than once every 3 weeks) because of Christmas. But, the oncologist had a twist up his sleeve: he offered to treat me with the Ramucirumab (the monoclonal antibody drug). Then, two weeks later (in other words, four weeks from this past Wednesday), go back to the normal two drug IV treatment regimen: viz., Ramucirumab and the Irinotecan. He thinks that the Irinotecan is what is causing a lot of my side effects. He also thinks it is doing me the most good. But, of course, who knows when you’re getting them both at the same time?
So, I chose his treatment modification as I was thinking of that squeak… What effect all these changes will have on my cancer growth or side effects is anybody’s guess.
The good news, however, as always, is that these events are in our sovereign Lord’s hands. And if we are His children through faith in Jesus, we know these hardships are for our good. Being used for our discipline, they help us grow in grace, in holiness, even in joy as we are certain that because of Jesus, God loves us and is always, especially in dark days, taking care of us. There can be no greater comfort.
I can’t communicate how grateful I am for the love of my wonderful wife, for the support of my family, and for you, my spiritual family, who convey your concern and constantly offer up prayers for me. They are more important to me than I can express.