Getting around
What a difference a week can make!
Last weekend, I was unable to stand up without leaning on someone else to lift me up, as I attempted to push upward with my legs. I am so grateful to my brother Mike, my father, my son Nathon, and of course Kelley, who all lent me their strength when I had none.
I am also grateful for the physical therapists who have shared their expertise, starting last week. They have made such a difference in teaching me how to roll in/out of bed, and helping me focus on various muscle groups while sitting or laying down.
By this Saturday, my mobility had improved significantly. I am able to get up on my own and have even forgotten to use my walker a few times, as I move around the room.
Saturday morning, I felt strong enough to go to SportsClips to get a haircut and shave. I almost didn't recognize myself, as I looked into the mirror, without a beard and weighing less than 220 lbs.
Recovery from surgery
Thursday, the surgeon pulled out all staples from my incision. She was very pleased with how the incision has been healing. She also encouraged me to walk, sit up, and lay down without an abdominal binder. Though, I still use it when in the truck.
Dealing with genetic mutations
Friday, Kelley and I met with a new oncologist, Dr. Raj Bagai, at Ironwood Cancer Center. Our experience with Dr. Bagai felt very different than our original oncologist. He gave us the time we needed to ask our questions, while being very straightforward with his opinions. While we had been talking with our surgical team about using chemo for 3-4 months to shrink the spots on my liver enough to do a liver resection, Dr. Bagai said it is highly unlikely we will get to a point where surgery is an option.
Genetic testing from the tumor biopsy indicated the presence of the KRAS G12v genetic mutation. This gene expression makes tumor growth incredibly aggressive, which means we will be using chemo in hopes of slowing down the growth & spread of the cancer, more so than expecting the tumor to shrink small enough to allow for a liver resection surgery.
Dr. Bagai said he would use Folfox, 5FU, and Avastin, every two weeks, until the chemo loses its efficacy against the tumor, or the side effects become too much to continue. He estimated that could possibly get us out to 2-3 years. After that, we could look into clinical trials for further help. If I did nothing, he estimated I would only have 2-3 months before the tumor overtakes the liver and other organs, leading to organ failure.
Next steps
All weekend, we have been deliberating and praying about how to proceed. We will be meeting with Dr. Bagai Monday afternoon, to let him know whether we would proceed under his care and treatment plan. Please pray with us as we seek the Lord's guidance through this. Though it feels like we are at the same crossroads as when we first started last Fall, we have learned to more readily lean on the Lord's strength and trust in His goodness.