Thursday, February 12, 2015

TP53 (tumor Protein p53) Genetic Mutation

It appears that I have a TP53 genetic mutation.  This is why my body is allowing the cancer to grow.

http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/TP53

Here is an article that I need to digest. I am just learning a little bit about this.  As soon as I can process it and dumb it down in my head, then I will try to start writing about it. 

Stay tuned.

 


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

A Change In Venue!

My wonderful oncologist at MD Anderson has a friend that works at Moffitt cancer center in Tampa. He is going to direct him to do the chemo. (we will discuss the chemo later).  I will see my oncologist every three months for check-ups.

So I am getting a different chemical this time, but will only have to do it once every 4 weeks.  I likely will not lose much hair, but there are big trade-offs for that.  Personally, I could live for the rest of my life without any hair.  I don't want blisters on my hands & feet, or terrible sores in my mouth.

Pray that I tolerate this new chemical cocktail.


Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Significant Progress...

...Of The Disease!

Darn it!  Abdominal Tumors & more lymph nodes involved.  Since we don't have much time, I have to go back on the chemo.  Ugh!  I was trying to avoid that.

Yesterday, I had a triple contrast CT scan.  I drank that huge cup of contrast (32 oz.).  But I make them do all kinds of things to it!  This time it was cranberry juice and sprite.  Reminds me of days at the beach with Steve G.  This is Krisitn's uncle that I simply adore.  He used to take us to the beach on weekends and he always made cranberry juice and sprite to drink on those wonderful days.  Anyway, the contrast makes me feel like I have the 24 hour flu.  My skin hurts and even my hair hurts.

Then I had 4.4 liters of fluid drained from my abdomen.  I lost 10 pounds.  And of course, that wears me out to have that much fluid removed in about 15 minutes.

I felt terrible after all of that.  Thank you all for your texts and call.  Sorry for the brief replies.  I was too stinking sick to do much else.

Keep Praying!

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Essiac Tea!

As I sort through all of the information out there, I find all kinds of tricks, treatments and tinctures that are said to have cured cancer.  I have to find research that may or may not support these "cures".  I have a lot of friends that do some of that for me. 

The latest thing is Essiac Tea.  I am drinking it as prescribed for the last month.  I have not seen any difference, but you never know.

I went to a highly recommended Herbalist, last night.  The number one thing he recommended was to drink the Essiac Tea.  There are other herbs that we may incorporate into my routine, but it is a bit like pealing away the layers of an onion.  You can't just throw everything at the cancer and hope that something works.  If you do that then you will not know which thing you tried that did the trick. 

Actually, this Herbalist suggests building up the body instead of trying to kill the cancer.  Pretty much the same reason that I went to an immunologist.  I need to train/build up my body to attack the cancer, because the drugs that kill the cancer can also kill me. 

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Sorting It All Out!

This recurrence brings some new challenges that I did not experience before.

1.) I find it more difficult to get my head in the game.  It is a great struggle staying positive.  I think that is because this time, I am in pain.  It is harder to stay positive when you are hurting. 

In spite of this unexpected turn in my emotional awareness, I still remain positive.  It comes in waves more than a constant "I got this" attitude.  I am willing to work for it more, if that is what I need to do. 

2.)  I find it more challenging to choose the right path.  The first time, I just followed doctors orders with implementing some minor alternatives along the way.  This time, I have so many options.  Has my cancer advanced so much that I don't have time to utilize trials?  Shall I take the more traveled  path of chemo, again? 

In business school we learned that there is a balance between risk and reward.



    "There are risks and costs to action.  But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction." -     John F. Kennedy

I think that I have my answer.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

The Power of Prayer!

Let's talk about this again....!

PRAYER is the best gift you can give me, right now! I continue to be humbled by the number of prayers that all of you are sending up, on my behalf.  This is looking like a world-wide mission!

I am being prayed for by:

Joyce & David Meyers and congregation
Joel & Victoria Osteen and congregation
CBN followers
The Billy Graham Ministries
Countless local, national & international churches
and
Archbishop Desmond Tutu 

"Please tell Cheryl I'll do a bit of knee drill for her .... 
Love and blessings,
Tata."  
 
I do not know any of these people personally, but friends of friends do and they put me on these amazing prayer lists.  

All of this being said...I am in the plan of God.  God may heal me by giving me that perfect body in heaven.  Prayers get answered, but sometimes they are not answered in a way that we want.  

You may ask, "If God is in control, then why are we praying for each other?"  That is because we are told to pray for each other.  Here is a website that sites multiple verses in the bible that refer to praying for each other.  http://www.openbible.info/topics/praying_for_each_other    



Now, that!  Is Powerful!





Wednesday, February 4, 2015

And Then There Was None!

....Continued

That Wednesday night in the ER was a zoo!  People were mad and yelling and cussing.  I could not take it.  So after an hour long wait I talked myself out of my tree and I went home. 

The next morning my doctor scheduled a paracentesis.  Thursday was a day of relief.  Flagler Hospital Outpatient Surgery team drain 4 liters of fluid from my abdomen.  I lost 9 pounds that day. 

With the first occurrence of cancer I had my abdomen drained twice, but they only got 2 liters of fluid at the most.  In those cases I felt some relief with no problems.  With this most recent procedure, for about 24 hours after I felt like I had the flu.  I could tell that removing that much fluid at one time was a shock to my system.

Now, we wait and see.  But the fluid is returning, already.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Wee Wee Wee All the Way Home!

Last Monday, I threw my back out...worse than I have ever done.  Oh! My!  I had to pick my self up off of the floor and get a chiropractor's appointment.  After 3 hours of manipulation, adjustments, therapies & massage...I could walk without crying. 

The chiropractor stated that the ascites (fluid build up) in my abdomen is getting too voluminous for my back and tendons to carry.  Thus causing my back to easily slip out of comfortable alignment. 

By the next chiropractor's appointment on Wednesday, I was panting.  I mean, like a dog.  The fluid in my abdomen had increased so much that it was pressing up on my lungs and not giving me room to take a breath.  Ugh!  The chiropractor took one look at me and said that he could not even adjust me.  My stomach was too big.

Here I am with a back ache (albeit much better than on Monday), pains in my abdomen and I can't breathe.  I walk outside and get into my car and cry.  I cry all the way back home, but I did not go home.  My car drove me to the ER. 

Stay tuned.......there is more to this story.