In 1995 I was diagnosed with Melanoma. I had a mole on the top of my right foot that started to change color, was tender to touch and was red around the outside. It was checked and was found to be Melanoma. I had it removed and had to have a skin graft to cover the area. No treatment was done at that time. I was faithful with my checkups.
In June of 2004 I found a lump in my right groin. It was found to be Stage III Melanoma. I had lymph nodes removed from my groin. In July of 2004 I had to go back into surgery for an infection in my groin and again in August for the same thing. In September of 2004 I had gallbladder surgery. That was quite a summer.
In October of 2004 I started Interferon treatment. It was to be 48-weeks of treatment but at week 20 I came down with Bell's Palsy. We stopped the treatment and the Palsy went away within a couple of weeks with no side affects.
The summer of 2006 I found a lump on the top of my right foot. I had a biopsy and it was found to be Melanoma. The surgeon had to go back and take a bigger chunk out to make sure the margins were wide enough.
Now for the past couple of months I have been finding more lumps on my right leg. Three of the four biopsies have come back as Melanoma. Since those biopsies I have found ten more spots.
I have been seeing a Melanoma Specialist at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. I had scans taken last month and there is no sign of cancer above my right groin. My records have been sent to M.D. Anderson in Houston. I have an appointment on August 27th for a consultation. My doctor here would like to see me have a treatment called Isolated Limb Perfusion. We will not know for sure if I will be able to have that treatment until we get down there.
The Lord has been good through all of this. I know that God is in control and this is not a surprise to Him. He knows what is going on. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'"
I will be sharing with you verses that are speaking to me through this trial. There are so many.
I will start with James 1:2-5
Consider it all joy, my breathren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
It says "when you encounter various trials" not "if" you encounter various trials. We are going to encounter various trials. The joy doesn't come because of the trial but because of what the trial produces. The trial is a testing of your faith and it produces endurance.
I know where my strength comes from. It doesn't come from me but from my LORD.
I will share more in later postings.
Thank you for your prayers.
Karen
3 comments:
You are an example to each of us, Karen. Your family has also exampled Jesus's love and grace throughout this time. I pray for continued strength and grace as you fix your eyes on Jesus and are surrounded by His love through your husband and children.
Love in Him,
Marcia
Karen you certainly are in our thoughts and prayers. Altho we have been in very close touch lately I think of you and your family often. Louise
Dear Karen, I'm so glad you are doing this blog. I appreciate being able to read your thoughts each day and it helps me know better how to pray. I am passing your blog site on to some others who ask about you often and I know will also be praying for you.
Love and our prayers, Marla
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