Hi All,
I was at SCCA all day on Monday having tests done. It was a very long day. I sure wasn’t feeling well after all the stuff I had to drink and the stuff they put in me through an IV. I slept until noon the next day. I’m feeling better now.
I got a call from Dr. Thompson’s office yesterday and I will start the new treatment on Wednesday, July 2nd. I will start the day at 8:30 AM with a blood draw. At 9:30 I will see Dr. Thompson and at 11:00 I will start the infusion. I will receive one 90-minute infusion every 3-weeks for 24-weeks. If I respond well to the treatment I will then go into a Maintenance Phase where I will see my doctor ever 6-weeks for 24-weeks. At 24-weeks I will receive one 90-minute infusion and then every 12-weeks after that.
At any time the treatment can be stopped if there is no sign of the tumors shrinking or I am still getting more tumors. This means the treatment is not helping and there is no reason to continue it.
Please pray for wisdom of the doctor and that the treatment will do what it is supposed to do.
God’s timing is perfect timing. I know that I am in His hands and that His “grace is sufficient for me, for power is perfected in weakness”.
Love you all,
Karen
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
God's Sustaining Grace
Hi All,
Again, I haven’t written for a while as I have been waiting for the doctor’s office to call so that I can get started on the new treatment that is available. Well, Tuesday morning I got the call. I have a 10:00 AM appointment next Monday the 23rd with Dr. Bhatia, Dr. Thompson's associate. At 10:30 I will have blood drawn and at 11:45 I will have bone and CT-scans. That is all I know so far. I should get all the details when I talk with the doctor at 10:00.
We have been on vacation in Leavenworth for the past couple of weeks. We have had a very relaxing time with friends who are building their retirement home on Icicle Road. We went fishing at Fish Lake on Monday and caught 17-rainbow trout. I pan fried one for dinner the other day. Yummy!
We tried salmon fishing on the Icicle River this morning but had no luck. We will try again at dusk tonight.
I was listening to a sermon by Charles Stanley on the internet on “Sustaining Grace”. If you have a chance to listen I highly recommend it. He was talking about Paul asking God three times to remove the thorn in his flesh and God didn’t answer him with a “Yes, No or Wait”. He told him that “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) We have always heard that God answers our prayers in three ways but Charles Stanley pointed out the way that He answered Paul’s request and that was that His grace is sufficient for whatever Paul was going through. The same is true for me and for you. He will not give me more than I can handle and when I feel like I can’t handle anymore He says that His grace is sufficient for me and that through this difficult time that power is perfected.
It has really been hard waiting for a phone call. It has been totally out of my hands. The doctor’s office was waiting for the protocol to come through and they couldn’t hurry it up. I was waiting for their phone call and I couldn’t hurry that up. They had my number but nothing could be done until they got the protocol. It took a lot longer than I was first told that it would take. I had to keep reminding myself that God’s timing is perfect timing and there was nothing I could do to change that.
I have spent a lot of time in God’s Word these last few months. I have been reading the Psalms and Proverbs through by reading on the 1st of June Psalms 1, 31, 61, 91, 121, and Proverbs 1. On the 2nd of June I read chapters 2, 32, 62, 92, 122, and Proverbs 2. Can you see the pattern? Read the chapter with the same number as the day and then add 30 to it until you run out of chapters and then read the chapter in Proverbs for the same date. This way you get through the Psalms and Proverbs in a month.
We will be back in Everett Sunday, June 22nd. I will write more after my doctor’s appointment on the 23rd.
Hope you all are having a good summer. Talk more later.
Love you all,
Karen
Again, I haven’t written for a while as I have been waiting for the doctor’s office to call so that I can get started on the new treatment that is available. Well, Tuesday morning I got the call. I have a 10:00 AM appointment next Monday the 23rd with Dr. Bhatia, Dr. Thompson's associate. At 10:30 I will have blood drawn and at 11:45 I will have bone and CT-scans. That is all I know so far. I should get all the details when I talk with the doctor at 10:00.
We have been on vacation in Leavenworth for the past couple of weeks. We have had a very relaxing time with friends who are building their retirement home on Icicle Road. We went fishing at Fish Lake on Monday and caught 17-rainbow trout. I pan fried one for dinner the other day. Yummy!
We tried salmon fishing on the Icicle River this morning but had no luck. We will try again at dusk tonight.
I was listening to a sermon by Charles Stanley on the internet on “Sustaining Grace”. If you have a chance to listen I highly recommend it. He was talking about Paul asking God three times to remove the thorn in his flesh and God didn’t answer him with a “Yes, No or Wait”. He told him that “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) We have always heard that God answers our prayers in three ways but Charles Stanley pointed out the way that He answered Paul’s request and that was that His grace is sufficient for whatever Paul was going through. The same is true for me and for you. He will not give me more than I can handle and when I feel like I can’t handle anymore He says that His grace is sufficient for me and that through this difficult time that power is perfected.
It has really been hard waiting for a phone call. It has been totally out of my hands. The doctor’s office was waiting for the protocol to come through and they couldn’t hurry it up. I was waiting for their phone call and I couldn’t hurry that up. They had my number but nothing could be done until they got the protocol. It took a lot longer than I was first told that it would take. I had to keep reminding myself that God’s timing is perfect timing and there was nothing I could do to change that.
I have spent a lot of time in God’s Word these last few months. I have been reading the Psalms and Proverbs through by reading on the 1st of June Psalms 1, 31, 61, 91, 121, and Proverbs 1. On the 2nd of June I read chapters 2, 32, 62, 92, 122, and Proverbs 2. Can you see the pattern? Read the chapter with the same number as the day and then add 30 to it until you run out of chapters and then read the chapter in Proverbs for the same date. This way you get through the Psalms and Proverbs in a month.
We will be back in Everett Sunday, June 22nd. I will write more after my doctor’s appointment on the 23rd.
Hope you all are having a good summer. Talk more later.
Love you all,
Karen
Friday, May 23, 2008
Latest Update
Hi to all who have been checking my blog and have found nothing new for a long time.
Well, I have a few minutes to write before Kaydee comes over and we do some running around together.
Here is the latest news:
Tumors started appearing after the first of this year. The treatment that I had in Houston lasted for a couple of months but like I said the tumors are back. I have had quite a few removed in the past several months. I have about eight new tumors right now.
The good news is that there is a new treatment that has been offered to me by Dr. Thompson at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA). It has not been approved by the FDA yet but SCCA was able to get a Compassionate Usage Protocol. That means that those with Stage III or IV Melanoma and have not responded to other treatment can be given this drug before it is approved by the FDA. Also, it is paid for I guess by the Drug Company. That is such a praise! We were not sure if the insurance company would pay for it since it is not approved by the FDA yet. Ken was willing to take out money from his retirement fund if need be to pay for it. But GOD had the perfect plan, it is paid for. What an awesome GOD we have. We can plan all we want but his plan is perfect.
Jeremiah 29:11
‘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. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.’
I am now waiting for a phone call from SCCA to start setting up appointments to get ready for this treatment and then to get started on the treatment. From what I was told last time I talked with Dr. Thompson is that it is a course of four treatments three weeks apart. It is given intravenously so I will probably need to get a port so they don’t have to poke me each time. I had one of those when I was going through the interferon treatment and it was no big deal. I can handle it. So that is what has been going on lately and my summer will be taken up with treatment.
Also, I have been getting ready for American Cancer Society Rely for Life. I have 28-members on my team. My team name is Karen’s Cancer Crushers. This event is going to be held on May 31-June 1 at Cascade High School in Everett. I have been getting donations for this event. My team has made thirteen gift baskets to auction off on the day of the event. I have been going around to restaurants getting gift cards and coupons to add to the baskets to make them more enticing. Come out if you can. Each team will have their own tent with activities, music will be playing, there is a food tent, and all kinds of things going on. You could even walk around the track with us. There is a survivor lap after the Opening Ceremony at 12:00 Noon on May 31st. All survivors can walk this lap. I will be there walking.
You can go to my web page for this relay at www.everettrelay.com and go to TEAMS and find Karen’s Cancer Crushers to make a donation.
Thank you for your prayers and support. I love you all.
Karen
Well, I have a few minutes to write before Kaydee comes over and we do some running around together.
Here is the latest news:
Tumors started appearing after the first of this year. The treatment that I had in Houston lasted for a couple of months but like I said the tumors are back. I have had quite a few removed in the past several months. I have about eight new tumors right now.
The good news is that there is a new treatment that has been offered to me by Dr. Thompson at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA). It has not been approved by the FDA yet but SCCA was able to get a Compassionate Usage Protocol. That means that those with Stage III or IV Melanoma and have not responded to other treatment can be given this drug before it is approved by the FDA. Also, it is paid for I guess by the Drug Company. That is such a praise! We were not sure if the insurance company would pay for it since it is not approved by the FDA yet. Ken was willing to take out money from his retirement fund if need be to pay for it. But GOD had the perfect plan, it is paid for. What an awesome GOD we have. We can plan all we want but his plan is perfect.
Jeremiah 29:11
‘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. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.’
I am now waiting for a phone call from SCCA to start setting up appointments to get ready for this treatment and then to get started on the treatment. From what I was told last time I talked with Dr. Thompson is that it is a course of four treatments three weeks apart. It is given intravenously so I will probably need to get a port so they don’t have to poke me each time. I had one of those when I was going through the interferon treatment and it was no big deal. I can handle it. So that is what has been going on lately and my summer will be taken up with treatment.
Also, I have been getting ready for American Cancer Society Rely for Life. I have 28-members on my team. My team name is Karen’s Cancer Crushers. This event is going to be held on May 31-June 1 at Cascade High School in Everett. I have been getting donations for this event. My team has made thirteen gift baskets to auction off on the day of the event. I have been going around to restaurants getting gift cards and coupons to add to the baskets to make them more enticing. Come out if you can. Each team will have their own tent with activities, music will be playing, there is a food tent, and all kinds of things going on. You could even walk around the track with us. There is a survivor lap after the Opening Ceremony at 12:00 Noon on May 31st. All survivors can walk this lap. I will be there walking.
You can go to my web page for this relay at www.everettrelay.com and go to TEAMS and find Karen’s Cancer Crushers to make a donation.
Thank you for your prayers and support. I love you all.
Karen
Saturday, March 8, 2008
More Tests
I haven’t written for a while about health issues. Well, it is time to share with you what has been going on the past few weeks.
I am still recovering from the treatment I had in Houston. The sore on the back of my knee is totally healed. I just have to put cream on it to keep it moist so it won’t crack. The sore on the top of my knee is really coming along well. It is getting smaller and new skin is forming around the edges nicely.
Now for the not so good news, about a month ago I found some lumps on my leg. On February 25th they were excised. Tuesday, March 4th the doctor called with the results and they were all malignant melanoma. This Tuesday, March 11th I will be going back to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) for a PET-scan and on March 18th I will go again to SCCA and see my doctor and get the results of those tests.
I want to share with you how at peace I am. Last week, in the Bible Study I am doing at church, we read a passage that really touched me. It was Matthew 9:27-29. Jesus encountered two blind me. They were crying out to Him to have mercy on them. All Jesus asked of them was “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said “Yes, Lord.” I feel that God is asking me the same thing, do I believe He is able. I know He is able. Whether He will or not I can’t worry myself about. There is such peace in knowing He is able. I want His will to be done in my life. The ultimate goal is that God will be glorified in my life, that people will see Jesus through me.
Thank you for your continued prayers. I will keep you posted as to what the test results are.
Love you all,
Karen
I am still recovering from the treatment I had in Houston. The sore on the back of my knee is totally healed. I just have to put cream on it to keep it moist so it won’t crack. The sore on the top of my knee is really coming along well. It is getting smaller and new skin is forming around the edges nicely.
Now for the not so good news, about a month ago I found some lumps on my leg. On February 25th they were excised. Tuesday, March 4th the doctor called with the results and they were all malignant melanoma. This Tuesday, March 11th I will be going back to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) for a PET-scan and on March 18th I will go again to SCCA and see my doctor and get the results of those tests.
I want to share with you how at peace I am. Last week, in the Bible Study I am doing at church, we read a passage that really touched me. It was Matthew 9:27-29. Jesus encountered two blind me. They were crying out to Him to have mercy on them. All Jesus asked of them was “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said “Yes, Lord.” I feel that God is asking me the same thing, do I believe He is able. I know He is able. Whether He will or not I can’t worry myself about. There is such peace in knowing He is able. I want His will to be done in my life. The ultimate goal is that God will be glorified in my life, that people will see Jesus through me.
Thank you for your continued prayers. I will keep you posted as to what the test results are.
Love you all,
Karen
Friday, March 7, 2008
Follow-up on Relay for Life
I have been asked a few questions about the Relay for Life. One question was “Do we have to spend the night?” No, you do not have to spend the night. You can just be there for the time you signed up for to walk the track.
Another question was “How do I get donations?” You get donations by asking friends and family. They do not have to pledge for how many laps you walk. It is a one time donation. If the donation is in the form of cash they will not be sent a receipt but any check written over $10.00 a receipt will be sent to them from the American Cancer Society.
During the relay my team has to have a fundraiser going on in my tent or booth. We have chosen to have a raffle. I have been collecting new item for children and adults to make up gift baskets to raffle off. I will need to have a work party in May to put the baskets together. Watch for the time and place for that. If you have any baskets that you want to get rid of let me know.
I have a Team Captain meeting on March 11th and hope to get more information.
If you have anymore questions just ask.
Thank you for your support in this project.
Karen
Another question was “How do I get donations?” You get donations by asking friends and family. They do not have to pledge for how many laps you walk. It is a one time donation. If the donation is in the form of cash they will not be sent a receipt but any check written over $10.00 a receipt will be sent to them from the American Cancer Society.
During the relay my team has to have a fundraiser going on in my tent or booth. We have chosen to have a raffle. I have been collecting new item for children and adults to make up gift baskets to raffle off. I will need to have a work party in May to put the baskets together. Watch for the time and place for that. If you have any baskets that you want to get rid of let me know.
I have a Team Captain meeting on March 11th and hope to get more information.
If you have anymore questions just ask.
Thank you for your support in this project.
Karen
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