Aug 27, 2026

We had a very good visit with our new oncologist. The first thing he said was that in order to make intelligent decisions about future treatment, we needed more data about its current spread. So, we have a PET scan scheduled for Sept 8 and a test of the cancer cells DNA to discover the possibility of any mutations for which specific treatments have been developed. He said that what we do know is that the cancer is spreading rapidly. Without any treatment we are looking at 1 ½ to 2 years of life which will become increasingly difficult as the cancer rapidly spreads and affects everything. There are certain treatments which have the potential to drastically slow down or even possibly reverse its spread. Unfortunately, they have the potential of serious side effects. I have had some similar treatments in the past and the side effects have been horrible to the point of my terminating the medicines use. A question that we will have to face in the future is weighing the bad side effects of treatment which might prolong life a few years against being free of those side effects but having a shorter life span which will suffer from the increasing spread of the cancer. The doctor has said that he will support us no matter what decision we make. He asked how I felt about all this and was I scared of dying or whether I had come to terms with it. I had the joy of telling him that because of my relationship with God, we were at peace because death was not the end and we have the certain hope of eternal life. We will be doing a lot of research on this and greatly covet your prayers as we look for God’s will.