Hi all,
Thank you all for your prayers for me. I continue to feel you lifting me up before God and helping me to make some good decisions each day.
Although I’ve been encouraged that the lump in my breast has been shrinking, the pain in my back is increasing. So as much as I’ve been praying that God will take this away through nutrition and prayer, I’m feeling more like I’ll need to start chemotherapy soon. The doctors say the chemo will help to kill the cancer that is causing my back pain, and could put the cancer into remission. But because it has spread, it will likely begin to grow back again, which means I’ll need to keep taking some kind of chemotherapy for several years.
Since I’m thinking about starting the chemotherapy, I’ve found an oncologist closer to home, about 25 minutes away instead of 2 hours away, where I could get the treatments. This will make it easier all around.
I’m still praying this week though that God will heal me completely before that, if possible. The doctor has agreed to do a PET scan this Friday to see if the tumors have shrunk anywhere else in my body. If so, we’ll praise God and keep doing what we’re doing! But if the cancer is the same or has spread further, then I’m scheduled to have a port put in on Tuesday next week, and begin chemo treatments on April 6th — Good Friday.
The doctor has also scheduled me for an MRI brain scan on April 5th to see if anything is there. Well, cancer, that is. I’m hoping my brain will be in the scan. 😉 I guess the common places for breast cancer to metastasize is to the lungs, liver, bone and the brain. They don’t think it’s gone to my brain yet, but that’s one of the four typical places breast cancer goes, and since it’s already gone to the other three spots in my lungs, liver and spine, they are hoping (as am I!) that it hasn’t yet gone to my brain.
All to say, I would appreciate your prayers again this week, as much as ever, that God will make it clear what to do next.
Last week, my doctor started me on an infusion of something called Aredia to help build up my bones. It’s an injection that takes two hours. The side effects included flu-like symptoms of fever, chills and bone pain in various places for about 36 hours afterward. I felt like Harry Potter must have felt when he took “Skele-gro” to grow his arm back when it had been turned into jello. 🙂 During my feverish episode, I was actually wondering if they gave me one of the chemo drugs instead! But the symptoms were in line with the common side effects of Aredia. Because of my bone metastasis, I will probably receive a bone treatment like Aredia (or Xgeva or Zometa) every 3- 4 weeks!! So any prayers for my bones to heal would be really appreciated. I have also spoken with a naturopathic doctor and have found some natural remedies to strengthen my bones that I will use as well.
As much as I wish I had better news, I have been encouraged this week by these verses in Hebrews 4:14-16:
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
It’s so good to know that Jesus can sympathize with my weaknesses, and that I can approach God’s throne with confidence so that I can receive His mercy and grace in my time of need. I am always so encouraged by the word of God.
As I head into the weeks ahead, and all the tests and decisions, I thought I would pray right here and ask if you could join me in prayer and agree with me for my healing.
Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for everything you are doing in my life. I thank You for the incredible blessing of friends and family around the world who are praying for me and lifting me up to your throne for healing. Continue to hear and answer our prayers. I thank You that You understand what is happening in my body and You are in complete control. You are always good and loving and You know what is best. I thank You too that we can approach Your throne with confidence knowing that You are a merciful God and that You will give us grace in our time of need. Lord, I ask for complete healing in my body. I ask for every cancer cell to die and be removed from my body and for new and healthy cells to take their place. God, You are the Great Physician. You know what my body needs. Please touch me by the power of your Holy Spirit and bring about the complete healing that I need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Your prayers are truly appreciated!!
Love you all! Lana