Since the last post on March 1st, Mark started noticing pain in his abdomen. Ugggg! A couple of days before he told me, I had expected it, as he had flinched when I snuggled up to him. He didn't tell me right away, as he wanted to be sure it was the same kind of pain as before. It was, so it seemed that the tumor was growing again.
This past week has been rather intense, waiting for the CT scan today. If the tumor in his liver was larger than when the last scan was done, it would indicate that this treatment was not working, so he would not continue with the next round. That would NOT have been good news, as there are NO other options that could be durable--just some stall drugs that might help for a while. He's been through all available treatments for metastatic melanoma. Of course, research is always being done, so perhaps in the future, there will be other options.
Mark had the scan this morning and met with Dr. Taylor this afternoon. He indicated that the tumor was about the same size as it was in January. Mark mentioned that the pain had gone away and then returned just recently. As Dr. Taylor looked closely at the picture, he indicated that it seemed to be a different shape. To us, this seems consistent with the tumor shrinking and growing back again.
When Mark had the PET scan in December, he did not have any pain. By the time he started treatment in January, the pain had been constant. The CT scan showed that the tumor had grown 4 times its size in one month. It was growing FAST!!! Obviously, the treatment helped! If it had stayed on that trajectory, life for us would be very different right now.
Dr. Taylor wants Mark to start the treatment as soon as possible -- like this coming Monday, the 15th. We are all for it, as we don't want that tumor to grow anymore!
How we appreciate the prayers, love, and support that we have received. THANK-YOU!!!
Yes, go for it! We continue to pray for you both, we love you so much! I keep thinking of the scripture (and one of my favorite Messiah arias) “Come unto Him all ye that labor, and He will give you rest.” May Mark be able to rest and not have have pain.
ReplyDeleteAs I've read your last several updates I'm reminded of a sign I just read in a store, it says "even when you feel small pray big" I know in our Heavenly Fathers eyes we are never "small" but there are times in our own eyes we feel that way. As I read all these words from 2000 miles away I can't help to feel helpless, but please know even when I feel "small" I continue to pray "big" for both of you.
ReplyDelete