Many of you are waiting for test results...the test we had sent before Christmas was lost enroute to the Phillipines, but the newest one made it in record time, after the holiday crazy season.
The numbers for "active cancer cells" had been going down, and the report we got back just yesterday is stable (same as end of October). Which means that Jesse needs to recommit to the alkaline, no sugar diet I had had him on. It is tough, for certain. He did well yesterday, taking ALL of his supplements for the first time in a long time. As a person who cannot stand to swallow pills - I cannot imagine having to do this myself. From his bloodwork the ferritin levels are quite elevated, which is directly related to the inflammation going on in his body/lumbar, feet, etc.
Continued prayers - STRENGTH needed for his legs, and his mental well being - the psyche needed to follow the regimen is huge! Also please prayer for STRUCTURAL HEALING - our greatest prayer is for Jesse's spine to stay put - especially that darn sacrum (tailbone)! The swelling is down in his feet - that is a huge praise. Yesterday he came home early and did a BioMat "sandwich" session - all by himself. Proud of him! In the eve I hooked him up to the Wellness Pro for bio-electro pulse therapy, and I could tell right away this morning that he is moving much better today.
These scriptures from Isaiah 26, which I was led to from the morning devotion of "Jesus is Calling" spoke to my heart today...
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."3
"Yes Lord, walking in the ways of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts."8
"Lord you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us" 12
So very grateful that we have Jesus to walk with us on this journey...I don't know how people get through cancer without that personal relationship...which is so very different from organized religion.
Several have asked, "can't the test be done in the U.S.?"
The test, developed by Dr. Efren Navarro of the clinic of the same name, costs only $55. To do in the U.S. it would be anywhere from $300-400 (insurance won't cover) and it would be less accurate, because the greatest liklihood is is that blood would be drawn by a lab, which is less accurate than uric acid crystals. The side bar explains this and you can visit the Narvarro web page to get this information..
Thank you for your continued love, prayer and support,
Rita
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Lymphatic Issues
We had good newsyesterday, as far as we are concerned - swollen lymph glands are what we are dealing with - far better than tumors. All tests were not in yet...but oncologist said Jesse may be slightly anemic which is an easy fix with B12. I will need to find my compression socks from when I had back surgery -as it should help with swelling. Because both feet are swollen, and it varies in how much swelling, it is not indicative of a blood clot.
Jesse had a lymph massage with the DO doctor after the massage and she showed me how to pump his legs and shoulders slightly to get the lymph nodes moving. She said it is important not to work the lymph directly in case they are filled with dead cancer cells...as we don't want to accidentally release them back into the system. The lymph nodes will empty when the body is capable of safely eliminating.
It has been a while since Jesse had been on a scale and it was a very good surprise - I had to question whether their scale was off because he is up 8 lbs or so from the highest number we had had. To me it seems that he doesn't have as good an appetite as he did in November. The last time we had weighed at home he had actually lost lbs. from his previous high gain - so it was encouraging to see it surpassed.
Thanks so much for the continued prayers - you are all a blessing to us.
Rita S.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Grateful for Troubled Times
This is certainly a journey of learning. Learning how to be still and absorb God's Holy presence. Learning to look for the life lessons we are to be taking from this. Learning to be patient. Learning to be watchful for the doors being opened and messages we are to take to heart, and for purpose. This morning I was led to verses Psalm 27, Jeremiah and Romans 8:28. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Our church is going through the book of Job since the new year, a series called "Wrecked". The messages have been very good, although the worship music usually brings me to tears - which is typical of music. It reaches deep into my core of emotions and makes them erupt. I encourage anyone who suspects that their life may go through a difficult time, to start at the very first message in the Wrecked series.
I am trying not to be discouraged in this journey, but it is not always easy. Since the holidays, and Jesse's admittance of being tired of eating healthy, I have relented - allowing sugar/simple carbs during the holidays, which had an immediate effect....aka inflammation, and thus pain. For a while, shortly after Thanksgiving, Jesse was using right crutches due to the pain in his right hip and leg. He is a grown man and needs to make his own choices. We had already decided a while back to take a break on weekends from supplements - other than the key hormonal supplements directed at prostrate cancer, guided by our doctor friend in California.
Jesse went back to work after Christmas, wanting to keep the doctors and insurance we have. He enjoys being back to work and doing what he loves to do - CAD drafting. It takes his mind off of his illness. He is on limited hours, enough to be considered full time and maintain his benefits. The first two weeks were tough - he was exhausted when he came home. When the polar vortex hit the last thing I wanted him to do was go out into those below zero temperatures (I had learned that cancer thrives in a cold body). I cranked the space heater given to us at Christmas, and warmed up the BioMat and electric lap blanket to help take the chill out of his bones... I am not sure that the chill ever really left him before nightfall - and we are grateful for this warmer week.
Protocols are being missed due to lack of time when he is gone six hours a day. If he were working from home, at least for part of the day, I could be hooking Jesse up to the Wellness Pro for electro pulse therapy sessions. This has been very good for his lumbar pain. He could take a break to be sandwiched between BioMats - which has not been done since his return to work. Emotionally I have a tough time with him being gone so many hours in the day because I know all too well how important and life saving both of these high tech pieces of equipment are - FDA approved for treatment of cancer and pain.
We have physical developments that are concerning....swelling in both feet, his circulation is not working properly. His feet need to be elevated, and keeping them down through the day definitely makes it worse. I noticed this on Saturday when Jesse put a small corner desk together, so he can have a place to use his CAD software/computer. I had wanted Kyle to assist with putting the desk together, but Jesse was on his knees doing it...saying he enjoys it and misses it. I can't argue with that - a man's desire to have some degree of normalcy return to his life. But in the evening I noticed both feet badly swollen and there was no way he was getting his feet into shoes for church on Sunday. Suffice to say - he can't take a break at work, and put his feet up.
There are also three visible lumps in the lymphatic groin area. We pray they are swollen lymph glands. These appeared about ten days ago. Today we head to oncology and later, the DO doctor - as I moved up our appointment to see her and find out if the lumps are indeed lymph swelling. Jesse had not had lymphatic massage for over a month, and I suspect it is too long a span. In talking with a friend, also in stage 4 cancer, she mentioned her tumor markers are down. This is not something we have ever heard Jesse's doctor mention - and I will be questioning it today. Why has a blood test not been taken to measure tumor markers? I will have to ask.
Thank you for your continued prayers. We are grateful for God's presence and the Healing that is taking place, even though we tire in our journey.
Peace.
Rita
Our church is going through the book of Job since the new year, a series called "Wrecked". The messages have been very good, although the worship music usually brings me to tears - which is typical of music. It reaches deep into my core of emotions and makes them erupt. I encourage anyone who suspects that their life may go through a difficult time, to start at the very first message in the Wrecked series.
I am trying not to be discouraged in this journey, but it is not always easy. Since the holidays, and Jesse's admittance of being tired of eating healthy, I have relented - allowing sugar/simple carbs during the holidays, which had an immediate effect....aka inflammation, and thus pain. For a while, shortly after Thanksgiving, Jesse was using right crutches due to the pain in his right hip and leg. He is a grown man and needs to make his own choices. We had already decided a while back to take a break on weekends from supplements - other than the key hormonal supplements directed at prostrate cancer, guided by our doctor friend in California.
Jesse went back to work after Christmas, wanting to keep the doctors and insurance we have. He enjoys being back to work and doing what he loves to do - CAD drafting. It takes his mind off of his illness. He is on limited hours, enough to be considered full time and maintain his benefits. The first two weeks were tough - he was exhausted when he came home. When the polar vortex hit the last thing I wanted him to do was go out into those below zero temperatures (I had learned that cancer thrives in a cold body). I cranked the space heater given to us at Christmas, and warmed up the BioMat and electric lap blanket to help take the chill out of his bones... I am not sure that the chill ever really left him before nightfall - and we are grateful for this warmer week.
Protocols are being missed due to lack of time when he is gone six hours a day. If he were working from home, at least for part of the day, I could be hooking Jesse up to the Wellness Pro for electro pulse therapy sessions. This has been very good for his lumbar pain. He could take a break to be sandwiched between BioMats - which has not been done since his return to work. Emotionally I have a tough time with him being gone so many hours in the day because I know all too well how important and life saving both of these high tech pieces of equipment are - FDA approved for treatment of cancer and pain.
We have physical developments that are concerning....swelling in both feet, his circulation is not working properly. His feet need to be elevated, and keeping them down through the day definitely makes it worse. I noticed this on Saturday when Jesse put a small corner desk together, so he can have a place to use his CAD software/computer. I had wanted Kyle to assist with putting the desk together, but Jesse was on his knees doing it...saying he enjoys it and misses it. I can't argue with that - a man's desire to have some degree of normalcy return to his life. But in the evening I noticed both feet badly swollen and there was no way he was getting his feet into shoes for church on Sunday. Suffice to say - he can't take a break at work, and put his feet up.
There are also three visible lumps in the lymphatic groin area. We pray they are swollen lymph glands. These appeared about ten days ago. Today we head to oncology and later, the DO doctor - as I moved up our appointment to see her and find out if the lumps are indeed lymph swelling. Jesse had not had lymphatic massage for over a month, and I suspect it is too long a span. In talking with a friend, also in stage 4 cancer, she mentioned her tumor markers are down. This is not something we have ever heard Jesse's doctor mention - and I will be questioning it today. Why has a blood test not been taken to measure tumor markers? I will have to ask.
Thank you for your continued prayers. We are grateful for God's presence and the Healing that is taking place, even though we tire in our journey.
Peace.
Rita
Friday, January 2, 2015
Research on Cannabinoid
With so many of our friends suffering from late stage cancer, I find it is imperative to share this information on the biological effects/benefits of CBD on cancer.
The man in the video was diagnosed with late stage prostrate cancer, and was given the clear in 3 months of a tumor using cannabinoid. However, it is interesting that a separate test did locate additional lesions - in which the man decided to continue treatment for 3 additional months, at the end of which he was cancer-free.
This non-invasive alternative treatment needs to be shared...and therefore, we are. May it be a benefit to those who have lost hope.
-Rita
The man in the video was diagnosed with late stage prostrate cancer, and was given the clear in 3 months of a tumor using cannabinoid. However, it is interesting that a separate test did locate additional lesions - in which the man decided to continue treatment for 3 additional months, at the end of which he was cancer-free.
This non-invasive alternative treatment needs to be shared...and therefore, we are. May it be a benefit to those who have lost hope.
-Rita
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