Dear Saints,
After some consideration, the family has decided to transfer Dave’s care to a doctor located closer in Orange County. The doctor is a brother in the Lord and will continue to correspond with Dave’s former doctor at Cedars Sinai for his continued care.
Dave is continuing to receive treatments especially to minimize the side effects of the cancer. He is still experiencing nausea, fatigue, regular coughing and difficulty breathing. Due to his weakening condition, we are currently modifying the house to move him from upstairs to downstairs. He misses the saints but is too weak to attend the meetings. He is greatly encouraged by the saints’ emails; feel free to continue writing, although he may not always be able to respond. The best way to reach him or to schedule a visit is to email bfadave@gmail.com.
The whole family has been around this week helping with the house modifications and other practical changes. If you would like to participate in any practical way, please contact Julia Holly (Julia.holly@gmail.com) or Jessica Hsu (jessicapchsu@gmail.com).
Dave’s next set of blood tests will be done on January 6th and will determine our next course of action.
Prayer requests:
1. Continued supply, grace, and encouragement to our brother and his family.
2. The effectiveness of the current treatment to minimize the side effects of the cancer; the ability to take in adequate nourishment.
3. Adjustment to new living arrangements.
4. The Lord to be magnified in our circumstances.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Update
Dear saints,
There have been quite a few developments since our last update. On July 13th, brother Dave received his last round of treatment in the clinical drug trial at Cedar Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles. In October, his CT scan revealed that the cancer had spread to his lungs, liver and spine. His PSA count also increased. As a result, he was disqualified from further participation in the clinical trial.
The last CT scan in December revealed that the cancer has grown and has also spread to his spleen. The largest tumor in his lung increased from 5x3 cm to 10x5cm. His PSA count has increased from approximately 12 to 63 in the short time between October and December.
The family has decided on a course of treatment to help strengthen our brother to fight the cancer and side effects. Currently, his side effects are mainly nausea, fatigue, regular coughing, and difficulty breathing. Thankfully, he is not currently experiencing any pain. We are full of thanks to the Lord for the sustaining prayers of the saints.
If the Lord should lead you to pray, the following are some specific requests:
1. The effectiveness of the treatment to strengthen our brother and to turn the cancer back in the next few weeks. Another PSA test is scheduled for January 6th.
2. Limit the side effects of the cancer as mentioned above.
3. The Lord’s leading and covering for all the practical needs.
4. Our brother’s continued service and function in the Body.
We are not giving up hope but still have faith in the Lord and His Word and pray with God’s economy as our aim.
There have been quite a few developments since our last update. On July 13th, brother Dave received his last round of treatment in the clinical drug trial at Cedar Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles. In October, his CT scan revealed that the cancer had spread to his lungs, liver and spine. His PSA count also increased. As a result, he was disqualified from further participation in the clinical trial.
The last CT scan in December revealed that the cancer has grown and has also spread to his spleen. The largest tumor in his lung increased from 5x3 cm to 10x5cm. His PSA count has increased from approximately 12 to 63 in the short time between October and December.
The family has decided on a course of treatment to help strengthen our brother to fight the cancer and side effects. Currently, his side effects are mainly nausea, fatigue, regular coughing, and difficulty breathing. Thankfully, he is not currently experiencing any pain. We are full of thanks to the Lord for the sustaining prayers of the saints.
If the Lord should lead you to pray, the following are some specific requests:
1. The effectiveness of the treatment to strengthen our brother and to turn the cancer back in the next few weeks. Another PSA test is scheduled for January 6th.
2. Limit the side effects of the cancer as mentioned above.
3. The Lord’s leading and covering for all the practical needs.
4. Our brother’s continued service and function in the Body.
We are not giving up hope but still have faith in the Lord and His Word and pray with God’s economy as our aim.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Round 4
Dear saints,
We received the results of the third round of treatment on Tuesday, June 2nd. According to Dr. Gross, the current scans show that there was really no change between this round and round two. This means that the cancer remains stable, and hindered from any further growth. There are still some abnormal spots on brother Dave's lungs which the doctor is uncertain about. They are either necrosis (scar tissue from previous cancer spots), inflammatory infiltrate, or possible new growth. Dr. Gross said he felt these spots were most likely necrosis.
Brother Dave will undergo a final round (three treatments) on the clinical trial of chemotherapy with two other drugs for the next nine weeks. Following this, the chemotherapy will be discontinued and he will continue to receive the other two cancer treatment drugs for up to a year. Thus far, all of the patients involved in the study have seen good results following the last round of chemotherapy. Although the cancer is not cured, it is much better than if it were still growing and metastasizing. The body can live comfortably with cancer as long as it is small and controlled.
We received the results of the third round of treatment on Tuesday, June 2nd. According to Dr. Gross, the current scans show that there was really no change between this round and round two. This means that the cancer remains stable, and hindered from any further growth. There are still some abnormal spots on brother Dave's lungs which the doctor is uncertain about. They are either necrosis (scar tissue from previous cancer spots), inflammatory infiltrate, or possible new growth. Dr. Gross said he felt these spots were most likely necrosis.
Brother Dave will undergo a final round (three treatments) on the clinical trial of chemotherapy with two other drugs for the next nine weeks. Following this, the chemotherapy will be discontinued and he will continue to receive the other two cancer treatment drugs for up to a year. Thus far, all of the patients involved in the study have seen good results following the last round of chemotherapy. Although the cancer is not cured, it is much better than if it were still growing and metastasizing. The body can live comfortably with cancer as long as it is small and controlled.
More clinical trials may come and other medications may be opened up to the public but we do not hope in these chances. Rather, we rely on our precious Lord Jesus! What a wonderful One we have on the throne, administering God's household arrangement and His move. He is leading us, day by day, to live a life of the altar and the tent. At the altar Christ is our life, and as the tent-dwellers the church becomes our living. If this marvelous One leads you to pray, please consider:
1) Another effective round of the chemotherapy portion of this clinical trial for our brother Dave.
2) Continued minimization of side effects, mainly fatigue and distaste of food.
3) Wisdom of the doctors in how to proceed following the last round of chemo in July.
4) The continued killing of the cancer cells and the restriction of the cancer's growth and spread.
1) Another effective round of the chemotherapy portion of this clinical trial for our brother Dave.
2) Continued minimization of side effects, mainly fatigue and distaste of food.
3) Wisdom of the doctors in how to proceed following the last round of chemo in July.
4) The continued killing of the cancer cells and the restriction of the cancer's growth and spread.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
April 1st, 2009
On March 30th, brother Dave concluded his second round in the clinical drug trial (which includes chemotherapy and two other anti-cancer drugs) at Cedar Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles. Each round consists of three cycles of therapy, and each cycle is three weeks long. This makes a total of six cycles administered in two rounds. A body scan and a CT scan were conducted to review the results of these last three cycles.
On March 31st, Dr. Gross, brother Dave's doctor and the Principal Investigator of the trial, informed us that the tumor and metastatic growths were the same size as they were following the first round of treatment, and that the cancer was both contained and stable. In terms of cancer and this study, this is considered a very good outcome. The doctor was very pleased with the results.
For those who do not know, the cancer volume reduced in size 55% following the first round of therapy. Since then, as the results of this past Tuesday confirm, the cancer has ceased to grow and spread and is stabilizing. It is likely that after another three to six cycles (one to two rounds), brother Dave can come off the chemotherapy portion of the trial.
It is also of note that while at the appointment on Tuesday, the research coordinator told us that of all the patients undergoing this treatment, our brother has had the least side-effects. We attribute this to the prayer of all you dear saints.
Please continue, if the Lord so leads you, to pray for:
1) The continued lack of side-effects over the next nine weeks. Round three will consist, like the other rounds, of three infusions - one every three weeks, the first of which was March 31st. Each infusion carries with it the risk of side-effects as well as a compromised immune system.
2) The continued suppression and regression of the cancer in our brother's lungs and elsewhere.
3) The wisdom of Dr. Gross and his associates in dealing with our brother's condition post-chemotherapy, and for the proper treatment to be carried out thereafter.
On March 31st, Dr. Gross, brother Dave's doctor and the Principal Investigator of the trial, informed us that the tumor and metastatic growths were the same size as they were following the first round of treatment, and that the cancer was both contained and stable. In terms of cancer and this study, this is considered a very good outcome. The doctor was very pleased with the results.
For those who do not know, the cancer volume reduced in size 55% following the first round of therapy. Since then, as the results of this past Tuesday confirm, the cancer has ceased to grow and spread and is stabilizing. It is likely that after another three to six cycles (one to two rounds), brother Dave can come off the chemotherapy portion of the trial.
It is also of note that while at the appointment on Tuesday, the research coordinator told us that of all the patients undergoing this treatment, our brother has had the least side-effects. We attribute this to the prayer of all you dear saints.
Please continue, if the Lord so leads you, to pray for:
1) The continued lack of side-effects over the next nine weeks. Round three will consist, like the other rounds, of three infusions - one every three weeks, the first of which was March 31st. Each infusion carries with it the risk of side-effects as well as a compromised immune system.
2) The continued suppression and regression of the cancer in our brother's lungs and elsewhere.
3) The wisdom of Dr. Gross and his associates in dealing with our brother's condition post-chemotherapy, and for the proper treatment to be carried out thereafter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
