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.
