Summer Update

Just saw my local oncologist. Particulars are basically that all cancer is growing, lost another 15 pounds in 6 weeks, and now have anemia (trouble producing red blood cells). I had to have a blood transfusion due to having a hemoglobin count below 7 (normal would be 14-16), a five hour event. Nausea has not really come back but I do get an upset stomach and then vomiting follows. Appetite is still actually good.
Since the blood transfusion I have started back on a supplement that addresses the blood issues, so we will see if the fatigue subsides a little and the blood counts increase.
Due to to current situation of having no cure or treatment, Doctors are encouraging me to seek "Compassionate Care" treatments. Those are basically: you get to take none FDA approved drugs that showed something positive in a trial that is not complete. So they surmise that, "hey it might help". I have resisted the chemo route as I believe it will hurt more that it helps. We are researching the particular drug they have recommended and will educate ourselves before we decide. Still fighting this freak of a disease and working hard to keep positive when everything associated with cancer is negative.

Summer

Sorry for the delay in updating the blog, been waiting for some good news to post! Since my last update I have gotten off the nausea meds as they stopped working and actually made it worse. I have continually been taking supplements from Mannetech and they seem to be the one thing that settles nausea. As for my physical status, I will see my local oncologist second week of July to know for sure, but everything seems to be progressing. My right side abdomen is hard as a rock, which is the enlarged liver, it pushes on my stomach and intestines and makes eating and digesting a meal an event. I still have the fluid on the heart, which is a real problem due to making it hard to breathe. Recently on vacation to the gulf coast-high humidity and 100 degree weather, made it a real chore to breathe easy and climbing stairs is an Olympic event!
The latest symptom is Edema, which is fluid retention. After being on my feet for a couple of hours my ankles swell up. It has gotten as bad as my feet, ankles, and legs below my knees have swelled a pretty good bit. I have also started taking the doctor prescribed pain meds to try and help. I had hoped to not be taking those but taking 1000mg of Motrin every 5 hours everyday is not good for the stomach. So you deal with the pain until you need some help. Fatigue has become a huge deal as I am a napper now, need at least 2 naps a day after burning some energy.
Still have not been successful at finding a new clinical trial. There are some treatments out there that are still being looked at, but most of that stuff is very expensive and experimental.
We continue to pray. I know God heals. Cancer at this stage is so much more a mental fight than a physical one, so we continue to do everything we can to stay upbeat.
Thank you for your prays...the fight continues.