The Struggle Has Ended

Greg Hewlett passed away on January 17th after nearly eight years of battling colon cancer. While we grieve his loss, we are comforted to know that he is with his Lord.

If you would like to leave your thoughts on Greg, please see this thread.

If you would like to make a charitable donation in Greg's honor, please see this thread.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

More cautious optimism

The CT scans are mostly clear - no definitive evidence of cancer. And the blood marker, which indicates cancerous activity, is normal. However, there are a few very small nodules in my lungs that were of some concern. They want me back in 6-8 weeks to scan again. These are not the same spots as a couple nodules that showed up a couple years ago but since disappeared. I asked Dr Hoff, who has seen hundreds of patients in remission, if such spots typically turn out to be cancerous or not. "More often than not," he said, "they turn out to be nothing."

Of course, I would have liked more certain results - but I learned a long time ago that there is no certainty with cancer.

Certainty must be found elsewhere.

Thursday, January 19, 2006

First checkup tomorrow

Three months are complete. The time has come for me to be scanned by those skilled at looking for and finding trouble. Early tomorrow morning I will have my first remission testing. Then Monday I meet with Dr. Hoff to find out the results. It is his last day of seeing patients before he moves back to Brazil. I am very disappointed that I will lose my doctor, who has been most excellent as the director of my treatment. But my hope is that his leaving will not matter to me because I will have no need for him.

When I approach an event that has undetermined outcome, I will typically prepare myself for what I will do in response to various outcomes of the event. My heart will not allow my mind to do this tonight.

Instead I pray. Lord, have mercy on me and keep my body clear of this disease.