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.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

CT results - stable

The lung nodules are "stable". No reduction, no growth. I have taken, I estimate, around 75 rounds of chemotherapy in my life between this cancer and the bone cancer I had as a teenager. These rounds consisted of around 8 different chemo protocols. With all this experience, this was the first time that a scan revealed that the chemo treatment had not significantly reduced the size of the tumors. Disappointing. Could be a lot worse, I suppose.

Dr. Eng says stability is a good thing in their business. The chemo is holding back the tumors. The largest nodule doubled from 0.5 to 1.1 cm in two months from January to March. In the three months since then, it has not grown at all. So she wants me to continue the protocol I've been on. Six more rounds is the plan, starting this week. She also added, "and let's throw in some Avastin to the mix." This struck me a bit odd - like Emeril throwing in some garlic based on his spur-of-the-moment logic that garlic always is a good idea.

Avastin is a drug that I took last year. It is technically not chemo - it does something to the tumor blood vessels. Adding it now, she said, cannot really hurt anything and it might help some. I sure hope so. If we continue to see stability or some reduction, then she will send me for a lung surgery consult. It is a long shot, because the nodules are in different places. But that would be the best option of getting rid of the tumors. I am used to praying for long shots.

I called my oncologist in Dallas and spoke to his PA about the news. She told me that a stable CT scan report is "excellent" when it comes to colon cancer lung nodules. "Excellent"? I feel like I just won a free room upgrade on the Titanic.


11 comments:

Madeleine said...

Aaron's Blessing
22The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23"Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
24The LORD bless you and keep you;
25the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26the LORD lift up his countenance[c] upon you and give you peace.
27"So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them."

Jim and Coco said...

Greg,
It is just another step foward in the direction that GOD has had planned for you since before time began. Walk with Him and stay His course.
GOD bless and GOD speed.
Coco and Jim

Bradenbaugh said...

Well Praise God! for small steps. We would like it to be all gone, but I'm sure God has his perfect plan. Thanks for the update. Your in our players daily.
Maria & Craig

Davo said...

I know you're not happy. That's okay. Nothing to be all that happy about. Praise the Lord.

John & Debbie said...

You are in our thoughts and prayers, as always, Greg!

Macanna and Gary Murray said...

Kappa Deltas are praying for you!

Syd And Dan said...

Greg,
I know you are discouraged--I would be ,and it's a full moon on top of it :-(
PLease try to draw on that unbeliveable strength that the Lord has given you--I am still amazed at it. It encourages me.
Dan and I continue to pray for you.
Syd

Brian M. said...

I am learning in my own experience that God has an uncanny habit of granting Elway-style fourth-quarter comeback answers to prayer. He lets me freak-out first, then He comes through. Let's just pray that Christ will open up a giant can of holy whoop-ass (can I say that?)on this cancer and bring you through again! Avastin? Might-as well if it can't hurt. Heck, I'd be throwing in shark cartilage and even snake-oil if I thought it would do any good. Hang in there, Greg. Know that you are saturated in prayer!

Willeyne Berger said...

You certainly are a courageous man and have a way to really explain how you feel. Our prayers are continuing and with all this knowledge and help, time will heal as everyone has told me.
Love to you and your family. Tell your folks, we certainly missed seeing them this weekend. Keep in touch. Willeyne Berger

Willeyne Berger said...

You certainly are a courageous man and have a way to really explain how you feel. Our prayers are continuing and with all this knowledge and help, time will heal as everyone has told me.
Love to you and your family. Tell your folks, we certainly missed seeing them this weekend. Keep in touch. Willeyne Berger

Fran Good said...

I will be praying for you. We missed your Mom & Dad at the KD reunion this weekend. Keep on fighting this illness - don't give up.