Tuesday Part 2

Judy's cold is feeling better. She has actually been off teaching piano lessons this afternoon. The strenght of character of this woman is incredible.

Today we met the oncologist. He is known by his staff as Pezz so that is what I will call him here as well.

Firstly he was able to confirm that the biopsy report shows that this is the same  disease and it has not mutated. A mutation would have caused a change in treatment options.

The PET scan from yesterday shows cancer in the right plueral sac - the bag surrounding the lungs. This was something we already knew. It also showed some cancer in the sac around the heart, this we also knew. There was also clear involvement of Judys spine at T12 and L1. While this isn't good news there are some positive elements to bear in mind here.

1. Each of these 3 confirmed sites respond to hormonal treatment. Judy will continue the treatment she started which is just a daily tablet, and also start a treatment of monthly injections to strenghten her bones.
2. Both of these treatments are well tolerated
3. The actual lungs and heart are themselves free of disease. Indeed Judy's breathing is so much more comfortable after the fluid was removed from her lungs and heart.

There is also uncertainly in the PET scan results as they suspect it may also have spread to the liver. Judy will have a CT Scan of the liver on Thursday to try to work this out. When breast cancer spreads to the liver it is still breast cancer, so the treatments are different than if this would be a primary cancer. Pezz thinks that if it has spread there then we would look at doing chemo.

I don't want to get into conjecture, we will wait and see what the CT scan has to say.

Pezz asked Judy a lot of questions about other areas of her body, pain or changes can indicate further spread of the diseasr. Judy calmly said no to all those - she doesn't have any particular back pain yet either. Then he asked us if we were OK emotionally? We looked at each other and she just said "yes".

IS 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
(1 Peter 1:4-7 ESV)

 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;
(1 Peter 3:13-15 ESV)