PRAISE GOD! Our insurance approved the oral chemotherapy medication. Bruce took his first dose last Thursday night. He will take one dose every night for 6 weeks. He will get 2 weeks off and then go in for full imaging again. He feels nauseous and achy when he wakes, but feels better as the day progresses. The fatigue is not too bad during the day. He is thankful for the minimal side affects and is happy to be home......his whole family is happy to have him home!
OH-for those of you who are curious.....the cost for the pills this month was only $30.00!!! Let me say it again: PRAISE GOD!
More later!
MBA
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Sunday, September 9, 2007
MEDICAL UPDATE
I apologize for the delay in this post. Life has been extremely full of family activities-nothing new there-and blog updating was placed at the bottom of the priority list. It is back on top today!
We met with Dr Curti (our melanoma-oligist) on Friday. Here is the information we received:
**It is too early to assess the results of the brain radiation treatment. We will know more about this in two months.
**Bruce has three new lesions (tumors) in the left side of the brain, four new lesions in his lungs and the one tumor that has been in his chest cavitiy is larger. The new lesions are very small and, as of right now, they do not appear to be affecting Bruce physically. PRAISE THE LORD!
**Bruce will be taking an oral chemotherapy pill, TEMODAR, daily for 6 weeks. He will have 2 weeks off for recovery and then go in for another set of full body scans. We are waiting for all the insurance paperwork to be approved and hope to start the drug sometime this week.
**IF the scans show that the tumors have responded positively to the TEMODAR (shrunk or disappeared), then Bruce will repeat the same treatment cycle.
**TEMODAR was the treatment choice because it is one of the only drugs that can treat the body AND penetrate the blood brain barrier at the same time....which is desperately needed.
**This drug is the best tolerated by patients and hopefully will have minimal side affects: fatigue, nausea, headaches, blood count levels, etc. His blood will be checked regularly. Fortunately, we can do that locally. Unfortunately, it will mean more "pokes" for Bruce...his least favorite thing!
**There is NOT a cure for melanoma (the most unpredictable cancer and the most formidable), which we are fully aware of. This drug, however, will help us with our main goal: to keep kicking back the cancer by controlling the existing tumors and arresting the seeds of melanoma while maintaining the quality of life Bruce desires. Bruce is in excellent physical health with very strong and healthy internal organs. This puts him in the "best corner" to tolerate the drug and it's side affects and to keep on fighting! That is what he is-the best fighter I know!
We are so thankful for the excellent medical care that Bruce is receiving and have the highest respect for Dr Curti and his staff. He cares very much for Bruce-not only for his physical health but his personal life: me, our family and our quality of life. We are very blessed.
We are thrilled that Bruce can be home during the next two months (not in the hospital for lengthy stays and not a lot of I-5 commuting). This will be so nice for our family-especially for the kids as they can start their fall schedules with some consistency and normalcy....as if we ever had that before! :)
PRAYER REQUESTS:
~That our insurance will cover the cost of the TEMODAR (it is very expensive).
~That the side affects will be minimal and tolerable for Bruce and that he continues to get whatever he needs to keep up the good fight!
~That our children will not be fearful and that they would be daily encouraged to carry on with what they need to do: enjoy their childhood, be brave, be honest with what they are feeling, depend on their God and each other........and keep their rooms clean! (Bruce threw that one in!)
~That MB would be emotionally and spiritually strengthened each day and have the stamina to deal with all that is required as a wife, mother and caretaker.
~That the Alexander Family would continue to "love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength", that we would "rejoice in the Lord always" and that every day we would continue to "taste and see the goodness of our Lord"!!
Thank you to everyone for walking alongside us, for bearing this with us, and for your help in fighting this battle....we need and love having you on our team!
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong!!! (2Corinthians 12:9,10)
Staying Strong,
The A TEAM!
We met with Dr Curti (our melanoma-oligist) on Friday. Here is the information we received:
**It is too early to assess the results of the brain radiation treatment. We will know more about this in two months.
**Bruce has three new lesions (tumors) in the left side of the brain, four new lesions in his lungs and the one tumor that has been in his chest cavitiy is larger. The new lesions are very small and, as of right now, they do not appear to be affecting Bruce physically. PRAISE THE LORD!
**Bruce will be taking an oral chemotherapy pill, TEMODAR, daily for 6 weeks. He will have 2 weeks off for recovery and then go in for another set of full body scans. We are waiting for all the insurance paperwork to be approved and hope to start the drug sometime this week.
**IF the scans show that the tumors have responded positively to the TEMODAR (shrunk or disappeared), then Bruce will repeat the same treatment cycle.
**TEMODAR was the treatment choice because it is one of the only drugs that can treat the body AND penetrate the blood brain barrier at the same time....which is desperately needed.
**This drug is the best tolerated by patients and hopefully will have minimal side affects: fatigue, nausea, headaches, blood count levels, etc. His blood will be checked regularly. Fortunately, we can do that locally. Unfortunately, it will mean more "pokes" for Bruce...his least favorite thing!
**There is NOT a cure for melanoma (the most unpredictable cancer and the most formidable), which we are fully aware of. This drug, however, will help us with our main goal: to keep kicking back the cancer by controlling the existing tumors and arresting the seeds of melanoma while maintaining the quality of life Bruce desires. Bruce is in excellent physical health with very strong and healthy internal organs. This puts him in the "best corner" to tolerate the drug and it's side affects and to keep on fighting! That is what he is-the best fighter I know!
We are so thankful for the excellent medical care that Bruce is receiving and have the highest respect for Dr Curti and his staff. He cares very much for Bruce-not only for his physical health but his personal life: me, our family and our quality of life. We are very blessed.
We are thrilled that Bruce can be home during the next two months (not in the hospital for lengthy stays and not a lot of I-5 commuting). This will be so nice for our family-especially for the kids as they can start their fall schedules with some consistency and normalcy....as if we ever had that before! :)
PRAYER REQUESTS:
~That our insurance will cover the cost of the TEMODAR (it is very expensive).
~That the side affects will be minimal and tolerable for Bruce and that he continues to get whatever he needs to keep up the good fight!
~That our children will not be fearful and that they would be daily encouraged to carry on with what they need to do: enjoy their childhood, be brave, be honest with what they are feeling, depend on their God and each other........and keep their rooms clean! (Bruce threw that one in!)
~That MB would be emotionally and spiritually strengthened each day and have the stamina to deal with all that is required as a wife, mother and caretaker.
~That the Alexander Family would continue to "love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength", that we would "rejoice in the Lord always" and that every day we would continue to "taste and see the goodness of our Lord"!!
Thank you to everyone for walking alongside us, for bearing this with us, and for your help in fighting this battle....we need and love having you on our team!
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong!!! (2Corinthians 12:9,10)
Staying Strong,
The A TEAM!
Monday, September 3, 2007
RESTING ON LABOR DAY!
Hi All.
It's been a long time, huh? The last two weeks have been action packed and I will do my best to fill you in on all the family fun....don't worry, it will be the condensed version!!!
~Spencer is now officially a full time college student! He moved into Pennington, his dorm at George Fox, on Thursday, Aug 23rd, with the help from his Uncle Matt. Hmmm, "help" might not be the right word....they pulled the car up, a group of students came running to unload the car and carry all the boxes to Spencer's room. Spencer turned down Matt's offer to help unpack, so Matt took it upon himself to "break-in" and "test out" Spencer's pillow.. The final report: it works just fine! Oh, Matt wants everyone to know that he did carry in one box (there were only 8 students and 9 boxes)! Yes, Matt, you were a great help....and alot more fun than MOM!
Spencer is all settled in, staying busy with school work and campus activities and as far as we know, loving college life. If any of you hear from him, please let us know how he's doing! :)
~Mikaela had her senior pictures taken on Friday, Aug 30th. It feels like just yesterday she was a young freshman starting high school.....now she's all grown up.....where does the time go?? Mikaela starts school on Wed, Sept 5th. She's excited to be a senior, is really happy with her class schedule and can't wait to get started. She did mention that it will be lonely without Spencer there, but is looking forward to seeing all her friends! She is in the process of getting her 100 driving hours and can't wait to get her license....actually, it's her mom that can't wait!!!
~Isaac and Pearce are playing football for the Linus Pauling 8th and 6th grade teams. They are working hard, playing hard, and sleeping hard! They have their 'start of the season' Jamboree this Saturday and can't wait to get on the field and compete! The boys will be home schooled again this year and we are gearing up for the school routine. Their hair is growing in fast and I haven't heard the latest with what style they want next. Send in your votes for your favorite hair style and we'll see what happens!
~Bruce, as you well know, turned 50 on Aug 17th and boy, did we celebrate!! We need this whole next month just to recover! Our friends, Hugh and Tracy, hosted a party in their Bellevue home for friends and family in the Seattle area at the end of August. Bruce's sister, Kirsten, rallied together a handful of his high-school friends from Portland and 4 cousins he hasn't seen in years to come and crash the party!! What a total surprise for Bruce! The party was fabulous, with many close friends and family there to celebrate. Bruce was overwhelmed and came home with such a feeling of comfort, love and consolation. Thanks to all who made that such a special day. Pictures will be coming soon on the blog.....Bruce is wearing a very special outfit that he wants all to see!
~Bruce will be having a CT and brain MRI this Tues, the 4th, here in Corvallis. We will go see Dr Curti at Providence Medical in Portland on Friday, Aug 7th, at 10:30 am. We will find out if the radiation was successful on the brain tumors and what is going on in his body. The appt is scheduled for an hour and I know we will walk away with alot of new information to process and have some decisions to make regarding recommendations for future treatment.
We have enjoyed this "free-time with no treatments or surgeries. Bruce has been very diligent to get his body, mind and spirit in shape for whatever comes next. We have spent TONS of time together as a family and making sure we enjoy the simple things each and every day. What a gift each day is!
We will be attending a dear friend's wedding on Friday night and we want to fully enter into the joy of this celebration. So, we will share any medical news (good or bad) on Sat morning with our children (Spencer will be with us for the night) and then we will update the blog on Saturday night. We wanted to let you all know so that you are not alarmed by the delay in any posts. Thank you for understanding. Thank you all for your constant love, support, prayers and commitment to us!
More pictures will be coming soon......there are so many, it's hard to keep up!
HAPPY SEPTEMBER TO ALL!
Love,
The A TEAM!
BRUCE'S HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS WHO DROVE UP FROM PORTLAND TO SURPRISE HIM. A HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY FOR HIM! GUESS HOW OLD THEY ARE?
BRUCE WORE A DUCK T-SHIRT (thanks, Tim) AND A DUCK HAT BEFORE HE JUMPED IN THE LAKE...RIGHT WHERE THEY BELONG!! LATER, HE WORE THE RIGHT COLORS.....BEAVER ORANGE AND BLACK!! FUN, VERY FUN!!!
WE JUST NEEDED TO MAKE CERTAIN THINGS CLEAR.....VERY CLEAR!!
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