Merkel and Me

 Thursday August 14, 2025     Still waiting for test results from the 29th.  I think they go to my oncologist and then I'll hear from her. I had my three-month check-up with the radiation oncologist yesterday and he seemed to think that everything has healed up nicely.  The area is a little tough, and a little discolored, but there is no pain and there were no adverse reactions in my leg. He checked for swelling in my right leg, and strength and mobility.  He was impressed that I had gotten up to an 18-mile bike ride before my hernia surgery, and that I was walking 10-11,000 steps every day after. He was pleased enough that instead of 3 months, I don't have to see him again for 6 months.      He did see that there was an order for a CT scan from February that never happened, so he suggested I go ahead, and I was able to get an appointment for September 30. That means I will actually go 47 days without a doctor's appointment. There haven't bee...

 Friday August 8, 2025     It's been a good and blessed couple of weeks. My friend Dave received his new heart the Friday after my last post.  He was doing well enough the next Monday that we were able to have a short conversation on the phone, and he was able to come home that Friday/Saturday. He needs to take it easy for a number of months and keep his contacts with other people limited, but so far, prayers have definitely been answered.      My two friends from the fellowship group have both started their chemo treatments. They are doing well after their first visits and keeping spirits up. We start Fellowship group meetings next week and we are hopeful they will feel up to attending.      As for me, the biggest highlight of the past two weeks was celebrating my 19th anniversary with Cathy. As I've said before, I can't imagine going through all of this without her by my side. We went to Leatherby's a nice restaurant at the Segerstrom ...

 Thursday July 24, 2025     The dermatologist appointment went well, nothing new to be concerned about. Tuesday I will be having the special blood test which will highlight if there are any markers or antibodies present to indicate a recurrence of the cancer. Prayers would be appreciated.      Monday, I had my hernia surgery.  It went well, but the process had a few hiccups. My surgery was originally scheduled for 11 AM, but Friday the hospital called and told me it was switched to 4:30 PM because of an emergency surgery the doctor was needed for in the morning. I arrived at the hospital at 2:30 and taken to pre-op around 3:30. We then learned the doctor was just getting out of surgery and had another one before mine. I finally was in the operating room before 7:30 PM. The surgery was over around 10 and at that hour, the doctor decided to keep me in the hospital overnight. I had a nice single room and great nurses throughout the experience.  It to...

 Thursday July 10, 2025      My church fellowship group meets on Thursdays (we have been off the past few weeks for a summer break) and then every other Saturday morning, the men and women meet as separate groups. The men have been working through the book The Practice of Godliness  by Jerry Bridges. There are three of us who have been taking turns leading the discussion. This week I'm up and the chapter topic is Peace.      That is one thing I know God has truly blessed me with during this cancer journey.  I have had complete peace throughout the experience. He gave me the wisdom and comfort to just take each day at a time, to patiently wait for, and through, each test and procedure, and to have full confidence that everything would work out exactly the way He had planned.           John 14:27         "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to y...

 Thursday July 3, 2025     It has been one month since my last post. I have been doing quite well. I've reached the point where I'm so close to normal that I have to remind myself that it really happened, it seems like a different time and different life.  Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your divine mercy and healing.      When it was suggested that I write this blog about my experiences, the person specifically said, "You can help the rest of us when it becomes our turn." I hope that is true, especially since during this past month, two different ladies in our fellowship group were diagnosed with cancer, one uterine and the other breast. The woman with the uterine cancer had her surgery today. We are praying for both of them, and their families, and I hope some of the thoughts I've shared, and verses I've pointed to might prove beneficial to them during this time.      When this year started, I had 2-3 medical procedures/issues I was go...

Friday June 6, 2025     Another week, a day late, sorry. It's been a busy week.  On the merkel front, I had my 3-month follow-up with Dr. Tran, my surgical oncologist. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be.  My impression was that these three-month check-ups would be blood tests and scans, but this was just a Q and A visit. Dr. Tran doesn't want to do any scans until the area is completely healed from the radiation, and I just had the important blood test at the end of April so that won't happen again until the end of July. We did learn that my score on the blood test was "0" which was great news.  That means that two months after the surgery there was no trace of cancer cells in my body.  That test will determine much of what happens to me in the months and years to follow.  Getting "0's" should mean that I'm cancer free.  If the number goes up, more testing and checking will follow.      Overall, she was happy with my progre...