July 10 marks the one-year mark of learning that I have gallbladder cancer. Major surgery, CT scans, and lots of chemo treatments have occurred in that year. The last chemo infusion was at the end of March and I have been on "chemo-vacation" since then. The last CT scan at the end of May showed the "spots" on the liver to be smaller in size and the tumor blood marker test was good. We did another blood test at the end of June, and it was even lower, so we were given another month of vacation by Dr. Gilcrease, my oncologist. He said we would do this until the marker started showing an increasing trend and then we'd do another CT scan and most likely restart chemotherapy. We're also hopeful of being included in a clinical trial for a new drug that is showing promise in other forms of cancer.
At this one year anniversary, I am reminded of all the tender mercies along the way: a very early diagnosis because of good doctors (both in New Mexico and in Utah) who like to be thorough but not crazy in how they practice their craft; NO PAIN and no nausea while going through all this (I'm told that most people with cancer suffer lots of pain that can, at times, become very difficult to deal with); an amazing world-class facility in the Huntsman Cancer Institute only a few miles from home, staffed by a caring staff of doctors and nurses that really know their stuff; and most of all, a very large and diligent support system of family members, friends, and neighbors in our ward who constantly pray for me and my family. As I've been reminded many times by the doctor, attitude is an important part of dealing with a cancer diagnosis. For the most part I've been able to maintain an optimistic and positive attitude, and this is because of my strong and extended support system. I want to acknowledge that power. Thanks to each person who prays for me and my family, who send e-mails or text messages, or who makes that occasional phone call. It means more than mere words can express. Thank you again.
