As we continue

While we were thinking that that's things were getting better the latest PET showed one lung nodule has not decreased in size.  The recommendation from the doc was surgery to remove all the tumors from Traci's lungs.  Tra and I were thinking "awesome" lets get rid of them and continue on, so they made here an appointment with what we thought was the surgical oncologist but apparently the doc changed the plan while we were not looking.  We showed up and were directed to the radiation oncologist!  I freaked out, I can not even imagine what Tra is thinking.

Recommendation....you guessed it radiation therapy.  they even put a cool name on it "Cyber knife".
Hopefully This will do it!

Relay for Life

https://secure3.convio.net/tacs/site/Donation2?1009608.donation=form1&idb=358264103&df_id=1009608&FR_ID=40720&PROXY_ID=26266265&PROXY_TYPE=20&JServSessionIdr004=e62x38i50f.app310a

The Best Response

So.. on Wednesday the 11th of January 2012, Traci and I were informed that the one of the tumors in her lungs were gone and all have shown a response to the Yervoy treatment. This was the best day of 2012! The next best day will be the cancer free day. (dated in the near future)

Although the past year and a half has been stressful and filled with constant worry, I must say that Traci and I have had some interesting times dealing with cancer!

My Boss told me the other day, "Jay, I don't know how you do it"! My only thought was, "I don't know how Traci does it"! I cannot pretend to understand how she feels at any given moment, nor how I would feel if roles were reversed. I do know what keeps me going when things don't seem the best, Love, love for my wife, love for our children. I will dare to say she shares my thoughts on this one!

Love you Traci, Kayia and Destini
I'm Daddy

Machines are only as good as those who create them!

So the Wife and I Went to the Hospital on the 8th of Dec for her PET scan and would you know it! the machine was broken! so we contiue to wait and pray, god give us strength.

As we wait!

As we continue to wait Traci's next PET scan, we are both very anxious to get to that day,.... that she is cancer free. We are extremely hopeful that this will be the one!

The trails of our life

On top of Traci having cancer to deal with, we still have to live life every day. While we Cherish the ups and trample through the downs in life, we live life day by day. Their probably isn't any news worse than being told you have cancer!

Our Story So Far...

In July 2010, my wife found a small pea size lump under her breast. What we thought was a cyst, or perhaps breast cancer. When biopsied in Sept. 2010, it turned out to be melanoma. Upon her initial pet scan, the Dr's discovered that it had already metastasized and spread to her lungs. Within 2 weeks, she began the IL-2 treatment. IL-2 is an immunotherapy designed to rev the immune system in order to fight off cancer. The side effects of which, include: diarrhea, nausea, excessive weight gain, cold chills, vomiting, skin rash and excessive itching. But needless to say, this is the worst that I have ever seen a human being go through and it lasted and entire week. Two weeks later, I got to see my wife go through it again for another week, 2 weeks after that again for another week, and again 2 weeks later. After which, there were some signs of the tumors decreasing in size.

By Dec. 2010, we moved to Goldsboro, NC. In Feb. 2011, she began GM-CSF treatment and by April, they discovered that the cancer had spread to her small intestines. At which point, she required surgery to remove 12 inches of her small intestine. GM-CSF was discontinued. Two weeks later, she had surgery to remove the original pea sized tumor which was now the size of a golf ball. In June, she began the Yervoy treatment, which is also an immunotherapy. As of Sept. 2011, two of the tumors inside her lungs have increased in size, yet the Dr's are hopeful that they will decrease by Dec.

Throughout the whole battle, Traci has remained strong in her faith and while I remain strong in mine it has caused a lot of stress for me and our families. More to come...