As many of the readers of this blog are aware, my wife of 36 years, Ginger was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in October, 2006. The cancer had metastasized to several other organs including her liver. She underwent surgery immediately and the largest of the tumors were removed. Since that time, she has been receiving chemotherapy in six month stints, with brief respites. She just completed the third such round of chemotherapy, and the results have been excellent. Today, we saw her oncologist, and he showed us the scans from the CT she had Monday. The spots on the liver, easily seen on all previous scans, are now practically indiscernible. The doctor told us that when he first viewed the scans earlier this week, he thought he must be looking at the wrong sets. He was amazed! So are we!
by the Metolius River in Oregon, one of our favorite retreats!
The recommendation is to extend treatment for two months after the cancer is no longer detected. So Ginger will be continuing the chemotherapy which she has been on for the last six months until the end of September.
Needless to say, we are thrilled with this news, and very thankful. Colon cancer is, of course considered incurable, but can be managed, sometimes for a very long time. We are hopeful! And we are so very thankful! Hundreds of friends on four continents have been praying consistently. We are so very grateful for this effort!
15 comments:
That's wonderful news, Cliff! Thanks for the update. There's nothing like the gifts of health and time!
That is really good news, Cliff. You are both in my prayers.
Great news Cliff.
I am really happy for you both.
Regards,
Psi
PS - My thanks go to the Doctors.
Go,Sis! No skepticism here. All glory to God!
Well, I'll strike the middle ground, and state my unequivocal thanksgiving to GOD for DOCTORS and for the tools he gave us to pursue science and medicine.
So I am praising God and Doctors! And don't be too hard on skepticism, David. My skeptic friends (whom I count as friends indeed!) accounted for two of the first three comments here!
I'm very glad to hear that, Cliff, and I hope the news remains good.
Happy to hear that, Cliff.
And on a totally unrelated note, I noticed that the caption on your picture said it was taken at the Metolius. Are you and your wife Oregonians?
Tom, Chris, Psi, David, RBH, AMW, thank you for your kind and supportive comments.
AMW, yes! I am a life-long Oregonian, my wife an Oregonian since when we married in 1971.
Cliff,
I am an uprooted Oregonian. Born in Roseburg, grew up in Tigard, right outside Portland, and lived there until middle school. (I can prove my street cred by correctly pronouncing "Oregon", "Tualatin", "Wilamette" and the like.) I've been all over the place since, but there's always a subtle yearning for the acific NW in my heart.
Every year my family vacations at Black Butte Ranch, which is near the Metolius. Central Oregon is absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite places on earth.
All the best to you and your wife.
Just read your post: I'm really happy for you both. I was unaware of your wife's cancer until this post (I don't know how I missed it), but I hope I really am catching the tail end of the ordeal. I thank God for His provision.
Excellent news!
Just checking on you - haven't heard from you in a while.
I'm still here. Summer gets busy! I'm trying to write the next post (part two of Evolution: Red in Tooth and Claw) and the creative juices are a little sluggish. But it will happen!
That's very good news indeed. My best to you and your wife. (I'm new to your blog, discovered it via another blog, and have just added your blog to my google reader list.)
By the way, if you want to add some alternative medicine to the mix of healing there's a loose tea that is associated with the amazing cancer cure of its inventor, Sir Jason Winters, who had an inoperable malignant tumor in his neck that was near to cutting off his breathing. You can probably find the Winters story on the web along with xrays of his tumor, and find the tea in health food stores. Sometimes I wonder whether a placebo effect might not also cure cancer in some cases.
Laughter seems to have a host of healing properties according to a recent article I read, including boosting white cell counts. And besides watching comedies and listening to comedy CDs you can force yourself to laugh as they do in Hindu laughing clubs, Ho ho ho, hee hee hee, ha ha ha, good for the lungs and whole body.
That is great Cliff. I agree with you that we should be thankful to both God and the Doctors - and all others that contributed to the healing.
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