Christie's PET/CT scan results came in today - with GREAT results. The scan showed NO cancer at all!
This is great news. After only 4 chemo treatments, the cancer is no longer detectable. This doesn't necessarily mean it's gone. When the cancer is small enough, the PET/CT can no longer detect it, though some may yet reside. This is OK, though - Christie will just keep getting Chemo for a while to make sure that all of it is destroyed. Studies show that continuing the chemo for 4-6 months yield a mere 5-10% relapse rate. So, Christie's odds have now gone from ~70% to 90-95%!
So basically: If any cancer cells are left over, they have the potential to cause a complete relapse. So - while the PET/CT results are HUGE blessing and GREAT news, the chemo will continue. Please continue to pray for Christie's strength to hold up, and for her to continue to tolerate the cumulative affects of the treatment. (She has been holding up extremely well throughout the treatments thus far, though - her worst symptoms were actually during the first treatment, though the less-severe symptoms she now experiences last about a day or two longer than they did at first).
Thank you for your continuing prayers. Please pray for the cancer to be gone and for the residual dead scar tissue to shrink. If it shrinks, she might not need radiation. If it's still there, she will need it, since some cancer cells can hide from the chemo in it.
Cancer is a strange beast - it seems that no one ever really knows what will happen. In fact, even the experts are afraid of trying to predict. We will play the odds with selecting proper treatments, but we know that in the big-picture (i.e. God's picture) odds don't matter. They don't matter at all when you know what will happen and you can orchestrate it all for good anyway. I think God would make a poor statistician - he had no need for statistics =)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Whooo! That's great news! I'm so thankful and happy for y'all, and I have loved watching you walk through this together with the Lord. We're praying!
Hallelujah!! That is such awesome news. We will continue to pray that none of those nasty cancer cells will be able to escape the obviously effective chemotherapy treatment, and that Christie will continue to tolerate the treatment well. Continue to stand firm, God is already using your testimony.
WOW!!!! I am awestruck! In fact, I am amazingly speechless!
Love you! All our hearts!
Mom and Dad
Ryan and Christie,
That is great news. I heard about Christie last night. I am so sorry you have to go through this, but at least you two can go through it together, I'm sure that makes it so much better for Christie.
You two, Christie especially, are in my prayers!
If there is anything I can do, or anything you need help with, please let me know! You can find me in Global, I'm in the DC area.
-Ryan White
(I would publish this with a blogger identity, but I don't know how to do that, so I have to do it "anonymous"
Christie & Ryan ... When I heard this most excellent report, I was so thrilled. I just love it when God does His thing ... when He shows off ... when He puts His works on display ... when He shows us His glory.
As I have pondered this wonderful and amazing news, I immediately sensed the following words ... "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!"
In composing this reply, I was led to Psalm 86:12, which says, "I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever," and Psalm 103:1, which says, "Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name."
This morning, I was also reminded that, in such a time as this, it is important and pleasant to simply pause and absorb, in as much fullness as we possibly can, what God has done.
I was also reminded that, as we take the time to bask and soak in the splendor and glory of God's work, roots are going down deep into the soil of our soul to provide us with nourishment and strength to keep running life's marathon.
So, it is with great joy that I rejoice with you for all that God has done, all that He is doing, and all that He has yet to do, as you continue to place your trust and confidence in Him.
Praise, Praise, and More Praise ~
Doris
Wonderful news Christie and Ryan!!!
God is good....ALL THE TIME!
YIPPEE!! SUCH GREAT NEWS!!! Gahgee told me the news last night... sooo excited.. So glad that you had such amazing results. Praying for your strength. Enjoy your day! xoxo meme
Wow!! I am so pleased with your news. This has been a red letter week. We wrote your good news in our Bible Study book as a "JOY". I'm moving the computer upstairs today and won't get a new jack until next Friday. I still love you and will keep you in prayer even if you don't hear from me. Love you, Gahgee
Post a Comment