Just a quick note.  I am doing well.  Slowly getting my strength back.  My doctor told me that it would take about 8 weeks to recover from radiation, but I was hoping that I would bounce back a little quicker.  Life is regaining a bit of a rhythm and I am enjoying being outside more - although my allergies seem a lot worse.  Hard to say if I am getting old or still recovering, or maybe a little of both.

I have a couple of things going on this week.  I will have a checkup with my Oncologist and Tuesday and this Friday I will be having surgery to have my chemo-port removed.  Thanks for all the prayers.

Chris

Finished Radiation, First Post-treatment scan tomorrow

I finished radiation on schedule and the Lord continues to provide.  I have a couple of freckle tattoos and two large patches of skin that are missing hair and look sunburned, but on the whole I am doing well.  Additionally I received a certificate and they let me ring the bell for my ceremonious last day of treatment.  It is great to be finished and to be working on my strength and endurance.

Tomorrow I will go in for my first post-treatment CT scan to make sure everything is clear.  Not really very revealing since I will not know the results until next week at my doctor visit.  My first CT scan during my treatment was very anxiety producing.  I had a lot of concerns that the chemo would be found ineffective.  Thank you for your prayers regarding this.  The Lord has given me a lot of peace about a number of things in addition to the last test and this test tomorrow.  To be sure, I have thought about the possibility of something being found and even having to start chemo again, but I am quickly reminded that He has provided and will continue to provide during the storm.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers- they have meant a lot to me and my family- Chris

Half-way with Radiation

I have finished my first 10 radiation treatments without too much trouble.  I am struggling with a couple of things but it is very minor when compared to chemotherapy.  Keeping well hydrated seems to be my biggest challenge, just can't seem to drink enough fluids.

I met with my doctor; things are progressing and I am still on schedule to finish my treatments (yeah) this month.

While I do have my good days and bad, Andra and I were able to go spend a short weekend at a bed-and-breakfast to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary.  It was a rainy weekend, but we brought our umbrella and had a great time.

Thank you for all your prayers and support!
Chris

December Update

Uffda!  I (Chris) have been having a hard time logging in to update the blog.  Sorry that this is so late.  A number of things have happened.  I received my last chemotherapy treatment on November 27th.  Thank you so much for you prayers and support.  How I feel really is nothing short of miraculous and a measure of blessing that is hard to quantify.  I got really sick the treatment prior, and I thought that the accumulation was simply starting to takes its toll.  Again thank you so much for your prayers.  I have felt just fantastic this past week.  I was able to go with Andra to her work Christmas party and it was just a sweet time.  The folks at D&D have really been a huge blessing to Andra and especially to our family during this season.  It was wonderful to see everyone but I still really stink at the white elephant game - never pick the big present!

I am still not quite out of the woods.  I will start radiation after the first of the year.  This is fairly standard for the treatment of Hodgkins Lymphoma.  It is a 4 week/ 20 treatment regiment, but the doctors have explained the side effects are minor - very minor when compared to chemo.  The only real stink of it is that one of my kidneys is in the way.  I did not find a lot of comfort as the doctor explained that I have two kidneys and that I do not need both.  I will be going in the week after Christmas to do the planning, where they will work on positioning me and the radiation pattern.  Please continue to pray for the doctors and technicians that these treatments would go well and for protection of my kidney.

Merry Christmas!  I am really looking forward to the next couple of weeks.  Although I sometimes feel like I am trying to make up for the past six months, it is great to rejoin the living.  May the Lord bless and keep you during this wonderful season.

One more...

We are 7 days away from Chris' last chemo treatment. (Pause and thank God). As it is with most things difficult, it seems like 6 months has gone by so slowly and yet June seems like yesterday. Despite the amazing fact that Chris is nearly done with his treatment it has been hard to stay joyful. I think we are emotionally "tapped out" and crawling towards the marathon tape with bloodied knees and sweaty faces! We were reminded recently to be grateful for all that we have and what has occurred in our lives.  We had the wonderful privilege of being unexpectedly prayed for during each service at church 2 weeks ago- unfortunately we were late and waiting in the lobby while it was happening and missed it all! Wish we could have heard that beautiful noise.

I feel like Im rambling... sorry about that.

When we met with Dr. B last week he told us that he would have the radiologist look at Chris's scans to determine if he would ultimately need radiation treatment or not. Because of the size of one of the original tumors and the fact that Chris had night sweats, his stage is borderline for needing radiation. If he needs it, it would start mid December and be 5 days a week for 4 weeks, pushing his treatment into mid January.  While radiation decreases the chance of Hodgkins recurrence by 3-4%, it increases Chris' risk of getting other cancers later in life by 3-4%. Lovely. Since he is only 39, he has lots of year left to potentially develop radiation related cancers.  All in all, its not a great place to be decision wise and we are hopeful that the radiologist will be clear and emphatic in their opinion. We are hoping to hear back on that by late this week or early next week.

We are totally enjoying this homework/meeting/work vacation this week and are thankful for the break here at the end of it all. And we are thankful for you!!!

The finish line...

I (Chris) wanted to tell you myself the results of my recent PET scan. Unfortunately I received chemo the same day I received the results and I have been having a hard time bouncing back this past week.  My cancer is gone.  I have some scar tissue and that is all that remains from the previously cancerous lymph nodes.  My doctor told me this is normal and over time the scar tissue will resolve.  To be sure this is great news, but I really want to be done with chemo.  I will have three more treatments, with the last on November 27th. The end is near!

I am doing ok.  I am happy about my diagnosis, but I still struggle with being sick and what I consider being a 'part time' dad.  It has been an amazing season.  Not exactly a sabbatical, but the Lord has been gracious simply in the time to stop and be still.  At the beginning I had expectations of a radical and complete change in who I am and how I do life, you know, go 'full on Denton.'  Again, the Lord is good and has shown me that I have a lot of issues to face- sanctification can be a long process, and He is giving me some time to work on them.


I (Andra) want to share the family side of Chris' good news.  As you can tell from Chris' words above, he is sooooo ready to be done with this whole process.  He struggles with the limitations that the cancer has placed on him and wants so badly to be 'back in the race.' We try to encourage him as best we can that getting better is the most important thing- not mowing the grass or helping with homework.

I would say after having a week of heard the words 'cancer free,' that we are still in shock and a little numb- so if you see us and we seem less than exuberant, just know that we are adjusting to the news. Since we still have several chemo treatments left, it doesn't quite seen over.  Unfortunately, radiation is still a possibility that we may need to face- please pray for us about that.

Thank you. Thank you for all the things you have said, things you have done and things yet to be done for our family.  We truly could not have functioned as well as we have without you. Five months of help is nothing to sneeze at!  God has shown us so clearly through all of this, how loved we are by you.  We look forward to many joyful conversations and meals to come with you all! Yea!!

CT scan results are in

Chris got his test results back Tuesday on his CT scan last week. The doctor said that the tumors had decreased in size. One of the tumors was reduced almost 50% in size.  His chest was clear and there were no new cancer tumors. He will be on the same regimen of chemo and for now radiation is not needed. He was able to complete his chemo treatment yesterday, so that makes two treatments in a row since his blood counts are holding steady. His next treatment will be the halfway point in the entire process. Good, good, good news!
He says he is feeling good, and waiting for his white blood cell creating shot to kick in- the side effects usually last 1-2 days and after a week or so, he starts to feel pretty good.  He still has his hair, but the doctor expressed some surprise that he hadn't started losing it yet.  At the beginning they said he may not lose it- so I guess its a 50-50 shot at keeping it.
School starts next Monday and we have Meet the Teacher this Thursday night, but Chris probably wont be able to attend due to fatigue and lots of potential germs! Please be praying for us as school starts and we begin yet another routine of class, homework, Cub Scouts and work.  We have been loved on so much this summer with all of the meals and helping around our house and the phone calls/emails. Thank you for your prayers and support.  Andra and Chris

No News

Lots of people have been asking about the results of Chris' CT scan this past Tuesday. We haven't heard anything yet and probably won't until his next chemo treatment next Tuesday. In my eyes, no news is good news- if it was bad news I think they would call us, so I am choosing to be hopeful that the results are good! I will definitely let you know when I know! Andra