The Cancer Journey

We've been in this cancer journey now for a full year. Yep - it feels like it. Strange how it converged with COVID and social isolation. So what's happening now? CT exams after my esophagectomy revealed small nodules in my lungs that unfortunately spread and multiplied over the months. Though we were hoping they were only a virus, the biopsy in April revealed more cancer of the type that was had been in my esophagus. With that discovery, my Oncology team shifted their treatment objective from “curative” to “palliative,” which means that it’s likely I won’t beat this disease. Now God doesn’t get approval from the doctors and He can do whatever His plan includes. I intend to keep holding on to this physical life until God does call me home - though I hold it loosely. So please keep praying for my healing. His plan may involve bringing me home into eternity and if so - I'm OK with that. Like one of my dear friends used to say in her sweet Swedish minimalist way, “God can heal.

Many years ago now, I gave my life to the Lord, believing and knowing that His plans for me were far better than anything I could ever dream up for myself. The adventure since and continuing is amazing and wonderful. It doesn’t mean there haven’t been rough patches or disappointments. There have been episodes I haven’t and still don’t understand. I guess I’m in one of those now. Yesterday, I was in Rochester again for appointments at Mayo; blood work, CT scans plus follow-ups with Thoracic Surgery and Oncology. They were particularly evaluating nodules that appeared in my lungs at my initial post surgery follow-ups. I know many of you have been praying for me. Thank you. So here’s the discovery. The 2 small nodules identified in January have grown slightly from 2 or 3 millimeters to 5 millimeters. And they now identify about 8 nodules in my lower lungs. So the next stage is a CT guided biopsy on May 6 to determine if they are cancerous. That will give them evidence to develop a treatme