Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Update.

I was called into the oncologist's this morning as an emergency add-on to discuss the results of the latest MRI done at UAB. The cancer has spread from the liver and grown in size and number, approximately twelve new masses, at least one on my liver now is approximately the size of a 40mm grenade projectile, and I have others returned to the esophagus and in the lymph nodes in my back. It is obvious that the Gleevec no longer suffices to restrain the growth, so they are changing my chemo meds to something new that is hoped will work. The doctor is not despairing so I will not. I must do a better job of nutrition to replace my muscle mass, being back down to 155 pounds. That is doable, if still painful. So now you know what I know. Keep me in your prayers, please.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mike, May God surround you with his angels, to heal you, to hold you when you stumble, to lift you when you fall. May they give you strength to face what is ahead and comfort to you and your family whenever it's needed. God is not done with you yet Mike but maybe his priorities for you are different than what you think. You've been a great teacher to more than you'll ever know and we thank you for your inspiration. May God bless you and yours. AZ Vigilant

Greg Wilson said...

Mike, you are a great inspiration! You remain much in our thoughts and prayers. May our Sovereign Lord be pleased to raise you back up.

RosalindJ said...

Prayers.

Anonymous said...

Hey Dutchman, I don't know how much you stick to the status-quo medical belief that eggs are too much cholesterol, but muscles being made of protein and eggs being entirely protein; well you get it. I adhere to alternative medicine and beliefs and in winter when it's too cold to work outside I lift weights to at least try to keep the muscle I had 15 years ago. For a protein drink afterwards I'll mix anywhere from 4 to 6 organic eggs in a glass topped off with milk, a teaspoon of "Sugar in the Raw" and a dash of vanilla extract. It not only tastes really good, but eggs contain about 6 or 7 grams of protein each..

Roger J said...

Mike,

I know you will continue to fight. I am praying for you.

Terri said...

You and your family continue to be in my prayers. Terri

Sean said...

You've been in my prayers for a long time now, Mike, along with your family. You all remain there, and will. Semper Paratus.

idahobob said...

Prayers.......you got 'em.

Bob
III

prambo said...

May the blessings of the Almighty be with you Mike, and upon the choices of your oncologist. I believe that most visitors here think of you frequently throughout their day, and say many small prayers for your well being.

Another high protein food that also tastes good is canned white albacore tuna and chicken breast. All sorts of beans contain boo-coo protein. Don't know how the latter fit your dietary needs. Be sure you max your vitamins and minerals, especially the B-complex, magnesiume, etc.

You're strong Dutchman - concentrate on your health and Rosey - we can try and hold the line until you're 100%.

TimeHasCome said...

You are in my prayers. May God continue to bless you.

Wyowanderer said...

Thank you for the update, brother.

Anonymous said...

Mike,

I shall keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
When I had my jaw wired shut from surgery a few years ago, my daughter kept my weight and energy up by making fortified milkshakes that I sipped. She used ice cream, weightlifter's protein powder, peanut butter and bananas. All that would go into a "silver bullet" type blender.

Anonymous said...

Mike, please write your book, like the story about your desire, Chandler mountain, raising goats and bees, even if you had only 3 months, enough, 2 pages a day, nice 200 page book for your legacy. Please keep the language tame, harsh language offends me, your Catholic christian brother, love Denny.

White Bear said...

Mike,

I'm not an overly religious man but I've been praying for you as hard as I can.
Hang in there pal, you've got a lot of friends out here.

Unknown said...

Mike,

God bless you. Keep up the good fight. I am praying for you and yours.

Subsunk

Anonymous said...

Cesium Chloride, Mike.

http://www.cancertutor.com/alkaline/

http://www.essense-of-life.com/moreinfo/healthpackages/H-101/Basic+pH+Package+1.htm

Do it while you're still strong enough.

Anonymous said...

I am in 3rd month chemo for multiple myeloma after a curiously broken right arm. My wife been thru chemo three times. It never hits home til it's YOU!! I don't fight cancer. It has to fight ME!! Semper fi!

Anonymous said...

Oncologists have some new game changing drugs for cancer, of course being new, they don't always know what will work best with what. So, you never know for sure someone is doomed until you try something like the new immunoediting drugs.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/07/immunotherapy-drugs-cancer-immune-provenge-yervoy_n_1496982.html

Plus, there's also more than just that. This chart kinda simplifies it, well, not really.

http://www.cancerlink.ru/enhallmarks-of-cancer6.gif

But you can sort of puzzle it out with the help of google and wikipedia to look up unfamiliar terms.

Hmm, all this cancer stuff gives me EEEVIL ideas. Say an evil-doer clipped out a bunch of tumors, put em in a growth medium, kept em warm and moist, and then put that evil replicating crap into a projectile. Maybe nitrogen or air launched. Would be the ultimate devilry, wiping out your enemies with your own tumor cells. Would have to be a certain subset really resistant to immune system recognition.

Anonymous said...

Ditto on the eggs.
I neatd about altering blood acidity via diet, and that this made life difficult for rumors. Ph levels apparently are rather important to their survival and growth. Might want to read about it. Official sources say ph levels measured in urine are ONLY for urine, but anecdotal data suggests truth to it.
http://www.naturalnews.com/033385_cancer_pH_levels.html
http://www.cancerfightingstrategies.com/ph-and-cancer.html#sthash.PuG6Amf8.dpbs
Notes against it, but support advice on similar diets.... Go figure...
http://preventcancer.aicr.org/site/News2?id=13441

Harry_the_Horrible said...

May God bless you and keep you and heal you. May He strengthen your friends and family. May he guide the hands of healers.

Anonymous said...

Prayers sent.

Anonymous said...

I strongly suggest adding this nutritional supplement to your treatment:
Life Extension
Super Curcumin with BioPerine
800 mg, 1-3/day, or more as tolerated
[source: www.lef.org]

Studies show this product induces Apoptosis in cancer cells. Apoptosis is the spontaneous auto-self-destruct of cancer cells; they are essentially fooled into dying.

Prayers also given.

Anonymous said...

Mike, I know this has been told to you before, and cost isn't helpful, but I cannot stress enough the value of drinking ENSURE. Drink a four pack a day - and I will attest to the fact that it will aid you in gaining weight - and easier than trying to down tremendous amounts of food. Yes, ya still gotta eat, but please! Drink you some serious ensure drinks! Chocolate is actually pretty ok.

God Bless ya, Mike.

TTXIII said...

Damn Mike, so sorry to hear that. Im not a praying sort of fella but I will be hoping as fervently as possible for your return to normality or at least enough time on this planet to do what you were meant to do(by your creator as I imagine you would put it). Always loved reading the site, rarely post as anything other than anon so I figure frak it!

Started a new job so I havent been able to keep up as much, I still enjoy saving some of the links you post for offline usage when I need then ;)

Anonymous said...

Mike. I am a cancer survivor. 13 years. Go to

www.chrisbeatcancer.com

Watch all the videos.

You can beat this!

Anonymous said...

As for your book and writing. Tape recorders are wonderful real time writing tools.

Anonymous said...

I, too, am going what you are going through. Chemo is a B. Keep the faith and I'll see you on the other side! All is as it should be. All good.

Tom Skoch said...

Praying for you and your family, Mike.

EdW said...

Ora et Labora: Pray and Work.

I'll say prayers. Here's your homework - please check the info here:

http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/

Watch all of these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR8SQzCJK0Q (Episode 1 of 10 - links to the next one are in the right column. Episode 11 is Q&A with Cancer survivors who were able to let their bodies heal by giving them the proper nutrients)

Chemo is gonna put you in a pine box quicker than anything...

May God bless you!

Nemesis said...

Chin up Mike. It's not done yet!

Anonymous said...

You are in my Prayers. And I endorse the shake from the guy above, my old man had been losing weight becuase of some medical problems and age, (84) mom started giving him protein shakes from protein powder mixed with ice cream and some fruit like bananas once or twice a day and he's gotten better and kept the muscle mass on.

Anonymous said...

Keep up the good fight ! Best wishes for a good outcome.

Unknown said...

Prayers from my family to you and yours. Keep up the fight, and the good attitude. Yours in Liberty sir, John (Taz) FL

Ramsey A. Bear said...

Prayers for you and your family.

skybill said...

Hi Mike,
Know that you and you are in my prayers. ........If there's anything I can do......

Blue skies... Buddy,
III%,
skybill-out

Anonymous said...

Stay in the fight Brother.God Bless and Heal you.

wirecutter said...

Stay strong, stay hard.
Prayers.
-Kenny Lane

Rivenshield said...

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.