Cancer Update - 8/23/10

I had a chest scan scheduled for 10:30am. The oncologist office setup the appointment at a facility that was about 20 minutes away from their office. They wanted to do the scan at our doctor's office but our insurance wouldn't agree to pay for it there. They could have scheduled the scan to be done at a UAB because we have it in our file that are expenses there are covered 100% there. The scan was with contrast, which means I was injected dye to allow the cancer cells to show up more prominently. They dye creates a warm se sensation all over your body. It also, in the words of the lab tech "makes you feel like you have urinated on yourself". It's definitely a weird experience. Afterward, we drove 90 miles back home.

Lolita Halsey Surgery Fund - 10/08/2010

This post is dedicated to a close family friend who is on need of assistance. She suffered a serious on the job injury four years ago. Her and her husband recently located a doctor in New York that we feel will be able to help her walk again. They are currently planning to go back to New York for the surgery on October 17th, but they need financial assistance in order to afford the hotel stay and expenses. They will have to remain in New York for at least six after the surgery for post-surgery physical therapy. You can learn more about her story and donate at the link below:


http://lolitahalsey.blogspot.com/

Cancer Update - 10/6/10

God is good! I found out today that my tumor has shrunk 50% from my scan on 8-23-10. The tumor was initially about 15 cm and it is now down to about 5 cm. We are going to do two more rounds of chemotherapy and then another scan. If it shrinks another 50%, we'll do more chemotherapy, but if the amount of shrinkage starts to decrease then the tumor should be at a point where I can have surgery.

I also wanted to thank everyone for the prayers, thoughts, gifts, cookies, food, time and patience. I realize that I have been blessed in this situation and I know it's because of all of the prayers that have gone up on my behalf.