Bye Bye Blu

     Yesterday was Mike’s monthly Mayo visit with bloodwork, short exam and a talk with Dr. Molina. After discussing all of his side effects (more than I’ve mentioned) and ALL the excess radiation from CT scans every other month we decided together with our oncologist that Mike will stop the Blu Clinical Trial. The other RET, Tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug that is exactly like Blu got approved so if the tumors start to grow Mike could start on that drug but wouldn’t have to have CT scans every other month. Please do not make more out of this than what I am telling you. Mike feels great except for the side effects and he has NOT had progression, we are not giving up in any way! Mike is tough and could deal with these side effects BUT... nobody knows the true long term risks from a drug that is in a trial. It could actually be causing skin cancer or some other cancer and 1 CT scan is like 600 X-rays and for the trial they also scan his whole upper body causing even more iodizing radiation and possibly other cancers. Mike’s oncologist even said he has had way too many CT scans for someone his age (well above 40-50)! We feel good about our decision to give his body a break and pray the tumors “behave” and don’t grow! Faith over fear!

     I have read and listened to (🧡 Audible) so many books in the last few months and some of my favorites include: Fortitude by Dan Crenshaw; The Coffee Bean and the Change Agent by Damon West; It Takes What It Takes by Trevor Moawad, Plague of Corruption by Judy Mikovits , and Radical Hope by Kelly Ann Turner (her first book Radical Remission was also great) and American Values by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. all are great and only one is about cancer but I have learned a lot from all of them. In Radical Remission and Radical Hope the author says that after interviewing thousands of “terminal” cancer survivors She discovered that EVERY ONE of them did the following 10 things:
1) Exercise-it doesn’t matter what, just move your body
2)Found a spiritual connection
3)Empowered themselves
4)Increased positive emotions
5)Followed their intuition
6) Released suppressed emotions
7)Changed their diet-some ate Vegan, some Paleo, some Keto, just not the typical SAD (standard American diet) not every diet works for every person or every cancer
8) Take herbs and supplements
9)Have/Define a really strong desire to live
10) increased their social support

     We have worked on most of these things for at least the last 9 years since Mikes last  thorocotomy. We aren’t perfect but we will continue to work on these things and trust God to guide us through this scary/crazy world we live in. Dan Crenshaw writes in his book Fortitude that we should all try hard not to offend and try even harder not to be offended... not always easy but something to strive after!

     Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. 🧡

     Don’t give up, Don’t ever give up... has been one of our life motto’s since Jimmy V. said it in his ESPN speech years ago, and we will continue to live by it!

     Be blessed,

     Paula

National Cancer Survivors Day

      It is National Cancer Survivors Day so figured it would be a good day to update the blog and honor Mike as a survivor/thriver for almost 19 years (July). He has gone through so much and continues to do all he can to live with and not die from cancer! We went to Mayo almost a month ago for scans, bloodwork and to meet with oncology. With COVID still going on we had to drive up to Rochester for him to be tested several days before his appointment. His nasal swab was negative so we were cleared for his appointments. The day at Mayo was VERY weird with EVERYONE wearing masks. We even saw people walking around outside and driving their cars with masks on...

     Mike’s bloodwork was about the same and they included a COVID antibody test which was also negative. Dr. Molina went over the CT scans and said all the nodules look about the same. The radiologist report that came to his Mayo portal said one of the nodules measured slightly bigger... not what we wanted to hear. Dr.Molina says not to worry and that he thinks it is inflammation. We go to Mayo again this Friday for bloodwork and to discuss things. I would love to have a positive spin on things but sometimes it’s hard. The side effects of Blu are real and wear on a person and the fact is that this is a trial so nobody knows the long term side effects!

       The world seems like it is burning from the inside out and everyone is so divided and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight! Seems like every day we wake up with a positive outlook only to be met with ongoing bad/sad news.  We really like Tony Dungy and he has a great daily devotional book called Uncommon Life Daily Challenge and his June 3rd bible verse and words seem so appropriate that I wanted to share. Exodus 14:13-15 Moses told the people “ Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptian’s you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “ why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!” Tony says that God doesn’t want Christians to be soft, weak, or passive. Be good at what you are called to do. Don’t let your stress level grow. You can’t control everything. He says you can only prepare up to a point and then you have to step back like Moses did and say “I’ve done enough. The Lord Himself will fight for me.” It’s hard at times to just be calm and trust that He is always with  us, walking beside us and fighting for us, but...that is what we will do! We will continue to have Faith over Fear!

     Just Breathe,

     Paula