Welcome to Round Two of my Prostate Cancer Treatment

Again, my purpose is to:

1. Ask you to pray for me
2. Encourage you by sharing what God is teaching me

On Thursday, 11/12/2009, Anne and went to see my Urologist, Dr. Shitutani. He told us that I still have some small cancer cells either totally within my prostate or just outside; not in my lymph nodes or bone marrow for which I am so very thankful!

He believes that the next course of treatment is to shrink and starve my prostate. This will be done by eliminating Testosterone [male hormone] via the following:

1. I am to take Casodex [pill] for 14 days. This I began on Friday 11/13. The possible side effects are enough to scare the CANCER out of me!! I praise God that so far I have had no side effects
2. Take a series of injections. I received the 1st injection on Thursday 11/19. I will receive another one on Thursday, 11/24 and the final one in 6 months
3. Continue to monitor my PSA level which is now 43 and should be near zero

Of course, I assumed that my 39 External Beam Radiation treatments [2/3-3/30/2009] would totally eradicate my Prostate Cancer; I would be home free and clear.

Here is another situation that I cannot fix, manage or control by myself.

It is clear to me that God is going for a deeper level of surrender, dependence and obedience in my heart. He is doing this by bringing me to another place where I am out of control and in desperate need of Jesus alone. He is allowing this in order to build more of His Holy Spirit into my heart.

Therefore, please ask God's Holy Spirit to daily remind me that I need to TRUST Him in new areas and a deeper level than ever before. May He alone receive glory and praise as I continue on this journey with Him.

NO CANCER per latest tests!!!!

Since I last wrote to you, here is how God has been working and answering your prayers.

8/26 I had an abdominal and pelvic CT Scan with contrast. Results: NO CANCER
8/31 I had a Bone Scan. Results: NO CANCER

I am so thankful to God and each of you for your prayer support.

QUESTION: Why is my PSA level at 18.8?
ANSWER: No one knows

QUESTION: What happens next?
ANSWER: Anne and I leave for Cape Cod on 9/8 and we will return on 10/8. I will then have another PSA blood test.

BOTTOM LINE: All praise to God for His amazing power. He is in charge and is doing another deep of building TRUST in Him.
Again, I thank each of you for your continuing prayer support for Anne and me.

In Jesus' AMAZING POWER and LOVE, Tom

PRAY FOR TOMORROW'S APPOINTMENT

Dear Family and Friends,

PLEASE PRAY FOR TOMORROW'S APPOINTMENT

Tomorrow at 1:30 pm I have an appointment with Dr. Pinover, my Radiation Oncologist to determine the next step.

As you know, after 39 radiation treatments, my PSA number should go down.

HERE IS THE STORY regarding my PSA numbers:

11/24/08 3.4
6/29/09 10.10 90 days after 39 radiation treatments
8/17/09 18.8 60 days after my last doctor's visit

While the increase in my PSA number should cause me GREAT ANXIETY, I feel GREAT PEACE AND GOD'S AMAZING PRESENCE. I am not even thinking about this at all.

However, something needs to be done.

Thus PLEASE FOR ME AND ESPECIALLY DR PINOVER, that God would give him perfect wisdom re the next step.

I so appreciate your support through this process.

90 Day post treatment Update

On Monday, June 29th, Anne and I met with Dr. Pinover, my Radiation Oncologist, for a 90-day check up since my last radiation treatment on March 30th.

Last fall, prior to Prostate Cancer Radiation, my PSA was 3.4 which triggered all the pre-treatment testing. Now my PSA is 10.10. Dr Pinover thinks that my Prostate is still inflamed. He said, "I am not concerned, yet." Therefore, I will see him again on August 24th and I will have another PSA blood test on August 17th in preparation for the appointment.

On Thursday, July 2nd, I met with Dr. Shibutani, my Urologist, who confirmed Dr. Pinover’s assessment. I will see Dr. Shibutani on December 10th.

So, how does all this hit me? When I first received the 10.10 PSA test results I thought someone had goofed and put another zero in the mix. I assumed that my PSA would be way down, etc. But apparently not. I continue to be so thankful that God is in charge and I am not.
I feel well physically with no symptoms of pain or discomfort. My energy level is very good and I am very thankful for my good health.

Spiritually I am learning more and more to surrender my heart to God and allow Him to direct my daily steps in many areas. When the pressure is less, my tendency is to revert to self-trust. I know how dangerous this for my heart.

I am also thankful for your continued prayer support for Anne and me as we continue down this road of life together.

What's Been Happening Since March?

Tomorrow, June 1st, will be my nine weeks since my 39th and final Prostate Cancer radiation treatment.

“So, Tom, what’s been going on?” you may ask.

Here’s is my answer:

Anne and I left on Friday, April 3rd, in our motor home for a month. We spent most of our time on St Helena Island, South Carolina. The main draw here is excellent tidal water in which to paddle our kayaks. We had a magnificent time there. The first two weeks I slept about 10 hours each night. I guess the radiation took a lot more out of me than I had realized.

In addition to kayaking, riding my bike and resting, I read or reread the following:
1. Love Walked Among Us by Paul Miller which continues to convict my heart. The book talks about 1. Compassion [looking, listening and then speaking to people], 2. Honesty [speaking the truth in love] and 3. total Dependence on God. Please pray for my heart that God’s Holy Spirit will continue to give me the Desire and Ability to do this

2. Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes. This is also very convicting. I recommend it to all you men out there. Kent also challenged me to begin to read through the entire Bible in one year which I have not done in many years. So I began this journey on April 14th.

3. Worldview Weekend on line course on Christian World View created by Brannon Howse. This is an amazing overview of where we are and where we are headed as a culture, how we have strayed from our Biblical roots as a nation and a deeper understanding of where we are today in our culture.

CONCLUSIONS:

1. I am convinced more than ever that God’s main goal/purpose for me and for you is to conform me in the IMAGE OF JESUS [Romans 8:29] so that the Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22] is more and more evident in my life.

2. The process is painful, humbling and on-going. It’s like open heart surgery without anaesthesia. However, it is necessary. Otherwise I would never change and grow.

3. God’s process is to allow situations in my life which I cannot fix or handle. Thus my heart is exposed, I am driven to repent and cry out for God’s Holy Spirit to come and change my heart. Usually I have neither the power [ability] and very often I don’t even have the desire to change. Thus this must be the work of His Spirit.

4. I must continually pray and confess that I don’t know what is going on or what is around the corner, recognize afresh that God alone owns everything, relinquish control and allow Him to be the boss.

5. Please continue to pray for me in this on-going change process.

FUTURE:

I will see Dr. Pinover, my Radiation Oncologist, on June 29th to review my PSA level and determine what is next.

In the meantime I am learning in deeper ways to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [Psalm 91]

28 DOWN - 11 TO GO!!

I am blown away with GRATITUDE to my HEAVENLY FATHER for His amazing strength, energy, peace and sense of His presence as I go through Radiation.
I am thankful for the prayer support of many of you out there.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

God's Sustaining Presence

23 treatments down and 16 to go!!

I am thankful that God has enabled me to share these PSALM PORTIONS with many patients and staff at Rosenfeld Cancer Center

May this portion strengthen and encourage your heart.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT YOURSELF IN THIS PORTION. HOW DOES GOD WANT TO MEET YOU TODAY?

Here is the COLOR CODE.

My Request to God My Part God's Part My Present Situation

1 Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. 3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. 4 Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave. 14 The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life—men without regard for you. 15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. 17 Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.