September 29, 2011

Here's the latest from Rich..

I am still mostly at home due to lack of energy, but since last Wed. (9/21) I have been able to muster enough stamina to get to the office for 2-3 hours a day, in a largely unsuccessful attempt to make a dent in the backlog that has accumulated over the past five weeks. 

My next surgery (to reverse the ileostomy) is scheduled for Oct. 11, so only 13 more days of bag problems!  But the surgery will knock me out of action for another couple of weeks, after which I start a four-month round of strong chemo (which may also keep me out of action).

According to the doctors, last month's surgery was highly successful as far as the rectal cancer goes.  All of the lymph nodes surrounding the tumor were found to be clear of cancer.  If the tumor was the only cancerous growth, I would be cancer-free with no risk of recurrence, according to the doctors. 

However, an MRI conducted a few days before the surgery shows a hot spot in my left pelvis, and my oncologist says that this is likely to be cancer.  We are not going to deal with it until after the four months of chemo, which may have an impact on it.

Because of my being out of work so much, and the likelihood that this will continue, it looks like my law partnership will end, which is another downer.  But the Lord will provide.

I continue to thank God for the great outpouring of prayer from so many people -- it is very humbling and encouraging. Cheers, Rich