Please Don't Squeeze the Charmin: We're Ready!

Today’s entry is more of a summary for the past 30 days, but there are some new aspects to it too.

A lot has happened in these past 30 days. And I’m ready for the next step in the journey. A month ago, we were told that I’ve got HPV positive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the left tonsil. A lumpectomy and tonsillectomy were performed on July 29, 2013 and in my follow-up visit with the surgeon, he advised that I needed to meet with the radiation and medical oncologists to begin preparations for radiation and chemotherapy. As the surgery was, in reality, a biopsy, it is not conclusive that all the cancer was found and removed, hence the need to undergo radiation and chemo. My prognosis is excellent; a 95-96% likelihood of achieving a cancer free future. Having a diagnosis of cancer was absolutely not what Muggy and I expected.

We were quite sure that either there never was cancer, or that our God had already healed me from the cancer. We fully expected a clean bill of health. You know what? We’re not God. I won’t belabor the subject of healing and believing except to say that God is sovereign and we are to first seek His kingdom. My job is to stay focused on seeking His will for my life and being as well prepared as I can be for the challenges at hand.

As I’ve spent the last month considering how I feel about all that I’ve learned and done in the past 30 days, I’ve struggled. I’ve heard that chemo and radiation can be hellish. The medical staff inserted a feeding tube into my stomach that will enable me to maintain proper nourishment over the next four to six months. There may be or will be times that I simply can’t eat because of the treatments. It is, however, vitally important that I maintain proper nutrition to consume an adequate caloric intake to enable my body to heal from the treatments. So, you know what I wish for?

I wish and hope for a miraculous experience with the radiation and chemo so that people will exclaim, “My gosh, how have you been able to tolerate these treatments so well?!” I want to confess that God has miraculously enabled me to tolerate the treatments well. But, you know what? I might not get to do that. I might have a really difficult time physically and mentally with what transpires over the next seven weeks. The interesting thing is that whichever of these two outcomes comes to be, (or other potentialities), God’s grace is still sufficient for me and His grace will sustain me. These are fundamental truths in my life. These are steps toward my recovery that are complementary and alternative to the usual practice of medicine. My spirituality is vitally important to me and it enables me to boldly and with a great attitude approach what is coming in the next few months. (The recovery after the treatments can take quite some time.)

And, as I’ve said so many times before, I am unbelievably thankful for the crowd of friends and family and others who are around me on this journey, offering up comforting words, good thoughts, willingness to help and prayers. This too is an important component of my coming recovery.

I’ve also spoken to my doctors about other complementary and alternative medicine modalities which may be beneficial. I mentioned acupuncture and the doctors said absolutely. All I need to do is find an acupuncturist who can help with treatments of the effects from the radiation, primarily loss of the function of my salivary glands. If anyone knows of an acupuncturist, please let me know. Muggy and I will also endeavor to keep up our practice of yoga exercises and we may teach ourselves a bit more tai-chi.

Today, we hosted a get together with other folks in our lives who have faced or are facing similar We had a wonderful time of fellowship and good food. We are able to share with each other our concerns, our victories and our fears too. And I want to mention here how much I am appreciating the support of our son Erik. He was a great BBQ master for today’s event and he will be taking care of the house and yard (no small undertaking) while Muggy and I are away undergoing therapy.

challenges.

We had some pretty unique fun today too. I’ve figured that if I’m going to lose my hair, eventually I’ll probably just shave it off. In the meantime, I want to have some fun with it. So, Steffy L. and her family joined us. Steffy applied red and platinum highlights to my hair and Muggy had the same done to show support and because she’s facing these challenges too; just a little differently than I am, but difficult nonetheless.