from Sprint to Marathon - 15 May

Sprint to Marathon?
in the words of my doctor, we have moved from a sprint to a marathon now.

The chemotherapy of Cisplatin/Gemzar are given twice in 3 weeks, its effectiveness is targetted at aggressive concer cells that are moving and multiplying. After 2 cycles and the CT scan show about 10-20% reduction, another 2 cycles later an additional 5%, nett 25% of the original cell seen on 18 Feb has been reduced.
The conclusion, we have addressed the aggressive cell, similar to the infantry foot-soldiers moving about out in the field, we have done aerial bombarment and placed mines everywhere(chemo of Cisplatin/Gemzar) which will eliminate them.

The remaining cells are term less aggressive, similar to infantry soldiers in bunker, arial bombardment and mine fields will do less damage, since they are under cover. We now switch to a new medication of Alimta, this is designed to seek out the ones that are under cover, but it will also kill any aggressive cells too. The regime is one dose in 3 weeks, but since the cancer cells are less aggressive it does not spread quickly and are in hiding. It is now a marathon race, where fast sprint is not an option but a quick and steady pace to the end. I am hopeful that this marathon will bring recovery, and I have full confidence in my doctor (HL Kong).

Jo and I had hoped for a fast elimination of the cancer cells with chemo, was probably not inline with what God had planned. Time to move on and start on this marathon journey and continue to look for God's plan for us. Reconciliation was the message I was sharing when I started this journey, it was 'lost' over the past weeks, but it came back, jolted into my memory again during a homily this week and I need to start holding up this banner again.

Shalom and looking forward to Pentecost