27 August - Alimta cycle 6 today

Hi everyone, it ha been wet and raining heavily the past few days. When I complained while sending Nicole to school this morning at 6:45am, Jo said Thank the Lord, else we will be suffering with the haze. This was how the day started.

Got to Dr Kong's clinic this morning and everyone there was cheerful, met a few people. There were 2 that were new. When I was taking my weight (86.4kg I have put on so... much) and my blood pressure, overheard Jo asking the nurse how the blood test result were. I had hoped that it would be a dramatic change, as I had asked for this morning but it was not.

All the other blood test reading, red blood cells, haemoglobin, white blood count, platelets, etc are all doing vey well. They are in the good normal range. However the cancer markers have increased at a very slight rate from the last reading. The CEA has moved to 18.4 from 16.8 and the CA125 to 64.3 from 50.1(the prior 2 readings were in 32.7 which was in the normal range).
Reviewed with Dr Kong the result and the x-ray still show that the cancer is STABLE. From the xray, though it is hard to tell, my sister Rose (now can read xray like the doctor), did find 2 small cluster that appear to be smaller. Dr Kong wanted me to stay with Alimta and will continue to monitor before using the oral medication unless I start feeling worse, CEA marker reach 30 or CT scan show it is not controlled. Reason is that Alimta is a slow acting drug, (like a marathon runner vs sprinter), try to give it mileage and act. When we move from Alimta to Oral, we cannot move back to Alimta. Cancer cells build a resistance to the medication over time, the oral medication is the trump card we are holding now. Need to use it wisely.
The oral medication works in 60% of the cases; in these cases there are some that are sustaining, others are slow improvements and in some tremedous reaction that the cancer cells are killed very quickly.
I will continue to pray and put my faith in God, my Father. I ask that you help me do this.
I have to be very grateful to God for what he has done and how he has covered me during my chemotherapy treatment. The few people we met this morning started chemo about the same time as me, all have improved and down to a less frequent chemo treatment. They however have developed numbness in the finger and toes, which is quite common. One of the lady was 'puffy', she may have deep vein thrombosis, had to go for a scan to see if there was a clot. For them I pray they get better and I am thankful to my Father he has spared me these 'scary' side effects. I am not sure how I would be if these had affected me. I still have a half inch area on the right half of my lower lip down to my chin, that the nerves are still not recovered from the wisdom tooth removal. It still has that numb feels when the dentist gives you an injection before he extracts or does major drill to fix a cavity. It will go away over time, the nerves are not damaged, can still feel a sharp/numb object, one or 2 objects in the area.
This reminds me; Had a lecture from the oncologist today, ALWAYS CALL him before you do any surgery even minor or major dental treatment. I was God protected. Due to the Chemo medication you are on, there may be very adverse side effects, also the platelets may be low and blood may not clot, Dental treatment carry high risk of bacteria infection. So from now on, I will have to insist the doctors call my Oncologist and he agrees before doing ANY surgery.
I thought the other doctors will know what to do, but I am special and need to be treated in a special way.
In all, the blog is long. I did not plan on this. expected to be a few lines only. I ws disappointed that there was no miracle, but all the other events and people I met today did show me that God has been good to me and He has covered me with His precious Blood and Love.

26 August

Hi everyone, have been quiet for awhile. Have been tired and a little busy with preparation for PRE and Family Life meeting. Went for my 3 weekly blood test and X-ray this morning. I do hope that the results are positive. I have a 9:20am appointment with my oncologist tomorrow. I do pray that the results are positive and that the Alimta continues to be effective. Will update after my review tomorrow. Ask for your prayers.

Holy Spirit church will start it's Parish Renewal Experience(PRE) tomorrow till Sunday. Ask that you pray for the success. Also ask that you pray for Fr. Huan and the presenters, that we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and not be overly concern about how our sharing will touch or move them. Let the Spirit guide and touch those who needs to hear the message. Please pray for Jo and myself, we will be presenting on Thursday night and Sunday afternoon.

Thank You.

19 August - Wisdom Tooth

Hello everyone, I am recoverying well. Started on solid food today, over the past 2 days I had porridge and ingredigents blended into a cream soup consistency and ate with a straw. I thought it was pretty novel, easy way to eat and don't have food over the wound. The swelling at the right jaw is still pretty obvious, hope it doesn't turn blue-black, else everyone will think Jo punched me !!

The silent retreat by Fr. Gino was very good, following in the footsteps of Jesus; Discipleship. I would recommend that you attend the Conversion Experience Retreat first and follow-up with this silent retreat. As for me it is time to get back to acting on the inputs. The mfocus has been the same and consistent since the Holy Land pilgrimage, the past 2 retreats has given me direction in the how-to, and very interestingly it is also consistent with Fr. Terence's follow-up session inputs! Praise the Lord!!

As Jo has mentioned in the last blog update, we will be making our own pilgrimage to Lourdes. Leaving on 4th Sept night and coming back on 11th Sept. evening. We will be spending all the time there in Lourdes, Sat 5th Sept Afternoon till Thu 10th Sept noon, 4 full days and 2 half days. We will definitely think of all my prayer warriors and light a big candle for you. If anyone has any special intention, write a letter and seal it in an evelope and pass it to either Jo or myself. I really like to thank everyone for their prayers for us.

I will be going for my Xray, blood test and chemo on Wed/Thurs next week, one week before I leave for Lourdes and I do desire that the test the week after I return will be one of Thanksgiving and Testimony. In any case, God has been Good and I will continue to praise and thank Him for his providence and goodness.

Pete had a good retreat

Hi Everyone

Some of you may be wondering why you did not hear from Pete after his Silent Retreat. Pete had a good retreat and came back refreshed. Well, God has a sense of humour too.. He decided to take Pete on another 5-day retreat.

Pete had his wisdom tooth surgery this afternoon! It was a really deep wisdom tooth which erupted during the retreat. After much tugging and pulling, the 'Wise" tooth came out. The bleeding took a while to stop and there is a big swelling on the right side of his jaw.

Please pray for his quick recovery as we are due for Lourdes 4-10 September.

We thank you for your prayers as we journey to ask for healing. If you do have special requests, please feel free to drop us a note in the box next to the blog. We will remember all of you in Lourdes.

Yes, the Test Results were wrong!

Dear Prayer Warriors

We did a retest for the blood tests and the Kidney and Liver functions which were initially high are now in acceptable range! Praise the Lord!!

However, we still ask that you storm Heaven for the Cancer Markers which seem to have gone up this time. Pls pray Pete as he makes his Silent Retreat with Fr Gino tomorrow through Sunday.

We are also planning a pilgrimage to Lourdes early September, we ask that you pray for our safety and for Pete's complete healing.

Blessings and Love to all.

Jo

6 August update

Hi, first hope that everyone is able to make time today for the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Let us not stay up in the mountain where we received our spiritual high but make the effort to come back down and share our lives and experience with others who may need our help. Also make time in our day to Listen to the voice of Jesus.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here!Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

Did a CT scan and blood test yesterday, reviewed the result with Dr Kong this morning. The CT scan do not show much difference, the cancer is stable and not spreading. There are some tumors that show 'hole' in the middle which is a good sign, the tumor is dying and collapsing. The blood test showed the cancer markers has increased, it also showed that my kidney function was not good and my Uric acid was high. However I think these are lab errors, I don't have any gout pains, I feel fine and in the past the kidney function data was wrong. I had another sample taken and submitted to the Novena medical center lab. Will wait to see if the results are correct or confirm my suspect the readings are in error.

I feel fine and I am not worse off now compared to the past, been able to do more than 7km walks now, which in the past has been less than 5km. I thank God for the graces he has poured on me and my family and no reason now to doubt that he wants me to get better from the cancer.

I still ask for your continued prayers for strength to continue to put mytrust in the Healer and also to do his work. Jo and I have 'volunteer' as animators with another 2 couples and 3 singles for the PRE at Holy Spirit at the end of August. We are greenie, never presented in the PRE before or attended PRE in the past! We are going into this with pure faith and trust that the Holy Spirit will inspire and guide us in preparations in our sharing. It is a leap of faith, only 2 weeks to get everything done! Had our first meeting last Sunday and working session last night. Everyone in the team is so charged, ready to walk in faith even when we are not sure what the path lies ahead. Pray for us.

Will give another update tomorrow when I see the blood test results.