Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Getting Ready for Chemotherapy
Health update. The first appointment with the medical oncologist (cancer doctor) is Wednesday October 3. Chemotherapy will take place at Grand River Cancer Centre in Kitchener afterwards. The incision from surgery is now completely healed. I have been able to increase the length of my daily walks. The “Care Partners” nursing care visits at our home will soon be discontinued.
What are we doing? Both of us have been off work since the surgery. I am still on staff with Outreach Canada and am officially on medical leave of absence. Dianne has not been taking shifts at Christian Horizons during the last six weeks. Convalescence kept us at home for awhile, but we resumed attending worship at our home church on September 16. We are now able to respond again to our e-mail and phone calls. It’s been really great to have some visitors in the last couple of weeks. I actually hit some golf balls at the driving range this past weekend. A recent visit with our grand-daughter, Emilie, has been most therapeutic for us both!
Our outlook? The first few weeks of this experience were a time of shock, numbness, and coping. Dianne and I have now reached a stage of adjusting to “plan B” (a path we didn’t envision or expect). There are moments when we do wrestle with feelings of loss and anxiety. But there are two dominant ideas we are thinking in the typical day:
“Every moment matters.” – they are precious opportunities to be enjoyed, savored or utilized.
“It’s early!” (a favorite saying of our son, Paul) – it’s too soon to be certain of what will happen in the future.
Being realistic, but hopeful is the way in which we are approaching the coming months. Your amazing support as our family, friends, and supporters has made it easier to see the bright side of the road ahead. And speaking of that, I’m climbing back onto the treadmill today. It will be my first little “jog” since this whole adventure began!
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Planning for Treatment
Recent Progress. Since my surgery for colon cancer on August 12, my focus has been on recovery. The goal has been restoration of health and strength in order to proceed with subsequent cancer treatment. I’ve gained back part of the weight I’ve lost and have been able to do a couple of short walks each day to get some exercise. My appetite and level of stamina has improved. But I still need a lot of rest.
Report on the Cancer. On Tuesday, Dianne and I met with the surgeon who removed the tumor from my colon. We received the news that the cancer is “stage 4”, or spread outside the colon. We also reviewed the lab report which showed that, fortunately, the cancer cells are of a slower growing type. I am now in the process of referral to an oncologist (a cancer doctor) at the Grand River Cancer Centre in Kitchener where I will begin chemotherapy in the near future. I am facing a serious fight to beat this, but am hopeful to someday be a cancer survivor!
Cultivating Hope. In the last couple of weeks, there have been a number of things that have nourished a positive outlook toward the future …
Reading Lance Armstrong’s biography, “It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life.”
A continuing deluge of cards, e-mails, calls, meals, and short visits that have expressed love, best wishes, and prayers for recovery.
Opportunity to take a couple of walks per day with family members and close friends in the sunshine and fresh air.
Help with many practical matters medical, financial, and logistical from family, our home church, and our ministry colleagues from both Outreach Canada and Christian Horizons.
I admitted yesterday to my family doctor that my emotional “default setting” is optimism and joked that, like a lot of guys, I usually think that I’m invincible. She humorously agreed, “Some types of delusional thinking are not harmful.” As a small act of defiance against the illness, I took the next of a series of travel shots that I had started earlier in the year. After all, I may be well enough to travel internationally in 2008 …
What’s Next? I’m looking forward to …
Continuing to get stronger for the treatments ahead.
A special gathering (September 10) to pray for me planned by the leadership of our home church.
Meeting with the oncologist within the next two weeks to make decisions about the treatment plan.
Getting started on chemotherapy.
Contact? I still don’t have the energy to respond to all the voice mail or other messages. Thanks for your patience while I’m getting back on my feet. I still need lots of rest. But I am starting to make contacts and hope to talk with many of you in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, you can always drop me a line at ggibson@outreach.ca.
