It’s been a while since we posted an update, and honestly
were hoping that we wouldn’t have any news to share, but we do.
Cliff had a CT scan last Friday, June 9th and we
met with his oncologist on the 12th.
During that appointment, we learned that one of two nodules on his right lung
has started growing, having doubled in size in the last three months. We’ve known
about these since the beginning of Cliff’s diagnosis and were hoping they
were common nodules that we all have in our lungs. Unfortunately, Cliff’s CEA
count (blood test) has also risen, which is another indication of a problem.
Today we met with a lung surgeon and he thinks we are
looking at cancer too, but the only way of telling is by removing one or two of
the lobes in his right lung (you have three lobes in your right lung).
At this point, because the nodule is so small we have decided
to wait for three months to see if it grows anymore and to see if Cliff’s CEA
count continues to increase.
The surgeon has given Cliff some exercises to do during the
next three months to prepare his lungs for surgery. One of them is to walk two to three miles per day.
I guess that’s one way to get our patooties in gear!
Our hope and prayer is that even though this looks like
cancer, it turns out to be nothing but a common nodule. If you are the praying
type, we sure could use some prayers on our behalf. In the meantime, we have some fun things
planned for this summer, including hangliding in the Swiss Alps, and we intend to keep a smile our faces and a positive
attitude! Pictures to come :)
