Decisions, Decisions...

Cliff had a CT scan on Monday, September 25^th.   As a side note, Cliff’s oncologist who we loved and trusted left Huntsman a few months ago and is now practicing in Arizona at City of Hope Hospital.  Yesterday we met with the new oncologist to find out what this recent scan showed.  Here is what we found out.

First, Cliff’s cancer counts have not changed from three months ago, which is great news.  Unfortunately, they found another spot on his right lung. The two original spots have also increased in size.  With this finding we would have thought his cancer counts would have risen.  It is a little puzzling.  

Although the oncologist thinks we are looking at cancer, we have not been able to confirm this because the spots have been too small to biopsy.  Now that they are growing the oncologist feels like we could confirm this with a PET scan in December.  A biopsy could be problematic so we are going to wait it out and do the PET scan.  

Having cancer requires you to make a lot of choices. We are given the medical information and some opinions and left to decide which one is best for us.  In June, when Cliff’s oncologist told us that a spot on his lung had grown and that his cancer counts had risen, we were sent to the lung surgeon. At that appointment the surgeon was ready to do surgery.  We decided it would be best to wait.  We are now so grateful that we didn’t go ahead with that surgery because here, three month later, there is another spot in a different lobe. This could have resulted in additional surgery.  Cliff’s new oncologist is suggesting chemo/radiation, which we would rather do.  Removing an entire lung could be a game changer for Cliff.  Someday we may have to make that decision but for now we would rather not.  

Most people are surprised to hear that Cliff has had/has cancer.  He looks and feels healthy, continues to work and does pretty much everything he did before his diagnosis.  For that we are grateful.  As always, we appreciate your love and prayers.  We are blessed beyond words to have such amazing friends and family in our lives.  We will continue to fight with hope and faith.  Until December!  GO FIGHT WIN!

P.S. If you follow our blog you know that Cliff and I were going to hang glide in the Swiss Alps.  This has been on Cliff’s bucket list for many years. What an adventure!  I highly recommend it if you get the chance.  Attached is a picture.