make Jesus famous

I received an email from a friend who has been praying for me and my journey. He said something that I really resonated with. He said, “I've been praying for you. I am confident Jesus will be made famous as you go through your cancer.”

I thought- ya, that’s what I want. I want Jesus to be famous- for Jesus to get all the glory for what He does and how He walks me through this journey. So, as you pray for me and my healing, please pray that Jesus will be made “famous” in and through the journey.

 We went to Minnesota to see our daughters and grandchildren this week. It was the first time I was able to have face time with my girls since the cancer returned. It was good for me to see them doing well with it. Two of my grandchildren made me a personally hand decorated journal, because according to them, “Papa needs a journal to process his illness”. Wow, what a gift. It sits on my desk so I can jot down feelings, thoughts, God moments any time I want to or need to. Pray that God will use this journal powerfully as I walk this out.

Thanks for caring and praying.
PT

You may email any questions, comments, or God stories to pastor@oakbrookgb.com

Got the shot

Ouch- I got the shot yesterday (4-18-13).

I received my first hormone injection yesterday. It’s a testosterone suppressant and was injected into my belly- ouch. The good news is that it’s a “time release” sort of deal; it’s a 6-month dose. No more shots for 6 months.

The male hormone testosterone feeds the prostate cancer cells; so the treatment/medication works to suppress the manufacturing of testosterone, thus suppressing the growth of the cancer cells.

After two months we’ll add the radiation treatment to attack the cancer cells directly. Test have shown that the hormone treatment makes the radiation treatment more effective, that’s why we’re waiting to start the radiation. The radiation treatment will be 5 days per week for 7½ weeks; beginning mid to late June.

 I continue to find that with each connect with my doctors things become more and more real. This is a bit of a struggle for a guy like me who has never been sick. Prior to my prostate surgery 8 years ago, I hadn’t been in the hospital since I was 17 following a car accident. God has always given me good health and physical stamina. So this is taking a bit to get my head (and my heart) around; especially when physically I feel great.

I continue to trust Him as I learn to walk this new path. One of the Physician Assistants on my team has this verse printed on her biographical information; “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13)
I certainly agree with her.

Thanks for caring and praying.
PT
You may email any questions, comments, or God stories to pastor@oakbrookgb.com

The Journey Begins

Thanks for caring and praying,

Last Friday (4-12) we met with our radiation oncologist and received the biopsy results. The biopsy confirmed that the lymph node cells are a low grade prostate cancer. The good news is it’s prostate cancer, not some other form, and it’s low grade (a 6 on the Gleason scale) Which is the same as 8 years ago when I had my prostate surgery.

The treatment of choice in my case is hormone treatment (a testosterone suppressant) along with radiation treatment to the pelvic area, including the pelvic lymph nodes.

I will receive the testosterone suppressant on Thursday (4-18).

The radiation treatment will probably begin in mid to late June. The radiation treatment is more effective following a couple of months on the testosterone suppressant. The radiation treatment will be 5 days a week for 7 ½  weeks.

You may email any questions, comments, or God stories to pastor@oakbrookgb.com

Recent lesson- each time I see/interact with my doctor the more real the journey becomes. This is good because then I engage and embrace the journey, which helps me open up to my family and friends.  

 

 

What's this?

I’ll  be using this “blog” to communicate my medical journey. Last Sunday (4-7-13) I shared with our Oakbrook family that my prostate cancer has recurred (I had prostate surgery 8 yrs. ago) I was symptom free until my physical in February, when my PSA was elevated.

We’ve done a bone scan and chest x-ray, both were clear. So we believe any cancer cells are in the pelvic area where the prostate was. On Monday I had a needle biopsy of two suspicious lymph nodes on the side of the pelvis. We’ll get the results later this week and determine what treatment steps may be next. The treatment is not very involved and won’t be debilitating in any way; it won’t affect ministry, golf, grandkids activity, hair loss, or anything else.

We want our Oakbrook family to know that Susan and I are doing fine; we don’t see this as a big deal. God has much more for us to do. We’re walking this out in faith with our church family. We have set up this “blog” to communicate updates, God activity along the path, and lessons being learned as we walk this journey together.

 You may email any questions, comments, or God stories to pastor@oakbrookgb.com

Thanks for praying and for walking this out in faith with us.