The good, the bad and the ugly

Over the last few weeks I have suffered with a stomach virus, which I believe, set me up for a bout with pancretitis. The pancretitis hit me about a week ago and has progressively worsened to the point that I have missed a few days from work. Most notably, last Friday when I was to host the most important meeting for our Cath Lab at PHB. Dr, Harrison took over my role and the meeting proceeded as planned, but I truly wish that I could have been there. While the meeting went on I was in the Emergency Room being treated with IV fluids, pain medicine, muscle relaxers and the like. I have not eaten a "meal" since last Thursday. Part of the treatment is to avoid food for a few days and allow the stomach and pancreas to heal.

While in the ER a CT scan of my abdomen was obtained which demonstrated that the mass that was seen on a CT scan done back in January which measured 1.6cm x 1.5cm was still there. This was missed on the MRI scan done in April. I cannot deny that this finding has diminished my joy that I felt when we thought that the cancer was gone. I do still revel in the fact that the cancer has not grown any since January. I thank God for this and ask for His strength as I continue to battle the cancer and pancretitis that now wrecks havoc on my life.

Tomorrow I am to meet with the GI Doc and discuss doing a ERCP to directly visualize the Villi which were the first indication that I had a problem. Now with the diagnosis from the CT scan I will have a different perspective on what will be shown on the ERCP. I was so hoping to find that my cancer was all but gone and my chemo treatments would soon be at an end. I now know that this is not to be. Still, I know that God is with me. I have nothing to fear. All will turn out as it should.

Keep me in your prayers. The war is not over.
Your brother in Christ,
Mack