Showing posts with label Radiation Therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Radiation Therapy. Show all posts

Monday, December 10, 2012

Again Give Thanks

The radiation therapy was completed on Nov 30. Each Friday during the treatment period, I had a review with the radiology doctor. By the 4th week, he mentioned that by then most patients would have burning sensation when urinating, or had blood in the urine, diarrhea and so on. Thank God all these side effects did not manifest. I only have tanned/darkened skin around the pelvic area where the radiation was targeted. When the doctor saw me on completion of radiation therapy, he examined me and said there was some skin tear on the backside. He assured me that everything should return to normal after 2 weeks. He said with the completion of the RT, I could enjoy my Christmas!

Each time I underwent the RT, in the tunnel of the machine, I would recite and meditate upon two of my favorite psalms, Ps 23 and 91. 

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
Psa 23:2  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 
Psa 23:3  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 
Psa 23:4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 
Psa 23:5  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 
Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 


Psa 23:1  (大卫的诗。)耶和华是我的牧者,我必不至缺乏。 
Psa 23:2  他使我躺卧在青草地上,领我在可安歇的水边。 
Psa 23:3  他使我的灵魂苏醒,为自己的名引导我走义路。 
Psa 23:4  我虽然行过死荫的幽谷,也不怕遭害,因为你与我同在;你的杖,你的竿,都安慰我。 
Psa 23:5  在我敌人面前,你为我摆设筵席;你用油膏了我的头,使我的福杯满溢。 
Psa 23:6  我一生一世必有恩惠慈爱随著我;我且要住在耶和华的殿中,直到永远。 

Psa 91:1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 
Psa 91:2  I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 
Psa 91:3  For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 
Psa 91:4  He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 
Psa 91:5  You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 
Psa 91:6  nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 
Psa 91:7  A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 
Psa 91:8  You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 
Psa 91:9  Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge-- 
Psa 91:10  no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 
Psa 91:11  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 
Psa 91:12  On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 
Psa 91:13  You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 
Psa 91:14  "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 
Psa 91:15  When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 
Psa 91:16  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation." 

Psa 91:1  住在至高者隐密处的,必住在全能者的荫下。 
Psa 91:2  我要论到耶和华说:他是我的避难所,是我的山寨,是我的神,是我所倚靠的。 
Psa 91:3  他必救你脱离捕鸟人的网罗和毒害的瘟疫。 
Psa 91:4  他必用自己的翎毛遮蔽你;你要投靠在他的翅膀底下;他的诚实是大小的盾牌。 
Psa 91:5  你必不怕黑夜的惊骇,或是白日飞的箭, 
Psa 91:6  也不怕黑夜行的瘟疫,或是午间灭人的毒病。 
Psa 91:7  虽有千人仆倒在你旁边,万人仆倒在你右边,这灾却不得临近你。 
Psa 91:8  你惟亲眼观看,见恶人遭报。 
Psa 91:9  耶和华是我的避难所;你已将至高者当你的居所, 
Psa 91:10  祸患必不临到你,灾害也不挨近你的帐棚。 
Psa 91:11  因他要为你吩咐他的使者,在你行的一切道路上保护你。 
Psa 91:12  他们要用手托著你,免得你的脚碰在石头上。 
Psa 91:13  你要踹在狮子和虺蛇的身上,践踏少壮狮子和大蛇。 
Psa 91:14  神说:因为他专心爱我,我就要搭救他;因为他知道我的名,我要把他安置在高处。 
Psa 91:15  他若求告我,我就应允他;他在急难中,我要与他同在;我要搭救他,使他尊贵。 
Psa 91:16  我要使他足享长寿,将我的救恩显明给他。 

I thank God for these comforting words, as I meditating upon them while going through the treatment, they gave me strength and peace. They took away my cares and all worries as I lay down there in the radiation machine each time.

Yesterday afternoon met with the oncologist. Blood and urine samples were taken early in the morning. After he reviewed the results, he said everything was good. Tumor markers CEA, CA125 and CA19,9 were good. He then examined me. I asked when the last chemo drug could be stopped. He recommended to have another PET scan done to decide. The scan was scheduled to be on Jan 4. Next review with the oncologist would be on Jan 7. He would then decide when to stop the drug. He said pray for good results......Yesterday the drug was prescribed for another 4 weeks, the pump which dispensed the drug would be changed every Monday at the hospital. This particular drug gives minimum side effects, other than carrying the pump, there is no much inconvenience.

I am grateful that this challenging journey would soon be over. Reflecting upon the promise of the Lord when this started, I thank Him and friends and family for taking care of me. It is difficult to put the feeling in words. Your prayers, visits, messages have helped me coping thus far. I am very appreciative of all your kindness. Like my hair that has slowly grow back, it feels like a new life. May you too experience newness as you do kind deeds and send kind gesture each time. May God Bless you, have a great Christmas!








Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The Next Phase

"Mister, you have dropped 3 kg over the past 2 and half weeks, that is a lot!" the nurse exclaimed after taking my weight Wed Oct 17. That was due to the side effects after the 9th cycle of chemotherapy. I was feeling really lethargic, the diarrhea further reducing the appetite. Took a lot of rest, and slept much more too. Then the pimples which showed up during the past few cycles on the face were all over my head. They  bring much discomfort especially when I lay down.

A PET scan was done earlier on Oct 16. Reviewed with the oncologist on Oct 17. He examined the blood and urine test reports, and said they were excellent. The PET scan results showed some anomalies over the liver area, after further check with the radiology doctor who performed the RFA, he thought it could be due to that procedure. Another scan will be done in 2 months' time. Meantime, there is no cause for concerns.  One of the chemo drug would however, still be administered for as long as possible, this had proven to be helpful in the radiation therapy. This is dispensed through a pump, which is connected to the catheter line 24/7.  I could also move away from the high protein diet taken during the chemo treatment period. The oncologist said the toughest period was over, I should feel very happy. Thanks to God for seeing me through this trying period, and grateful to many who send prayer heavenwards.

Thur Oct 18, I was at the hospital again for the preparation of radiation therapy. A CT scan was done, with all the necessary markers done on the body. A newer form of radiation therapy called tomotherapy would be used for the next 5-6 weeks, for 27 sessions. The first session was done on Oct 23. The procedure lasted about 15 minutes. Basically I laid down on the radiation machine, a scan was done, then the nurses would make some necessary adjustment, then proceed with radiation. There was no sensation whatsoever. Before I realized it, the whole process was completed.




So the appetite has return to normal, I could eat well again. Pray that there is minimal or no side effects from the radiation therapy.......Trusting in God the Almighty for He is good all the time, His loving kindness and mercies cease not!



1Pe 2:24  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 
彼得前书 2:24  他被挂在木头上,亲身担当了我们的罪,使我们既然在罪上死,就得以在义上活。因他受的鞭伤,你们便得了医治。