Yesterday (Tuesday) was mom’s 55^th day of treatment on Tarceva. She went in for blood work, CT scan, and appointment with her oncologist to review the results. Everything went smoothly; no reactions from the CT contrast, normal lab test results, free parking, and … Good News! The doctor compared the previous CT scan to yesterdays and is pleased with the results. In the 2 months she’s been receiving treatment the results have been better than expected. And the tumors are shrinking! The doctor stated that the full effects of Tarceva aren’t usually expected or noticed until the 6-9 month range. The doctor seems encouraged and is anticipating continual improvement in symptoms, yet does keep reminding us that this is a lifelong disease and lifelong treatment. “It’s treatable, but not curable.”

What does that mean now? Scans indicate that the Tarceva is working like it should so far, so mom keeps taking it, we keep praying that God uses it to work through her body. She still struggles with symptoms of having lung cancer, and the side effects from the Tarceva. Her hair is thinning, she has an itchy rash, and acne. She is experiencing fatigue, exhausted often, and sleeping a lot. The fatigue is a combination of side effects and symptoms. Her body needs rest to fight the cancer, and the Tarceva is rough on her body, resulting in being tired. Mom continues to experience a lack of concentration and difficulty multitasking, making it difficult to stay focused. She’s noted a few times that it takes her double or triple the time to finish some tasks or daily activities, that used to be a breeze, pre-cancer. For those of you who have ever met my mom, she is a whirlwind of productivity, often doing about ten things at once, with a special kind of ease, so this is especially difficult for her. She is coping with having to find a “new normal.” The doctor and his team have equated the difficulty focusing and slower processing to “chemo brain.” The medication is working, but because of the dose needed to fight the cancer, it takes a toll on her body.

So she is, true to form, focused on being grateful and praising God for the benefits she continues to receive. She is focused on conveying that her journey with cancer is God’s journey, gives Him the glory, daily, hourly, minute by minute, second by second. She told me she wanted to be sure not to leave the doctor’s office without telling him that he and his treatment team have been in her prayers, and she’s requesting others to pray for them as well.

We wanted to make sure you’re not just listening to me, but my mom wanted to express her appreciation and gratitude in her own words.

We find it hard to convey our gratitude for the continued commitment so may of you have made to lifting me and my family up to the Lord for healing, strength, and encouragement. From our family’s church members in North Carolina and the west coast, our co-workers, friends, church members, and family in Christ all over the world. We express our heart’s deepest appreciation for making your prayer commitment in our behalf. There is power in prayer! I keep thinking that the side effects are small prices to pay for what the alternative would be without this treatment, or on another type of medication. I’m choosing to focus on what God has done and praising Him for His continued grace. I am thankful to the scientists, bio-med lab experts, and many thousands of medical experts that labored to research, create and market this drug 10 years ago that is saving my life today. At this stage we are greatly encouraged and continue to praise God the cancer is responding to the treatment and for the positive results received so far. There is no other way to explain this response to the treatment, than to constantly give praise and thanksgiving to our Great Physician, Creator, and Sustainer of Life. We give the credit to Jesus and keep our eyes on You, Lord!”

Mom has recently been listening to and encouraged by an artist, Kristene DiMarco, and often remarks that she feels the songs are somehow written just for her, and just at the right time. It seems appropriate to share this one with you entitled, Eyes on You Lord.