**UPDATE 4/29** In Need of Prayers

[HndrdPrcnt]

Thanks to everyone for your kind words. We are getting ready to leave for the appointment right now. I will update you here and on my homepage later today.

[aprilisis]

I have just read all of your posts for the first time today. You are such a strong person with great faith. You really are an inspiration. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts. I hope you make a full recovery.

[murphy1]

Was thinking about you and your family over the weekend. Will continue to pray for you.

[HndrdPrcnt]

First of all, thank you to everyone for your continued prayers and support!! God is hearing them and He has given me so much patience and calmness that it is amazing!

So, we are home from the doctor's appointment and as I sit to update all of you with what we learned, I sit here in utter confusion. Was it good news?? bad news?? I am really not sure in all reality. However, all I can really do is just give God praise for every single day that I have here on Earth with my family and friends. There are no guarantees on life, not for any one of us. So we should all be giving thanks for our every day.

The Cat Scan results came back inconclusive. What this means is that while the blood tests have indicated that the cancer is back, the cancer is not currently large enough in any part of my body to pinpoint its exact location.

So now what? We asked the same question and Dr. Bold gave us a few options. First, he recommended that we get a second opinion. He said that he recommended that we meet with a medical oncologist to discuss the possibility of chemotherapy treatments. While the endocrine tumor is not known for reacting to traditional chemotherapy, there are new drugs that have shown some positive results. The chemotherapy may actually be able to kill off any and all cancer that is in my body thus extinguishing the need for a second surgery.

The second option is to wait for 3 months and to re-run the OctreoScan and CatScan tests to look for any changes in the results of those tests. With that they would then have a better feel as to where the cancer is growing and would be able to surgically remove it. However, Dr. Bold did say that until they can clearly see where the cancer is growing and they can see some sort of mass, he would not feel comfortable for going in for any kind of exploratory surgery.

So, while it is good that the cancer is not large enough to be seen or operated on, the bad side to that is that the cancer can be spreading throughout my body without being large enough in any one area to be seen. The concern there would be that when it is big enough to be seen that it has already attached itself to a number of organs and this is why the idea of chemotherapy was brought forward.

So, we will meet with the medical oncologist next Monday to see what she has to say. Dr. Bold did say that we did not need to stay within the UC Davis system for our 2nd opinion, but both Jen and I feel so comfortable with this hospital and all of the people who have cared for me, that we would not want to leave the UC Davis team.

If I have learned one thing through all of this, things don't happen all that fast when it comes to finding out results and getting things taken care of. I am the type that just wants to find out what is wrong and then get it fixed. However, this is a bit more complicated and so I guess we had just better get used to the hurry up and wait game.

Please know that it is your prayers and God's promises that is getting me through all of this. I so appreciate all of your prayers and support!

[offwego]

I'm not sure about good or bad...but I do think it's much better then some news could have been.

And your trust in your Dr's is a good thing too. (as of course is your faith in God).

We will all keep praying that they will pinpoint the cause.

[crazypoohbear]

I am in awe of your attitude while you are dealing with all that is happening.
I pray that God continues to walk with you through this ordeal.
We will all continue to pray for a positive outcome.

[BrerSchultzy]

I am in awe of your attitude while you are dealing with all that is happening.
I pray that God continues to walk with you through this ordeal.
We will all continue to pray for a positive outcome.

I couldn't have said it any better. You are amazing, and your faith is inspiring. My prayers are with you.

[Christine]

John, you continue to be in my prayers, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to keep us updated, because we are all thinking of you!

[MNNHFLTX]

Thank you for the update, John. You have some important decisions to make and I can only how difficult this all is for you and your family. You will continue to be in my prayers and thoughts.

[Chescat]

John, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I was out of town this weekend and was just scanning the boards but not really looking. It is good news that there are not any masses and it is good when the doctors want to be aggressive and ask for second opinions.

The UC Davis doctors are very good. I had a close friend that had cancer in her brain about 10 years ago. They did wonders for her for a while when others thought she shouldn't have made it that long. She did really like her doctors there.

I have found through the years that its the frame of mind that people have that sustain them. A friend was diagnosed with cat 4 breast cancer and given 6 months. She made it 6 years and had quality of life the whole time. She took a tour of the US and visited each state and all the Canadian provinces that border US. We laughed. She grabbed the dog, had her pepper spray, cell phone and and older car and just went. We said you afraid something will happen. She said what do I have to lose!

She has always been an inspiration to me that frame of mind a lot of times does make the difference. You sound a lot like her and I believe your faith and family will get you through whatever it is that's ahead of you.

[pogo]

John, The one thing I've learned in life is that God speaks to us every day. He walks with us and has a purpose for us. You've taken the time to listen and with all the love around you, you will prevail.

You are in our prayers every day my friend.

[ElenitaB]

John, just wanted to let you know that you and your family continue in our thoughts and prayers!

[mtown71]

I am in awe of your attitude while you are dealing with all that is happening.
I pray that God continues to walk with you through this ordeal.
We will all continue to pray for a positive outcome.

Same goes from me!!!! I will continue to pray for you & your family.