Cancer Metastasis
I went to the doctor today to discuss the results of my PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan. If you recall, it was noted after my surgery that I have at least two more cancer spots on my liver. This means that the colorectal cancer I had has metastasized to other parts of the body. The purpose of the PET scan is to discover any other cancer tumors in my body. The scan took place yesterday in a mobile unit. I was injected with radioactive fluorine isotopes mixed with sugar and exposed to gamma rays that detect the sugar-eating cancer cells.
The results are in: I have six cancerous tumors on my liver and one tumor on my spleen. The good news is that nothing has been detected in any of my bones or my lungs. The spleen is a pretty good place to have cancer, all things considered. The liver is a little more worrisome. I also have a mutated KRAS gene meaning I will have “standard” chemotherapy. The drugs I will receive are FOLFOX and Avastin. I will have up to 12 chemo treatments — one every two weeks.
Chemotherapy for me starts in two weeks. Next week I will be having outpatient surgery to install a port under my collarbone. That will be used for chemo administration. Chemo should take about 3-4 hours every other week. It will also include a fanny-pack that I have with me for two days every treatment. The normal side-effects of chemo — hair loss, nausea, skin rashes — are expected to be minimal in my case. I will likely experience issues with touching and ingesting cold things — apparently it will feel like an electric shock — as well as issues with neuropathy which means I may lose feeling in my fingertips. In the case of the latter, typing may become difficult, the prospect of which saddens me.
In a couple of months I will repeat the PET scan to determine the success or failure of the chemotherapy. I will also have various CT scans and constant lab work on my blood over the next several months. I still may need surgery to address the tumors that exist, but that will not be until after chemotherapy has been completed.
All this news is not terribly good, but it is not terribly bad either. There is still a general hope that I will have several more birthdays. I continue to believe in the power of God to heal me, as is His will: Instantly, slowly, or ultimately. My prayer is that God will be glorified in all this. He will be glorified if I die; He will be glorified if I live through this. I hope that anyone and everyone who reads this and who meets me — for the rest of my life — is better off for having done so: Not because of me but because of God in me.
Thanks to all of you who have prayed for us, who have encouraged us, who have helped us. We look forward to that continued support. I am also eager to see some of you in person over the next several months. Stay tuned for further updates. I love you all.
Hey Zac,
Always better to know what the enemy looks like than to wonder, I say! I am praying for God’s will in this season of your life and that He be glorified through your faith in Him. Now, on to those goodies I have promised, to fill you up with calories…you like chocolate?
this is doable totally doable and hearing a plan is encouraging. god is being glorified by your attitude and by seeing how many people love you and are praying for you. he is not, however, by wearing a fanny pack. they just aren’t cool man.
If I may be so bold as to re-word the sentence “I continue to believe in the power of God to heal me, as is His will: Instantly, slowly, or never.” To “I continue to believe in the power of God to heal me, as is His will: Instantly, slowly, or ultimately.” Forgive me if this is over stepping what is proper… But that’s what I do! Love you Zac!
God is so pleased with you!
You’re a beautiful soul, Zac. And a strong one at that. Thank you for letting us share in your experience and know that my thoughts and prayers are with you…
Yes, it is better to know exactly what you are facing regardless of how bad it seems.
I am hopeful for you, Zac, and I’d also like to welcome you to the brotherhood of chemo ports. I’ve lived with mine (actually had a hickman installed, then removed, then reinstalled) for nearly two months now and have another month or two to go. They suck, but it sure makes the administration of drugs and the removal of blood a lot easier… you will also like how quickly and efficiently pain medication works when it enters your body (hey, you have to find some bright spots in this very dark ordeal).
Zac,
It was good to hear that there is still hope! I’m glad that you seem to be optimistic about the effects the chemo will have on the cancer. It would be very weird to not feel the keys on the keyboard though… praying that doesn’t happen. God is good in that he has gifted us with the knowledge to combat this type of thing.
Again… it was a pleasure to meet you briefly last Sunday! I really do see God in you in the way you present your situation to us here on your blog and in how you carry yourself in person. You were a gracious host to Julia and I and I am better off for having met you! You said the answer to anything I need is “yes”… and the same goes to you too buddy.
God bless!
One of my favorite sermons of Mickey’s was about this: The world give us facts relating to our circumstances an life, but God gives us the Truth. Now you have more of the facts, but it’s most comforting to know that you believe in God’s Truth for your life, that he has a plan and purpose for you in all of this, and that that plan is a GOOD one. I praise God for this window into your life, this has been most inspiring.
Zac,
Thank you again for taking the time to give Graham and I the tour of NewSpring! We are both so glad to have had the chance to visit and experience worship there in person. I am keeping you in my prayers, and am hopeful that with God’s help, you will be able to recover fully and be an example of staying faithful and trusting in the Lord in the face of extreme difficulty. ~Julia
Zac,
I found you on Twitter via Perry Noble. I attend Marathon Church in Greenville. I lost my Daddy to cancer in 2006.
I want you to know that I will be praying for you and your family every day. What an inspiration you are. May God touch you and give you comfort during this time.
Jennifer
Hi Zac,
Maybe not the greatest results but better than we were fearing. You probably know my mom had breast cancer three years ago, had a lumpectomy and chemo and radiation and is cancer free. Your grandfather also had a tumor removed 17 years ago and has been cancer free ever since. It’s all in the Lord’s hands as you know and your positive attitude and testimony through your experience will go along way toward encouraging and uplifting others, as well as helping your body fight the tumors. A merry heart is a good medicine and it appears you are doing well in keeping a merry heart through your ordeal. You never know what other areas of service this may bring about for you. The Lord has a plan for your life. Keep trusting. God bless you. We are praying for you.
[...] I had my second PET scan. I did this once about three months ago and found out I had six tumors on my liver and a single tumor on my spleen. Since then, I have had [...]
[...] Last I heard, I had five small tumors on my liver, one larger one on my liver and a single tumor on my spleen. [...]