End Of Year Cancer Update
As I sit here precariously close to the year 2010, I must admit there were a few days of 2009 when I did not think I would make it this far. Cancer is a beast and a pain; yet with the help of my doctors, my friends, family and colleagues, my three kids, my amazing wife, and — most of all — my God I have been able to fight these many battles.
I had a PET scan yesterday and received the results today. There is some good news and some bad news.
The good news is that there is still no metabolically active cancer on my liver or on my spleen. This is good because that means the lower dosage of the easier-to-handle chemo regimen I have been on for the past couple of months is maintaining the dormancy. This is also good because active tumors on the liver will do me in with a quickness.
The bad news is that there is “excessive and progressive” cancer in my peritoneum. Again, this is the membrane that holds my organs and intestines in place. It is covered with a “caking” of cancer — in other words, too much to count. The implications of this are several. First of all, it should be noted that peritoneal mets are rarely fatal. They are aggressively annoying, though. As they grow, they interfere with the normal digestive process causing massive pain and possibly resulting in digestive detours via surgery or colostomies. Because of this, people with peritoneal cancer can still die — they die due to depression from dealing with the pain or they die due to malnutrition because they give up on eating. There are four basic ways we can deal with this cancer:
1. Do nothing. Basically we can sit tight and manage the pain and wait for it to become unbearable.
2. Chemo. This is essentially useless; chemo is IV-based and very little blood flows through the peritoneum.
3. Surgery. It is hard to find surgeons willing to undergo this difficult, invasive procedure. It would involve cutting me completely open and scrubbing this caking of cancer out. It is not possible to remove all of them and it is almost a guarantee that the tumors will return in that area eventually.
4. HIPEC. This is a very extreme procedure where hot chemo is injected into the abdomen, the patient is rolled back and forth for several hours and then the chemo is removed. It can take 30-60 days to recover from this and it is similar to surgery: it is rarely possible to remove all the tumors and it is almost a guarantee that the tumors will return in that area eventually.
As far as the options above, we are going to be talking to some surgeons to see if surgery is an option. Chemo will be suspended indefinitely until we know more about surgery — chemo and surgery do not play nice together. Until then, I am simply managing the pain.
All this to say that the medical prognosis is not good. I will have cancer in my abdomen for the rest of my life. I will continue to experience great pain — even greater than I currently experience, which is hard to believe. It may sound hard to believe that someone could die of depression because of the pain, but it seems plausible to me. I am trying several different methods to deal with the pain; when I find one that works, I will share it. Right now Valium seems to be taking the edge off.
So, medically it is not looking good. The cool thing is that, like I said above, there is no medical way to completely remove and cure peritoneal cancer. Which means that complete removal falls in the realm of the supernatural, i.e. a miracle. So that continues to be my prayer. It should also be noted that I am extremely grateful to be walking, talking, working full-time, enjoying my food and living a relatively normal life. So I have some pain that I must deal with. I am excited about continuing to be productive and my prayer is that I continue to give glory to God with my life.
To God be the glory!
Zac, I’m sorry for the news and you and your family will continue to be in my prayers! I appreciate keeping up with your updates. You have such an amazing spirit!! May God continue to be with you and miracles be performed!!
Zac…
This is an incredible testament to your love for and trust in God, no matter what the outcome is. A lot of people “say” it, but you prove it. Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us who are cheering you on from the sidelines. You are an inspiration.
Well Zac. It’s good to hear an update on this. I’m happy to hear your good news and saddened by your bad news. Sorry that you’ll be dealing with pain for awhile. That cannot be fun. I don’t worry about you in the depression category. Everything I’ve read from you since last May has led me to believe that depression will not be an issue for you. Stay in good spirit. And I will continue praying for you.
Hang Your Body on GOD’S Word That Is FAITH! I’m Faithing with You for Your Deliverance. “Be Healed in Jesus Name!”
NewSpringer here…we have been praying for you so often, and will continue to pray.
as i was reading this post, when you talked about the hot chemo, i realized that in April of this year my 62 year old neighbor had surgery and hot chemo for the same cancer. i am praying like crazy for your family that God heals you, as he has Miss Ann.
pain can be very depressing and, well really difficult to deal with (keeping it clean since this is your blog and not mine). my aches and pains are not life threatening, they are life altering.
praying and trusting.
Dear Zac & Mandy,
I am Ashley’s mom. I have been following your journey with updates from my daughter. I am so sorry to hear of your pain. I know God loves you so much even though when you’re going through this it does not seem like it. The hard part is we can’t see what God sees. I have put you on our church prayer team, and I also gave your name to a church that does healing services so they are praying for you as well. We don’t know you personally but we love you guys and keep you always in our prayers. God upholds you with his right hand. My prayer to him now is for him to minimize your pain and a miraculous healing. If you ever need to talk or have anyone to pray with you PLEASE contact us. Ashley can give you our number.
Blessings,
Richard & Debbie Zabel
Zac, your attitude is a miracle in itself and an inspiration to many as already attested by the previous posts. Perhaps this is God’s purpose for you to be that inspiration and challenge to others to love the Lord their God with all their hearts, souls and minds. I’ve always found comfort in Psalm 61:2: “From the end of the earth will I cry unto you, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” We are praying for the Lord to do the miraculous in your life.
You have a lot to live for man. Keep the faith.
Zac, you may not remember us but my wife and I served as dorm parents for the Baptist Dorm at the Academy. Chris, Jeremy and Jon are our sons. We will join you in praying for a miracle!! Blessings! Mark
Continuing to pray for you , Zac.
Zac,
I am a friend of you dad’s with a mutual passion for BBQ… we are praying for you as a family and as a church. Thank you for cooperating with the Lord in the midst of your suffering… this is a rare gift of God’s grace that you are giving to others. 1Thess 5:23-24. Heb 13:20-21.
Zac, your faith and attitude are an inspiration to us all. We are praying for you and the family. Love you, Aunt Sylvia
Zac, be assured that my prayers are with you and also all your family. You are fortunate to have so many caring family and friends. It is great you have such a positive attitude and that is great and it would be good to keep that.
With much love and many prayers,
Your friend, Elmer
Zac, we are BBFI missionaries in Ecuador and have been praying for you and your family ever since we heard from your Mom and Dad about your cancer. Your testimony is awesome and I know God is using you in so many people’s lives. We pray for daily grace to live the life God has for your right now, and we pray along with so many others for God to show Himself to be the God of the impossible and heal you completely. He raised my mother up from a brain aneurysm over a year ago and I know He can do it if it is in His plan. Faith and prayer move mountains!
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Praying for you and yours daily with much love, Zac.
Laurie
Hola Zac, es muy posible que ni me recuerdes ni sepas quien soy, pero eso no importa. Te conoci en el Ecuador una vez que me quede con tus padres. Estoy orando que Dios haga SU obra en tu cuerpo. Oramos por tu familia. Bendiciones y sigue adelante con esa buena actitud!!!
It’s hard to know what to say, Zac, but the update is very much appreciated and it’s good to know where you are with this. You are strong and brave and amazing to still be tackling everyday life the way you are in spite of the nasty things going on in your breadbasket. I love you, brother.
Zac,
Know you have some prayer-warriors interceding on your behalf in San Diego. I know your dad, uncles, etc. well and we have been praying for you for some time. We shall continue. I wish the report had been all good news, but as you mentioned, now it is up to God. He will get all the glory for healing when it comes.
Keep us posted.
Jim Baize, Midway Baptist Church, San Diego, CA
Zac, don’t know if you have considered alternative therapies, but you might check out Dr. S. Bryzinski’s website. There are some good reports coming out about people who have been to his clinic. I continue to pray for God’s amazing grace to be continually poured out on you and your family and asking Him for a miracle.
Zac:
Veo que las cosas aun no estan como esperabamos… Pero seguiremos esperando y confiando en Dios… Estare orando por tu salud, pero sobre todo por fortaleza y sabiduria para que puedas seguir adelante con esta dificil prueba… Dios te bendiga mi amigo.
Hola Zac, tienes que confiar en Dios, el siempre hace las cosas con un propósito y se toma su tiempo, no el nuestro…seguiremos orando por ti mi familia y yo, bendiciones…
Thank you everyone (gracias a todos)!
Zac, thanks for the update. You’re authentic and very insightful to help the rest of us. Man, you’ve got our love, prayers, and support. Daniel Dennis, Judy and I are leading others here at Thomas Road to keep you in prayer. You have a beautiful family and you have our thoughts and support.
Ken Adrian
Thomas Road Baptist
Phoenix, Az.
I’m in that miracle praying thing with you! And yep, to God be the glory for all He’s done and all He will do! Praying for the whole fam!
Zac -
Leonard Smith shared your story briefly via email with me. I can’t begin to imagine what this medical dilemmamust be like, but I will pray.
Zac,
You leave me totally without words. But you leave me with many, many prayers.
I so love you all.
Zac,
Know that we are praying for you and your family!
Tim Downs
Cote d’Ivoire / Belgium
Zac,
Our prayers are with you and our prayer is that you will feel God’s presence each day.
You are a brave young man!
Bill Harvey, Mexico
Zac,
I will pray for you and I also believe, and have seen the Lord do some amazing miracles throught the power of prayer.
Tim Taylor
Zac,
I am praying for you!!! Thanks for sharing your situation. May God be with you during this difficult to undergird you and your family!!!
Zac,
I read about your journey through cancer through the bbfi website. I don’t know you nor you know me; but we are Brothers! I am praying to our Heavenly Father that He will heal you for He is Jehovah-Rapha (The Lord who heals)! AMEN!
God Bless!
Pastor Mark Pilger
FBC/Winamac, IN.
Zach,
Your and Mandy’s visit to Boise was one of the highlights of our year. Even though our converstation was brief, your insight, encouragement, and offer of help was God timed in the process that we are going through.
Having just found out about your cancer, we will make this a matter of prayer in our staff and church. Thank you for your willingness to share what you are going through. It allows us to pray specifically and boldly on your behalf.
Jeff Love
Boise, Idaho
Hi Zac… Your uncle, Richard, asked us to pray for you months ago. Our small group and church have lifted you up. I love your heart for God’s glory and know that He will be glorified in you.
Your words in the middle of such great difficulty are amazing.
Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. 1 Peter 1 v 7
Your faith is already shining bright.
Billy
Milton Keynes
England
Zac,
Just wanted you to know that there are people out there who are praying for you. I haven’t had the opportunity of meeting you but know of your parents. Please rest assured that we here at First Baptist Church in Washington, Michigan are praying for you.
Jere. 33:3
Your friend because of my friend Jesus,
Ken Burdett
Pastor FBC
Zac,
Although I have never met you, I wanted you to know that we (our church) are praying for you in Winter Haven, FL. Prayers from around the world are going up in your behalf and we are trusting God to heal your body.
Jesus said,
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
It is very apparent that your trust is in the Lord. Through all of this you have been a wonderful representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. In spite of your difficulties, you have put your trust in the Lord. We will continue to pray for you and your family.
Mark & Denise Hodges
Winter Haven Baptist Church
Winter Haven, FL
Dear Zac, I don’t know you but I just got a BBFI News email asking for prayer for you which thing I have done and will continue to do. I am in complete remission with Multiple Myeloma. I am a member of First Baptist Church of Wright City in Texas. Before I was diagnosed with MM I was researching unconventional cancer treatments and came across one that is very promising for solid tumors. I spoke with Christine Benham, Office Manager of the Leonardis Klinic in Germany. This is where I would likely have gone but the hyperthermia treatment is not efficacious for plasma cancer, which is what MM is.
Hope this helps and I would be sure to get in touch with them. May God bless you and keep you.
Dave Wickham Job 13:15b Hab 3:18
Zac, I pray the Lord’s presence with you would be so very real that you can feel His hand on you as well as the power that flows from Him. God bless you in 2010. Ephesians 3:14-21.
Zac You are in my Prayers. I ask God to heal you. You are a blessing to all. Jeremiah 30:17
All at Thomas Rd Baptist Church. Phoenix are Praying for you. God bless you.
hi zac
i pray for your faith in Jesus the Son of God to never leave you.
and i pray for God’s hand upon your soul, your spirit.
to God be the Glory
to God be the Glory
in Jesus.
amen
We have a BIG God and I will be praying for a HUGE miracle for you. Lots of love from our family.
Hi Zac… Your uncle, Richard, asked us to pray for you months ago. Our small group and church have lifted you up. I love your heart for God’s glory and know that He will be glorified in you.