Treatment

A big day today, my first chemo at 6:45 A.M. sharp this morning followed by my first radiation treatment at 8:45 in Maplewood. I was most nervous about the chemo, seems a lot of persons have a negative reaction, but everything went smooth. 2 Huge 'horse' tablets and a glass of water and your done.

The radiation, at least today, was a non event. They strap you to a table and hold your head under the custom mask they made for me last week. Then this large disk circles around your head zapping you (just some noise, no feeling). I just kept my eyes closed and prayed, so it went well. The machine they use is state-of-art (they focus the bean in all 3 axis so as to hopefully destroy only cancer cells not the good stuff.

Afterwards, I asked the doc if we could review the pictures of my brain so that I had a abetter understanding of what was actually going on. It is kind dof erie to view; especillay my brain that has a huge chunk missing where the main tumor mass was removed. Today's radiation was focused on the edges of this area to kill off lingering cancer cells in that area. This cycle will repeat every week day for the next 5-6 weeks at which time radiation will stop. Chemo will also stop for a while, but restart after a week or so at a higher level, or at least that is the plan now.

Caren and I continue to pray for courage through this time,and praise the Lord for his promises and faithfulness. We also remain so humbled and thankful for His grace and mercy upon us, and for you, our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Merry Christmas to all,

John