Let's Talk BBQ
General => General Discussion & Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: stalag on April 18, 2023, 02:27:24 PM
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I have bad news at this point. The MRI is back and confirms the tumor in the lower abdomen. The CT scan says that there is another tumor in the upper abdomen as well and I am to be getting another CT scan this time of the chest to try to determine if lung involvement is seen. My friend I saw April 13th and 14th had some oxygen concentrators and it helped me feel better. This is NOT a good sign. I also have had enough of the pathology report come back and with other data from the doctors, I was able to follow the Mayo Clinic cancer staging chart for GIST tumors. Following the data charts (there are two and both needed to be followed), both the charts say that I am in the final stage (end stage) with current available data. Still trying to get the right specialists to determine if there is an effective treatment course at this juncture. However my treatment is complicated by the fact I am highly allergic to corn products and this allergy DOES NOT follow the typical IgE antibody route that we have medical counters for with example drugs of Benadryl and epinephrine. Because of this the only way to deal with this is avoidance. Because the FDA has declared corn as generally regarded as safe (GRAS), 99.9% of the drugs currently in use either in production of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or in the excipient ingredients (chemicals used to package the drug) either exposure and/or direct derivative of corn is present in the formulation. I actually looked up the drugs to use for a GIST tumor which according to pathology is what I have. ALL of the drugs WITHOUT EXCEPTION are fermented by genetically modified yeast grown on corn AND in addition contain excipient ingredients derived from corn. In a weakened state due to cancer this can likely kill me before the treatment becomes effective. Due to the spread of the cancer and the fact GIST tumors don't form a center of mass but instead forms fingers throughout the tissue surgery is out of the question, and radiation is likely to kill because the sites are not localized.
I shared the above as these are the choices I am facing at this juncture. My sister put it best when she said "you are in the hands of God now.". I am likely going to do palliative care only and let the cancer take it course at this juncture. I am not looking to extend life except God intervenes!!!
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I am so very sorry to hear this. My prayers are with you and your family. You are wise to have faith in God. Salvation for eternity is in Jesus. Tonight I will add you in my prayers. Stay strong.
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Sorry to hear this. Tough times, but keep on truckin. Enjoy what you have and those you care about. While it is a grim outlook, there have been studies that positivity has helped improve quality of life. Not a cure or a treatment plan, I know, but positivity may reduce any pain or suffering. Stay strong.
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We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers
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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
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Major update!!!
Somewhat better news. The testing ruled in as much as it ruled out things. The surgeon I saw on Thursday seems to consider the cancer operable. Ruled out was metastasis to the lungs and upper abdomen. It seems that the GIST tumor arose from the large intestine which is beyond rare. GIST tumors are connective tissue tumors and are not from the lining of the large intestine so would NOT have been spotted during a colonoscopy. There is still further testing to make absolutely sure but at this point there may be a possibility to remove the cancer.
This still does NOT mean that things will be easy. I am allergic to corn and most of the new to market drugs are produced by fermentation of genetically modified yeast grown on corn. There is NO POSSIBLE WAY to fully separate the pharmaceutical API from the underlying corn matrix that feeds the yeast. Given this chemotherapy may still be a major stumbling block. Also for the same reason I even though I am diabetic I am also untreatable for that condition for the exact same reason. Diabetes is a complication as that makes infection control much more difficult as the high sugar feeds bacteria! Diabetes has also caused me severe edema which is a second complication. I am getting ready to long term water fast to deal with this very issue as it is the only way I have to bring the sugar down and run the edema off. This will take at least 20 days and if I can hold longer it will also drop my weight. I would like to do a 40 day fast to prepare but that is extremely difficult.
Cleveland Clinic has pulled a team together and is on my case expressly due to what I outlined above. I have never up to this point had any surgery of any type that involved major intrusion into my body due to the corn allergy alone. I cannot emphasize how risky due to the complicating factors surgery entails. There is a good chance that I might not survive recovery even if the surgery is successful. I still need prayer and am still as my sister put it "You are in the hands of God now!".
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God is Good
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Praying for you. During your fast, make sure to ask the Lord for His help.
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You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Art
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My 45 yr old nephew went in for a colonoscopy a month ago, They did a biopsy of a tumor they found and it was malignant. The removed about 12 inches of his colon and they were able to get all of the cancer. Further tests and biopsies confirmed the report.
I hope that encourages you, sir.
We serve a mighty God!
I agree with PMillen...
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God is with you always & please look into natural medicine working with your doctors at the same time.