Update - Visit with Dr. Kim, the surgeon

Today we met with Dr. Julian Kim in Chagrin. He explained that surgery is the best option at this point. Surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday morning, December 4th. They will concentrate on the area under Steve's right arm. The incision will be around 5 or 6 inches in length and will require a one night stay at University Hospital's main campus in Cleveland. He will go home with a drain tube still intact under his arm and will keep that in for 1-5 weeks, depending on his recovery.

After the surgery is completed, we have been told Steve will start on Interferon. We will find out more information about this on Monday at the appointment with the new oncologist from University Hospitals. From what we have learned so far, the Interferon IV treatment involves a 3-4 hour visit every day (Monday through Friday) for four weeks (I wonder if Christmas Day counts, too??? ;0) . Then, for the following eleven months, he will have to have injections three times a week, possibly at home. Of course, this information could change once we go to doctor #5.

Thank you to the First Baptist Church Youth for their generous offer to rake our leaves. If only we had known a few days sooner!!! At this point, our hope is that what is left of them will fly into the neighbors yard!!! ;0)

How to Post a Comment on this Blog

Hello all. This is Steve and Patti's daughter. My parents told me some of you want to post a comment, but can't get it to work. Here's how you do it:

Below each of our posts, you will see the word "comments". Click on that word. Simply type your comment in the box including your name. Then type in the word verification (the funny crooked letters that keep spam from being posted) and select the anonymous button so you don't have to create a Google account. It's that easy!

New Appointments

We now have appointments with the surgeon, Dr. Julian Kim, and the oncologist, Dr. Henry Koon, from University Hospital. Our appointment with Dr. Kim is tomorrow morning at 9:30 and we hope to leave that appointment informed about the surgery and knowing the time, date, and place. Our appointment with Dr. Koon is Monday at 8:45 a.m.

As soon as we have any more information, we will definately let you all know.

Thanks for your support and prayers and support.

Monday Oncologist Visit

Today we met with Dr. Peleg at the Ireland Cancer Center in Southwest General Hospital. Dr. Peleg said that he cannot find a lesion that would be associated with the cancer in Steve's leg. His best assessment is that Steve has Stage III Cancer. At this stage, surgery to remove the lymph nodes under the right arm and the cancer in his right leg is a possibility. He told us that he would choose University Hospital if he was the one having the surgery.

He is arranging a meeting for us with two surgeons at University Hospital, Dr. Julian Kim and Dr. Henry Koon. It is likely that our meeting with them will take place next Monday. At this point it appears the recommendation may be surgery, then radiation therapy followed by Interferon or another type of immunotherapy.

We really do appreciate your prayers and support.

The results are in

The Lord heard our prayers and the doctor had the results faxed to his house. Heather and Patti left for a little while because they didn't expect to hear the news, so Steve was home alone to receive the news.

Here's what the doctor said. Steve has Stage III Melanoma. The cancer has spread to all of the lymph nodes under his right arm and to the area where he has phlebitis in his right leg. The doctor said it will require very extensive surgery performed by a specialist. Because Patti wasn't home at the time of the call to be the second set of ears, we don't know if we have the full details. If there is more, we will post it later tonight.

We have an appointment on Monday afternoon with Dr. Peleg, the oncologist. At that point we will find out the exact course of action and make further plans.

We really appreciate your prayers.

Still No News

So, I guess if you are gonna get cancer, you should try to make sure it's not around the holidays or the radiologist or doctor's vacation days!! We are hoping that, by our appointment on Monday at 2:20 p.m., we will get the news from the PET scan. Our last appointment with Dr. Peleg was two hours long, so we may not be able to post til later in the day. Heather, our posting expert, is going to be at the appointment with us, but she will get the information up as soon as she can.

Thanks again for your prayers. NO MORE PRAYERS FOR PATIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!! We feel like we've had enough of that character trait testing since October 2nd when we first found the lump.

We are working on our sense of humor right now and a 1000 piece Civil War puzzle that Steve and Stacy bought for us. Heather and Steve started the puzzle last night after the gang left and Patti is cross-stitching a project for the first granddaughter. If you check the ticker at the bottom of the blog, we are down to 97 days til she is due.

Have a great day.

Happy Thanksgiving to our Family and Friends

In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB)

Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)

PET Scan - no answer til Friday

The PET scan was Tuesday at 2:15 p.m. We were told we would have the results by now, but we still haven't heard. Patti called the doctor's office today at 1:30 and they said the test is still in processing. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday we will not get the results until Friday. We will post the scan results as soon as we have them.

I am not sure what the Lord is trying to teach us here, but I have a feeling one of you prayed for us to have patience. So who was it? Fess up!

Thank you for your continued prayer. We appreciate you.

A note from Steve and Patti's daughter

So many people have shared with me that their church is praying for my parents. I have decided to include a list on their blog to encourage them. So, if you look under the picture in the right hand column of this blog, you will see a list. If your church is praying and you aren't on the list, post a comment under this note and I'll add you onto the list.

- Heather Marie

First Oncologist Visit

Patti and I met with Dr. Peleg, our oncologist today for the first time. He said the CAT scan looked excellent but we are waiting for the results of the PET scan. He won't have any final decision for us until he gets the PET scan results.

The PET scan will be tomorrow at 2:15 p.m. This test involves a radioactive sugar substance injection into the veins. The doctor says the sugar attaches to the cancer and is the radioactive part makes it visible on the scan. The doctor hopes to have the results tomorrow night or early Wednesday.

We meet again with the oncologist next Monday. Treatment is set to start Monday afternoon. He said the treatment will be very hard and aggressive because the cancer is very aggressive.

Our spirits are up and we appreciate your cards and encouragement.

Some GREAT News

This morning we got a phonecall from Dr. Ludwig, the family doctor. He had the CAT scan results. According to the scan, his brain is clear, the chest only shows a spot under the right arm where the original 4 tumors are (3 tumors now - one was removed), and there is a spot by his liver. They are not sure if the spot by the liver is a metastatic melanoma or a cyst. They will know more specifics after the PET scan results. The PET scan is tomorrow and the results will come later.

Keep praying. We will find out more from the cancer doctor later today.

Praise the LORD!!!

Sunday night

Tomorrow afternoon we will see the cancer doctor for the first time. So far we have been dealing with the family practice doctor and the surgeon that removed one of the tumors. We are hoping to get the results of last Thursday's CAT scan and more information on a plan of action.

Tuesday Steve is scheduled for a PET scan which will give us even more information on what stage the cancer has reached.

It means a lot to us that you took the time to visit our blog. After our visits to the doctors, we will be posting the information here, so be sure to check back for more updates.

We really would appreciate all the prayers we can get.

Our new blog

Heather felt it was a good idea to start a blog so we could share information with all of you without repeating ourselves. Blogging is a brand new experience for us, so it may take us a little bit to get used to it. So, please be patient.

If you would like to leave a comment for Steve or me, please feel free to do so. It will be emailed to us, so we will get it.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement and for coming along with us on our journey.