INDIANA UNIVERSITY CONSULT

Written by Jodee McCabe    

Wednesday, 25 June 2008 02:12 PM

First of all, let me apologize for the "test" email.  That was a mistake.  I'll try to not repeat it. We have just returned from Indiana University Medical Center and our consult with Dr. Theodore Logan.   He differs in opinion (from the oncologist here in Cincinnati) about the treatment of  Dan's brain lesions and feels quite strongly that they should be dealt with immediately.  He recommends a gamma knife which is radiation that is pin-pointed onto the lesion.  He also seemed to think that Interluken2 was a possibility post radiation when the oncologist here did not seem to think so.  

The  risks involved and the side effects are so great, though, (for the Interluken 2) that Dan is not big on the idea, even though for the small percentage of people for whom this works, it is by far the longest remission.  We are going to be praying about this....IS this something we should strongly consider?  It involves a week in intensive care, a week out, then another week in intensive care.  After two months a CT scan to see if there is any response.  If there is, then a month later it begins again.   Apart from those points, the prognosis and treatment options were the same.   

The other two meds we would consider ALSO have significant side effects and are not pleasant but Dan seems more willing to try one of them.  B/c none of these options offer much in terms of results, we are going to Zion, IL to visit The Cancer Treatment Center of America.  They are not known by and not endorsed by ANY of the doctors we have spoken with so far.  As a matter of fact, the moment we mention the word, "wholistic", they all seem to react with a glassy stare.  While it could possibly be nothing more than a placebo-like treatment, I feel we have nothing to lose in investigating it while moving forward with the recommended medical treatment Dan feels he can tolerate. Even after re-reading this, I'm not certain it will make sense to many of you.  

My brain is feeling a bit numb (again) and even with both of us having been there, asking questions and listening and taking notes, we barely get it. We meet with Dan's oncologist again tomorrow and will try to make some definitive plans to begin treatment, hopefully starting with the gamma knife.  If there are any new, major developments, we will let you know. so....Please keep praying for us....for clear minds, for ears to hear and eyes to see God's leading, for strength to face each new challenge, for peace in the midst of turmoil and uncertainty, for courage and wisdom in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others, and for Christ's love to fill us and overflow to those around us.If it is in His will, we would so love for Dan to be completely and miraculously healed.  But we want MORE than that and boldly approach God's Throne and ask for it.  Ephesians 3:14-21 says it all.  As Paul prayed for the Ephesians, please pray this for us: 

Ephesians 3:14-21

English Standard Version (ESV)

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whomevery family^[a] in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.