The news has finally arrived...well, most of it anyway.
The tumor is not malignant...PRAISE JESUS!
They cannot call it Benign either. Let me TRY to explain.
There is evidently a scale for these kind of things.
Benign.........in-between........Malignant
Andy is in the in-between. This means that although his type of tumor cannot be called benign, it is def. not malignant. His has the capacity to become malignant over time. This is not bad news...actually it is not new news. The doc informed us in the hospital that this is most likely the case for most low grade tumors...that although they are not malignant, the longer they grow and mature in the brain, the more likely to become malignant.
So, IT (the tumor) has been sent off for some special DNA testing. This test should come back in a week or so. Basically it will tell us one of 2 things...whether there is further "treatment" that needs to be done or not. If it comes back "type A" than they can give Andy some Chemo treatments to help kill any cells that might remain...and then watch him, well, forever, for regrowth. If it comes back "type B" then they do nothing and watch him forever for regrowth.
So, really this is not bad news...this really is not even new news. We knew he was going to have to be watched...by this I mean scheduled MRI's, EEG's and CT scans....for the rest of his life. The only difference is he might have to take a couple mo.'s of chemo, and if it grows back, it has the capacity to become malignant. ( I think I have said that about 400 times already in this post...sorry)
The tumor has been there for about a year. It's recurrence percentage is about 15%.
I am doing OK with the news, well, actually I am doing fine to good with the news. The Captain is a little disappointed. I have tried, once again, to be a cheerleader and let him know, that really, this is not bad news, and is not all that different from "the best news" one can hear after they have had a tumor dug out of their brain....we are on a good course. God has carried us this far...he is not about to plop us down in the middle of nowhere without some help or guidance. Eyes on the Savior...
Thanks for all the prayers. I promise to keep you updated.
I read that baby Stellan came through surgery! Keep praying for the little guy!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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9 comments:
Wow. Lots of medical stuff in blogs of late (yours and Mckmamas) but God is definitely carrying everyone through! Glad to hear the...goodish news:) Hope it stays good and elevates to even better.
Captain!
he seems to be in good spirits, as do you! still prayin' for the captain. Look to the Shepard for strength! He'll carry you both through! much love & many prayers from sunny seattle,
krista lynn
Thank goodness they found it when they did! I hope his recovery goes smoothly and that no chemo is needed.
That's great news. The fact that they discovered now BEFORE/if it were to become malignant, they can snag the SOB in the toosh right away. I'm glad to hear recovery is going smoothly and can't wait to hear that he's feeling a 100% again!
LinMarie
Rejoicing with you both!
Thank you, Savior God!
What a huge relief!
Hugs,
cindy/indy
Okay, so I am glad to hear the mostly good news, right? I also wanted to leave some verses that I am praying for you both this week:
Psalm 20 -
1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
2 May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion;
3 May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah
4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose.
5 We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
And on a completely unrelated note, I am glad to hear that I am not alone in the "sneezing" area.
So glad to hear the - as Gret put it - *mostly* good news!
I am also praising the Lord for Stellan's surgery although it sounds like they still have a very long road ahead of them....
twingi
Hi... I found your blog a few weeks ago (from Kelly's Korner I think). As I read your story, I could hardly believe what I was reading... you have endured so much... more than anyone should have to endure! As a wife and mother, my heart simply breaks for you and at the same time, I rejoice with you in knowing that your baby girl resides in complete and total happiness and that you WILL see her again! Some things in life are just simply so unfair and almost unbearable to withstand. Thank goodness this life is only temporary!
I was on pins and needles waiting for your biopsy results (I have a family member who had a brain tumor and so they scare me to death!). I was ELATED to see the title yesterday! And although it sounds like there is more testing that will need to be done, the good news is that they are AWARE of it now and can keep careful watch over your sweet husband from now on! I will pray that the results from the further testing will show that he will not need any chemo so that he can be as healthy as possible when you welcome your newest blessing!
I don't have anything profound to say or great advice to offer you... I just wanted to say hi and let you know that I am praying for you, rejoicing with you in your good news, and crying for you over your loss.
God Bless you and your sweet family!
Danielle in Kansas
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