Diagnosis positive. Prognosis negative.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on Pam’s situation. There was a natural sigh of relief once we learned that Pam was finished with chemo. The rush to keep everyone up to date didn’t seem quite so urgent.

The week before last was Pam’s diagnostic week. After several imaging tests including the always-harrowing MRI, the results were in. No trace of cancer anywhere! Hooray!! Needless to say, Pam was ecstatic hoping we were finished with treatment, except for the ongoing immunotherapy.

On Monday last, we met with the surgeon to review the results. Yes, there was no trace of the cancer that could be seen. But no, surgery is still required. Major bummer. Major.

The phrase used was “pathologically dead”. The “pathological” term refers to an actual pathologist examining the tissue. So … on Wednesday, September 12th, Pam will undergo surgery and have tissue and one lymph node removed. I think that during the surgery, the tissue will be examined to determine whether the cancer really is gone.

And then, the surgeon suggested radiation is the follow-up procedure. Pam is really wrestling with this probability. We have the reports of several who have undergone radiation and it hasn’t been pretty. I would ask for prayer about this and what the right thing would be to do, should radiation be prescribed.

But meanwhile, we’re incredibly grateful for the effectiveness of the chemotherapy, and the likelihood that the surgery coming up will be minimal. We continue to be grateful too, for your loving prayers and support. God is good!