Dear Praying Friends,
So much has happened
since our email of two weeks ago. Let me try to bring you up-to-date.
First of all, thank
you for the wonderful e-mails, cards and phone calls and assurances
of your prayers that we have received. There are simply too many to
respond to individually. Please know that we appreciate the encouragement
and kind words and are simply overwhelmed.
In the last two
weeks we have received both good news and bad news. We have met with
more specialists and have undergone a number of more tests. CT scans,
x-rays, MRI's, bone scans, blood tests, pulmonary function tests, etc.
The "good news" is that this cancer has not traveled to my
bones or brain, which is common for renal cell cancer. However, the
metastasis in my lungs is indeed severe and is my worst enemy, as it
does not respond to traditional radiation or chemotherapy.
The "bad news"
is that since I am in the advanced stages of this thing my life expectancy
without any treatment is six months, give or take. Even with treatment
the prognosis does not improve greatly.
My first urologist
did not want to touch me concerning the removal of my kidney and tumor
(the size of a large orange) and steered me to a large cancer research
hospital in southern California. We have since received a second opinion
from a local urologist with experience in my type of case and after
much consultation with expert friends of his at the University of Southern
California in Los Angeles (USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and
Hospital) we have the following plan of action:
--> On January
8th at 9:45 AM I will undergo a radical nephrectomy (kidney removal)
at nearby Tulare District Hospital. It is imperative that we remove
the source of the cancer. It has been determined that my lungs are probably
strong enough to withstand the 4-6 hour surgery under general anesthesia.
However, it is a very risky operation so we have been advised to have
our kids there. Becky's sisters and one of her brothers are traveling
here to provide support to Becky and the kids. I will probably spend
several days in ICU following the surgery and several more days in the
hospital recovering.
--> Two to three
weeks after the operation I will probably travel to USC/Norris to begin
to undergo extended immunotherapy, the most effective treatment for
kidney cancer. This generally entails 5-days in ICU during the treatment,
a break for several days, then a repeat. The side effects are severe.
We have been advised that we may have to stay in Los Angeles for two
months or so unless I am fit enough to endure the travel home for several
days in between treatments. We have a tough road ahead and need your
fervent prayers.
I regret that Becky
must withdraw from the nursing program for the present in order to be
my helpmate, driver and patient advocate. She is the greatest. She does
have an open invitation to re-enter the program when she can.
What is the bottom
line?
* God is still
in control and I know He loves me
* I have a deep, abiding peace and feel like I'm being cradled in His
loving arms
* God uses doctors and modern technology
* God can touch me miraculously
* I will fight this thing with all my strength (we are investigating
other non-traditional therapies as well)
* God will be glorified however this ends
I don't know when
Becky or I will be in a position to update you in this way but will
do our best.
Again, thank you
so much for your continued prayers on our behalf.
Resting in His
loving arms,
Doug Sutherland
