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(oct 2011)First of all, Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers.
As far as an update..... As some may remember, last year aug 11 2010, I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer with spread to lymphnodes and liver. They were able to remove the 9cm tumor from my colon as well as app 14" of colon. The surgeon was truly gifted and I was able to escape having a colostomy. I was told I had 8 cancerous sites on my liver. Smallest was 1.5 cm and largest was 2.5 cm. We began chemo with an initial plan of 6 months/12 ttreatments. The chemo began working, so although rough, we continued past 6 months. 8 months later,I was getting much stronger and there were only 7 sites and the largest was less than 1.5 cm. The chemo was tearing my body up though, so the dr cut me down to just one chemo med from 4. Well I have began feeling pretty weak lately so on aug 8(one year later) we did another CT. The next day the Dr told me that the cancer has rapidly progressed in the last 3-4 months. There are 2 new sites and the smallest is now only 2.5 cm. The 2 new ones are almost 4cm each and one is in the center of the liver near all vital blood flow. We decidded to hit it hard and fast in an attempt to slow it down. He put me back on 4 meds with2 previous ones and 2 new to me. 2 days later I was admitted to sacred for weakness and dehydration. (The dosage was TOO strong). After about a week, I was released home. For the firsttime in my life I had to swallow ALL pride and humilty and admit I could not do it myself. You NEVER truly know the meaning of humility until your own family has to help you to the bathroom or when you have to be cleaned and bathed by a family member. I am getting stronger and able to finally eat and shower. My main thought continues that if the chemo is doing this to me as a whole, it HAS to be kicking cancer cells butts.
Well it has been quite a while since I have been able to post anything. Let's start with an update. Unfortunately after that last post several months ago, things are no better. The cancer is not shrinking. The chemo has kept it in check with only minimal growth. The problem is the chemo. I had to change from every 2 weeks to every week. I became extremely weak and physically limited. That is one reason there has been no posts. I have been able to read the forum but did not have the dexterity in my hands to type anything without numerous mistakes and embarrassing myself. I had to be in bed 5 days a week. The only time I was able to leave the house was for weekly chemo or the regular trips to the hospital for addtional fluids/meds due to the effects of the chemo. hygiene or clothing required family assistance due to the weakness. I was living but I was not "living life". Eventually you start questioning "how much more can I take?" or worse "how much more can my family take?".
NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS
Several months ago Sacred heart was blessed with being able to obtain a new Dr on staff. He is an oncology surgeon from Duke university who specializes in liver care. As soon as he came onboard, I met with him. He asked to be a part of the team treating me. He would be kept updated of my status in case he could be of any help. Well, last week I am told he would like to see me. After a very pleasurable visit with him, I was told the following.
He has also been discussing my case with his peers and mentors at Duke as well as the numerous folks at Sacred heart. They have decided that with the cancer not getting better, He would like to attempt liver surgery. (Now you have to realize I have been doing chemo and "living" for the last 1 1/2 years of my 2-3 years terminal cancer diagnosis. So seeing as how I was nearing that dreaded statistical timeline, I have been getting scared and wondering if I even wanted to continue the chemo or just live out the future with no chemo side effects but enjoying time with famil and friends.) Needless to say, I was ecstatic. This is a procedure that until now has only been available at major facilities and not here. Not only would I been granted this opportunity for my health but would be able to be the first one of something wonderful for our community's future. Granted it is a risky and dangerous procedure BUT I personally am ready. He went so far as to tell me that If I felt the least uncomfortable, he would use his connections to have me admitted tomorrow to either MD Anderson in Texas or to Duke university and have a senior surgeon do the procedure. I explained to him that not only do I have faith in him but in the "hand of the master" who would be guiding his hand. I believe this is the miracle I and others have prayed for. If our great god means for it to be successful, it will be as successful here as it would elsewhere. I also explained to him that I am satisfied with my life both physically as well as religiously. I am not scared to die, I am just scared of a painful death.
That all said, here is the tentative plan......
My last chemo was 2 weeks ago. I am still weak but now able to move around and even go to the places for a small time.Within the next few days I will be admitted overnight. They will be doing a procedure to block blood flow to the right side of my liver. Over the next 4-5 weeks I will be resting up while (hopefully) the left side of my liver starts growing and increasing in size. Then after those few weeks, I will be admitted again. This time for the biggie. There will be several surgeons present for this. He will then take app 75-80% of my liver out. I will then be 1-2 weeks in the hospital for post-op care. Hopefully after that I can get back to healing and having something of a life. He did state that with this surgery, it statistically has a 50% chance of adding 5 yrs and 25% chance of adding 10 years to my diagnosis.
I know this has been long but it had to be to explain to friends what is going on.
Thank you to all my GCFC and PFF forum friends and family for prayers and kind words that have gotten me to here.
If you could stand one more request....please remember me and my family over the next 6 weeks as we go thru this tedious process that god will grant us comfort as well as guidance over the dr's hands.
One last note....
To all the hunters and fishers out there, Take this from someone who has only been on the water in my boat twice in the last 18 months....
Whether you are a "weekend warrior" or a paid cap't/guide..... You may only get negative or even no comments on your posts but don't get discouraged. There are folks out there who can only enjoy the chase thru your eyes and reports.
Thank You again for your prayer/concerns/kind words and god bless everyone reading this
Jimmie
"FishingMedic"
(Click below for a few fishing pics) 
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<---What I haven't been doing, though I wish I was!--->
And that is why you don't ever give up, because you never know what is just around the corner. 
