February 4, 2008
Dear Friends and Family,
I just wanted to write a quick update and let you in on some good news! When Peter started his first treatment 3 weeks ago we showed our doctor some spots on his legs that had begun to grow. She examined them and told us that the cancer was spreading to his skin. She was going to prescribe some medicine that very effectively kills cancer on the skin, but then suggested that we hold off and see if the I.V. treatment would make it go away. This would help give us a gauge to see whether the treatment was having a positive effect or not. After just one week we began to notice that they were gradually diminishing and now they are almost completely gone!!! On top of that, last night Peter and I were talking and suddenly realized that some time within the last week or two the night sweats have disappeared as well!!! God is so GOOD!!!
He is still itching a lot, but has begun to sleep a little bit better and doesn’t seem to me to be tossing and turning and having the intensity of itching that he had before. So, please keep praying! It’s working and God is moving in our midst!
Last week was tough as we discovered that some medicine Peter had received from the oncologist several weeks ago (for the itching) was having very serious side effects (worse than the actual problem it was supposed to be helping, but never actually did help). Once we discovered what was happening we stopped the medication and within 2 days he was completely back to normal. Thank God we figured it out!
Please do pray for Peter’s upcoming I.V. treatment in Phoenix this Wednesday and Thursday. He has very low blood pressure which isn’t helping, but his veins are also very difficult to get the needle into as they roll and have also blown several times during treatment, which is very painful. And sometimes it takes up to an hour of numerous attempts before he is able to begin the I.V., which takes about 3 hours in itself once it gets going.
Peter is doing really well. He is staying positive and is in a good place emotionally and spiritually. He’s even feeling quite well physically. He has lost 30 pounds, so yesterday we went shopping for new pants.
Well, I don’t want to take too much of your time, but I wanted you to be able to rejoice with us! Also, I just want to thank you all again for the kind messages and encouragement that we have been receiving. I want to write back to every one of you, but I simply don’t have the time with all of Peter’s treatment which is very time consuming and intense. But please know that we read every one and are so touched and encouraged and you are in our thoughts, our hearts and our prayers!
Blessings,
Shanie