TESTS ARE CONFIRMED!!

We received the official word from the University of Michigan that there is NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE!! Those words are music to our ears!! Brian's next appointment in August 15. He will be meeting with his chemo doctor and the oncologist, and then won't go back until November. This is such an incredible relief to all of us. We really felt very confident all along, but there is always that little doubt in the back of your mind. But fortunately we won't have to worry about that any more!! We will get through the next three years with flying colors and then we will be able to put this horrible experience behind us and never look back.

Good News

We received the news we were hoping for today - preliminary tests show no sign of cancer!! We will get the official word in a couple of days after the Radiologist reads the report but the doctor said today that he doesn't expect it to change. Brian is not out of the woods until the three year mark and he will continue to be checked every two months. We now have hope. Thanks to all our family and friends for everything. We couldn't have done it without you all. We are humbled beyond words.

Great day . . . great friends

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but have been a little busy. Brian is doing quite well. I have seen a huge improvement in his stamina over the last few weeks. He isn't sitting in front of the TV all day any more. He is actually getting outside and doing things around the house. He got his models out that he hasn't touched in years and has been putting them together. He has been joking around and being sarcastic again. We actually shoveled stones yesterday for several hours and he kept up with us really quite well. He got in the pool and actually got a second wind after that, and today he felt good. We went to Ionia today and spent the day with our great friends Ken and Cindy, and Brian actually played 9 holes of golf!! My husband is slowly coming back to me. Ken and Cindy were quite surprised to see how well he was doing. We only have a couple of weeks left before we venture back to U of M, so we are very hopeful that we will hear the news we have been longing to hear . . . . . CANCER FREE!! Please pray for his complete healing . . . his appointment is on July 22. We are confident and ready to have this phase of our life over and done with. He will of course have to go back every 3 months for 3 years, but we can do this!! He has come so incredibly far!! Thanks so much for your kind words, letters, phone calls, prayers, emails, meals, money, etc. etc. etc. etc. We couldn't have taken this journey without all of your support, and we will never forget the kindness you have shown us. We are STILL getting cards from people . . . we are very blessed!!

Successful Day in Ann Arbor

Went to Ann Arbor today and I feel it was a pretty successful day. Brian had his G-tube removed which hurt like the dickens!! They just yank on it and pull it out! You should have seen his eyes when he was done!! But now it's out and things are all better. Now he has to eat and can't be lazy any more.

The doctor prescribed him some medication to hopefully give him some get-up-and-go. She also said that it is perfectly normal to go through a depression phase and he will overcome it. It was nice to hear that.

We also went to see the radiation oncologist and he looked down Brian's throat, gagged him a few times, but said all looks good. He will be going back on July 22 to get his PET scan, and we will know that day whether or not the cancer is gone.

We are a little nervous, but we are very hopeful.

A little funny for you, I asked Dr. Eisbruch if anyone had ever thrown up on him before when he sticks his fingers down someones throat. He paused for a minute, and then said "no, I've gotten bitten before, and if anyone bites me again I'm going to retire." This guy is so sober all the time, it was kind of fun to see another side of him today.

All in all, it was a great day.

It's been a while!!

Sorry it's been a while since I have blogged, but it's been a little hectic around the Anson house. Tyler's graduation party was Saturday and I have two more weeks of school and then things will slow down a bit.

We are off again to Ann Arbor tomorrow for a check up. He has to see the chemo doctor and the nutritionist and then the radiation doctor after that. I am anxious to talk to them as Brian is in a depression and can't seem to get out of his funk he is in. He is extremely tired and isn't able to sleep at night and can't seem to get over it. I am concerned about him and just wish I could get my husband back. We have had numerous talks about this, and he just can't seem to feel good about it. Maybe it's a stage that all people with cancer go through, but I am not liking it at all. He isn't the same husband that I had before who is confident and independent. He now is very withdrawn and negative and wants me there all the time. I am just hoping this is a phase.

He is doing quite well now with no using his G-tube. He is only using it at breakfast, so he should be able to get that out very soon.

I will try and keep you posted a little better than I have been. Thanks for all your love and support, it means alot to us!!

Good News!!

Brian and I received good news today. Brian went to see his chemo doctor and his oncologist today. The chemo doctor told Brian that he looks great and that he is doing better than 80% of the people with the same cancer. I think it was good for him to hear that from someone else besides me. Now our next task at hand is to get him to eat again and get rid of the feeding tube. He also needs to get up and exercise which if he does he will start feeling better. Makes sense to me!!

The other part of the good news is that Dr. McLean did a scope of his throat and it looks great!! He said that there is sore that looks like it is scabbed over and healing and everything looks normal!! Of course we still don't know if the cancer is gone totally or not as he has to have the PET scan. The PET scan is a dye that they put into his system and if there are any cancer cells left they will illuminate. We will find that out late July early August. I really want to get excited but I'm also fearful too. If they find cancer still he will have to undergo surgery which will be very taxing on Brian, as he has been through enough already. I guess we will cross that bridge when we get there.

In the meantime Brian continues to heal and is very impatient, but knows that he is headed in the right direction.

Thanks to everyone for all your support!!

I want my husband back :o(

Brian is really having a hard time right now. He has absolutely no energy and his swallowing has been very difficult. He doesn't smile much and he doesn't talk much. Even though he is done with the treatments, of course you just don't snap your fingers and everything gets back to normal. I really miss my husband. I know he'll get there some day, but it's so hard to see him like this.

I have been really glad to get back into the swing of things doing yard work for spring and running errands and trying to get things situated with Tyler's graduation just around the corner. But everything is not normal for him. I was so busy getting back into the swing of things I have forgotten that he still needs attention. Not that I was ignoring him, but I was there for him for 7 weeks every single minute of the day, and now that reality is upon me, and now I have other things that need my attention (including my children that have been ignored for 7 weeks). I thought being home would be easier, but actually it is more difficult. I am pulled in so many directions now I can't see straight.

I know that he doesn't want me to go back to work on Monday, and I really would love to stay home and take care of him, but I need to get back because this is a really busy time of year for me, and of course you know the bills don't go away just because you are off work!!

We'll get through it, but nobody said I had to enjoy it! I'm not complaining, really! I am really glad to be away from that hospital . . . . okay I may be complaining just a little - sorry about that!