CTCA day one.....

wow. what a difference a day makes. the situation left untreated is still a bad prognosis, but fortunately for julie, we have new resources to help treat this monster. here's what we found out and experienced today...and be forewarned... this is LONG. (sorry... ) but our day was nearly 6 hours and can't be summed up in one paragraph....

9am... we walked into CTCA where we were escorted immediately to "the clinic" where they began the registration process. at this time, a "shadow" joined us to follow us through our day and view life from the patient's perspective - just the first of many clues that they are dedicated to care. we became quite attached to young suzie, my "blue state" friend who most recently lived in chicago where she graduated college in june. and we all got to make her laugh as we talked all day about guns in oklahoma. she was "blown away" (LOL) by finding out that many people are licensed to carry a gun... including those she was traveling with today :) she provided a lot of fun as we all planned a day at the range with our new friend. she also was extremely accomodating as we progressed and would often speak up with questions the 3 of us had overlooked. it was nice to have someone with us all day... espcecially someone who has only been in tulsa 3 days and didn't know anyone at CTCA. we were all in this together. sooo, after the normal paperwork, insurance stuff and contact info, julie was asked to complete a survey of approximately 50 questions regarding how SHE felt, physically, emotionally, mentally right now. it was very detailed wanting to know her pain issues, from surgery, from the illness, and from her prior chemo. it was nice that they are interested in everything from being tired, to being able to read without concentration issues, and being able to walk. from there, we met with patient resources where our rep explained how our week would go, who we would meet with, what resources were available, introduced us to the "amenities" of CTCA, an on site pharmacy, a cafe with a chef who prepares only meals made with organic foods, meats from a farm where no hormones, steroids or antibiotics are used, and foods that are specifically catered to promote healing and boost immune systems. there is "humor therapy, where a group of people get together just to laugh... as it is the best medicine." and she explained the rights of the patient, their dedication to care, and their committment to making sure the patient was happy. she explained a lot really, more than i can type. anyway, we moved on to an hour in a little room where julie gave her entire medical history, family history, current meds, symptoms, etc. the guy "chuck" who we were working with lives only 2 blocks from julie and gerald! they have patients from all of the country, and staff as well, and this guy is in the "neighborhood". we were very happy to hear about his christian faith and what he knew of the faith at this hospital. apparently, the founder, mr stephenson, lost his mother to cancer in the 70's. he was not pleased with the care she received and so he, having the resources, founded a faith based cancer care center with a group of oncologists. now, that has grown across the nation to a few select facilities and we have one in our backyard. he also explained the "mother standard" in which the founder requires every patient to be treated like they are the providers "mother" (sister, daughter, wife, etc)....and..chuck, and some other staff members, meet every morning in the same room we were in to pray for the patients coming in everyday. he also disclosed that before the facility was painted, the staff was invited in to write scripture on the walls. he also told of the psychologist who prays regularly with his patients, the chaplains, the church services, and groups that are all faith based. we were extremely happy with this and i personally felt some peace. next stop, dr pollock... but i'm going to jump ahead one appointment and tell you first what we learned with the naturopathic doctor.... this was geralds favorite part. he said he liked her best. we learned (or tried to learn) a lot of fancy words none of us - even suzie - could pronounce. but they were all intriguing. from homeopathic, to hydotherapy, to chinese medicine, to vitamin supplements, everything from evening of primrose (or something like that) to accupuncture was discussed. she is a trained doctor who specializes in non-traditional medicines such as vitamins, herbs, touch therapy, protien powders and bunch of things i don't know how to spell. gerald was extremely involved in asking questions about what was available and expressing his interest in these options. they have both always been big believers in natural medicine and healthy foods with excercise. we learned a lot about ways that she can relieve not only pain from surgery, and side effects of chemo, but boost the immune system and (a concern as of lately) help reduce the side effects of taking julie's only remaining ovary which was preventing her from going on hormone replacement therapy. there are many treatments available that none of us even knew existed, and many that we had already wanted to explore. we are extremely optimistic about this area of treatment. we all (as many of you) believe that vitamins, a correctly balanced diet, water, herbs and physical activity, etc, can not only help with the complications of this disease but actually work to cure it.....

now the doctor....this needs a new paragraph. soo, we meet dr pollock the oncologist, a/k/a the "med-onc". we were with him for an hour. he asked a lot of questions even though he had been studying what the charts already had to say. he was very interested in what she "felt" and what she had been through. he seemed honest and forthright to me. after he did a full body examination (something that had previously not been done by any doctor), and asked her questions about her emotional status to what pets she had at home (and wrote that all down) he began to tell us his history, and his beliefs on what can be done. there is a lot of info to process, so i will get to the nuts and bolts of it... first of all, our "presumption" that the tumor had been growing since the original surgery (sept of '08) was correct. he said that the surgeon - no fault of his own - probably didn't get all of the cancer cells the first time as many of them are microscopic. the fact that the cancer was in her lymph nodes a year ago was important too because 80% of patients who have them in the LN have the cancer elsewhere in the body - even if it's not detectable to the human eye. so, this tumor grew throughout the chemo treatments she was taking, meaning it was resistant to the type of chemo they were supplying. that was our thought all along - gerald laughed that i was just glad i was "right", (and we all know i like being right) but honestly, i was glad that we heard confirmation of what we were assuming all along, but wouldn't or couldn't be told by another doctor. this meant we knew what it was, and what DIDN'T work. next up... what to do and what this means for julie. well, we won't have a "treatment" plan for a couple of weekw after he evaluates some tests he is running. today that included some regular blood work, some special stains of the tissue retrieved during the first surgery (and maybe the second), and a new CT and PET scan. from there he develops a new treatment plan, which, (as we suspected) will include chemo. there are options without chemo, but "that won't get the best result". and of course, we want the best or else we wouldn't be there. the other side of this is that after evaluating the PET scan, it may be a possibility that he has their surgeons go in for another surgery to remove anything the PET reveals. here's why - there are 3 machines in the world that can detect a 2 mm tumor... 2 are in europe, and the third is in tulsa at CTCA. this scan can reveal what the previous could not and provide dr pollock and the surgeons with the ability to go in and remove any remaining cancer cells/tumors surgically before we begin the other treatments. soo, after that is determined, we continue on.... there will be chemo even if the PET scan is clear -which we obviously hope and pray for. however, either way, we will be doing a different "cocktail" of chemo with a different regimen. plus some added treatments with drug trials if they choose, and other medicines that are available. but, i was impressed that dr pollock, a medical doctor, was so supportive of the other "complimentary" (not alternative) treatments available. he was extremely detemined to convey the importance and benefits of utilizing a naturopathic doctor to maximize the chemo, boost the immune system, counter act the "poison effect" of the chemo on the parts of her body it doesn't need to affect, offset the symptoms and promote healing. not only will the naturopathic doctor be utilized for this, but a nutrionist to help specialize her diet, a psychologist to make sure her mind is clear and positive, a physical therapist to help with the surgical damage and counteract the weak effect chemo can have, a pain management doctor to help maintain comfort which promotes healing, and a list of others..... he made a point to say that he wasn't going to just "pump her full of the same poison every other doctor has available without doing other things to help heal her body". after i bombarded the poor guy with 30 questions, he explained that the next step would be lab work, scheduling PET/CT, and meeting again next week just to answer questions. a week after that we will have the results of the special stains (helping him to find out more specifically what strain of colon cancer this is and what it will best respond to) and, of course, surgery or not....then she begins the entire treatment program. i'm sure i'll think of and add other things he said. but to sum it up i will say this about his "prognosis"- he further explained to us that the "3 year median survival" that the other doctor had given us... saying that while 50% don't make it 3 years, we have to know that 50% live more than 3, like, 15 or 30 year, or 50... etc. but, he also said that those figures that the other doctor had given us were compiled before new procedure and treatments were available and were essentially, out dated. (my words, not his). anyway, he did not make light of the situation, telling us it was not going to be an easy battle, but one that has been, and could be won. he made no false promises, and no guarantees, either way .... he will need the new labs and scans to help formulate a better opinion, but the goal was something to do with "a hot summer day on her front porch sipping mint julips when she's 84 years old..." there was more to that story but i'm not obliged to share....:) LOL... anyway, he is optimistic that her condition can be treated but he told her after the tests, he might get information that she doesn't want to hear. and no matter what he will be honest with us. he addressed the issues of fear she has because other doctors haven't listened, he addressed her desires to possibly not pursue chemo depending on what results may or may not provide, and he promised to be supportive in all her decisions, even the ones they don't like, as he stated "julie is the boss" (i wanted to get that notarized so that gerald could hang it on his desk HA HA HA) anyway. no doctor is perfect, not even this one. no facility is perfect. there is no perfect cure or treatment and there is no guarantee this can be fixed, but i fully feel like if she can be healed - this is the place it will happen. i think it is no coincidence that a person of incredible christian faith has been led to a facility based on that same faith. we did not hear "you will be healed" today. we heard that CTCA will treat julie's entire body, mind, and spirit utilizing the latest, and greatest, technologies and resources available. there are several more appointments to go, we still haven't met with the nutrionist, physical therapist, psychologist, pain management specialist, and many others. and i promise not to write novels when we see them... :) but. i will close with this. our battle is far from over. this is not going be easy, but i think it will be easier. we have more soldiers, better tactics, more armory, and new ammo that we didn't have before. these new resources, i believe, will give us the best chance of winning this war. prayers are still requested, in praise as we thank God for providing this new place with new options, and with hopes of healing through this. she was a trooper today. she stood tall and walked through pain - physically and emotionally - as we went from appointment to appointment. with a true dedication i believe only a Christ follower can have. she is going to be ok - no matter what happens. but after today, i'm a little more optimistic that she will be here on earth for the long haul and glorifying God daily by showing others what she has overcome. her faith will be on display for many years to come i hope, and i think now is little more possible thanks to today. i hope you will all pray that CTCA can do what they say, that they can treat her whole body, that if anyone can heal her, they will. i thank you all for your continuous prayers and support through all this as always - in Christ - tobra