August 27, 2008

Well, we have completed one treatment.  Actually treatment 1 on Monday turned into treatment 1A and continued on Tuesday am with 1B, given a brief adverse reaction I had to the first chemo drug.  The staff was quick to react on Monday and got everything under control and I was able to receive all of the necessary drug.  But we were there from 9:30am to about 6:00pm, long day!  We got home and Mother had spent the afternoon at our house picking Andrew up from school, doing our laundry, changing our beds, etc.  Our precious neighbor Arrin Dutton had dinner ready for us when we got home.  With all that waiting for me, I was immediately feeling better once I got home!  Tuesday’s treatment went along much better. 

Today has been a pretty good day, I’ve felt well and I was very HAPPY to get up and go to my office on today (Wednesday).  I am privileged to work for such a great organization and with such a terrific group of people.  They have been beyond supportive. 

My next treatment will be on Sept 15.  It feels good to me to know I now have some drugs circulating that are starting to work against the bad guys. 

So far I am feeling well, although they tell me to expect reduced energy by tomorrow.  We’ll see how it goes.  We’re hoping for and expecting the best. 

Our continued thanks so much for all the prayer, love and support  extended to my family and me.  We continue to see God’s hand at every turn, and He is working through all of you to bless us.  How I long for words more adequate than “thank you”!

Philippians 1:3:   I thank my God in all my remembrance of you!

We’ll continue to keep you posted.

Kay and family

August 24, 2008

What a difference a week makes! 

At my last update we were scheduled to meet with the Duke University oncologist on Wed which we did.  In a manner that can only be described as a “God thing”, we were quickly scheduled with the UNC oncology team on Tuesday. 

The meeting on Tuesday at UNC was impressive.  They have a true team approach and we met with the head of thoracic oncology, one of his associates, an associate professor of radiation oncology, one of her associates, and the research nursing coordinator.  Dr. Mark Socinski is the director of the clinical trial I am recommended for and he met with us at length, assuring us he believes this program is the type of approach that can cure my illness.  He does not believe surgical removal of my left lung lobe will improve my outcome, although he will reassess that periodically.  They use a combination of 3 chemotherapy drugs for 9 weeks and then add 7 weeks of radiation.  Their radiology program is one of 3 in the county that can effectively deliver the very high dose of radiation they use in this program.  We were impressed with everything we witnessed at that meeting. 

Then we went to Duke on Wednesday.  They recommended  a compressed course of 2 chemotherapy drugs, surgery to remove the lower left lobe of my lung, then more chemotherapy and additional radiation.  We met with an associate of their oncology program who stressed to us that surgical removal of the lung was the best way to ensure a good outcome in my situation.  We never met the radiologist, be we were told that the 2 chemo drugs were not the same ones offered to us at UNC but were standardly used in cancer treatments.  They were insistent that I needed surgery. 

So, we were quite confused.  But we, along with many of you, took it to the Lord.  I relied on this verse:  “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’ – Isaiah 30:21 

God was so faithful to answer us and we have definitely felt led to UNC.  Thanks to all of you for the prayerful support that helped get us to that decision.  At the end of the week we both felt like the UNC program was more cutting edge, more aggressive and where we need to be. 

We go in tomorrow morning for the first chemotherapy treatment.  They have told us to expect a 6 hour day there, a little longer given some final blood work we need to complete.    The next administration will be in 3 weeks.  They assure us that while this is a very aggressive and difficult program, they have lots of tools to help me get through it. 

Again, our many heartfelt thanks to all you for your care, concern, prayers, many offers of help, cards, emails, phone calls – the outpouring of love has been just overwhelming to us.  We are thankful to the Lord for providing you to us.  He continues to be with us at every turn and we are grateful to serve such an awesome God. 

So, we’re off!  It’s time to start getting well.  We’ll begin that journey tomorrow.  In God’s hands. 

Please join us in praying that the treatment will be successful.

PS  You know I can’t resist --  “Go Heels!”

Kay and family

August 17, 2008

My dear friends,

“Thank you” is a painfully inadequate expression, but regrettably it’s all I have available to let you know how much we appreciate the extreme outpouring of love and support we have received from each of you and many others.   Please, please, please know that we think of each of you with tremendously grateful hearts.  And even greater is our thankfulness and praise to God for providing each of you to us to partner with us during this difficult time.  What an amazing gift!

Last week was a full week of additional tests and meetings with the DukeRaleigh oncologist.  We have been offered a course of treatment to be conducted at DukeRaleigh, but have also been referred to Duke University for an oncology consult there as well.  The University has a program that is similar to the Raleigh program although it is conducted on a “compressed” delivery schedule and is considered a bit more aggressive.  Our consult there is on Wed morning of this week, 8/22.  We are also still trying to schedule a second opinion consult at UNC and are hopeful to have that appt early this week or perhaps next week at the latest. 

Our main prayer this week is that God will lead us directly into the treatment program He has planned for us and that we will be able to get started with that asap.  Timing is critical.

We are in a difficult place and my heart grieves at the path that lies before us.   Given that, still we know we are in God’s hands, and there is simply no better place to be. 

Thank you all for your prayerful love and support. 

Kay and family

August 7, 2008

I have added several folks to this list, and I apologize in advance for not keeping everyone up to date with what's been going on. It was a choice Kay and I made about a month ago to keep folks from worrying. I know you would all want to know what the doctors found yesterday. I wish I had better news. Kay has been diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. She was allowed to come home yesterday after the biopsy surgery and is resting now. Details haven't been worked out, but she will start radiation and chemotherapy next week.

She has had a persistent cough, not a pronounced cough, really pretty mild, since November. She first went to the doctor last November, and in the months since they have treated her for asthma, pneumonia, and allergies. They didn't do a CT scan until June because she didn't fit the cancer profile-young, healthy and a life-long non-smoker. If you or anyone you know has had a persistent cough that doesn't seem to go away, don't ignore it and be insistent that the Drs follow up with a CT scan. It can make a huge difference.

Sorry for conveying news like this in an email, but this seemed like the best way to reach a lot of folks at one time and free up time for me to take care of Kay and Andrew right now.

Thank you all for being our friends, we love you all. Sorry if we have been distant and hard to reach lately, we have been working through this situation as best we knew how. 

Kay will still be working through the effects of the anesthesia today I'm told. Feel free to email or call, but please keep in mind that we haven't told Andrew what the diagnosis is just yet, he's been over at a friend's house since yesterday, so talking in detail over the phone may be difficult until tomorrow.

If I could ask for one thing from y'all, it would be to pray for Kay and for her doctors.

Kevin

August 5, 2008

Well, the results are in and while the conditions in my lung have improved overall, the surgeons are still concerned about the suspicious “spot” in my lower left lobe that remains unchanged.  The good news is that my scans show the pneumonia/pleural effusion has improved significantly so my lung is in better condition for the surgery.  This is a complicated surgery given the position of the area in question.

The surgery is scheduled for 2:00 tomorrow at DukeRaleigh.  We have been told we can expect anything from minor scar tissue to advanced malignancy.   The length of the surgery will be determined by the severity of my condition, anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours.  Whew!

We are stressed and concerned, but we are confident of one thing and that is we KNOW God is in control of this situation and we are so thankful for that.  And also we are thankful for all the support and care you continue to give us.  Thank you for your prayers and we will keep you posted as we can.

I’m sorry that my absence from the office is going to be extended.  I can tell you, I miss being there!  Thanks for holding down the fort.

August 5, 2008

The scheduling has finally taken place, at least partially.  I am headed over to meet with the surgeon this morning and have another scan at 1:30 today.  The surgery is tentative for tomorrow. 

Of course we are praying that the scan will show significant improvement and we can avoid the surgery.

Thanks to all, once again, for all your support and concern, and especially your prayers.

Kay S. Nunnery

August 3, 2008

All –

It's been such a whirlwind week at my house.  First the news regarding my most recent xray was no change.  Then the surgeon and pulmonologist agreed, very slight improvement.  More antibiotics.  Then on Friday the surgeon was again suggesting biopsy sooner rather than later.  At this point it looks like we will be trying to have the biopsy sometime this week.

I can’t tell you how much I would prefer to be in the office this week!  Please forgive my absence and I will hope to rejoin all the fun very soon.

I appreciate everyone’s concern, well wishes and most of all your prayers.  I’ll keep you posted. 

Kay S. Nunnery