Interesting/Exciting News!

We have just finished our first appointment at Duke. The doctors are, as we expected, wonderful. Linda will be seeing Dr. Henry Friedman and Dr. Steve Silverman. Dr. Silverman asked us why the diagnosis of glioblastoma? He then showed us the pathology report (we had never seen that), which states that the tumor has characteristics consistent with a high grade glioma. Dr. Lacin has told us that it is a glioblastoma multiforme. The doctors at Duke think it is more likely an astrocytoma, which is still malignant and does not provide a good long-term diagnosis, but is much less aggressive than a glioblastoma multiforme. Since pathology did not precisely identify the type of tumor, all the doctors are guessing.

Another piece of excellent news - and a mark on the astrocytoma side - is that the latest MRI (taken a few weeks ago) shows that the tumor is rock-solid stable - no growth at all! It appears right now that the plan is for two more months of Temodar, then introducing Avastin, a chemotherapy treatment that has been around for several years, but has only recently been used for brain tumors - with some rather amazing results! Avastin carries a high risk of bleeding (the Coumadin Linda is taking is a problem), so please pray about that. It is a couple of months away, so we will take it a day at a time.

More in the near future, but I wanted to pass this good news along immediately. If this tumor is, indeed, an astrocytoma, that should lengthen the life expectancy by a year - and who knows what will happen with research in that year? Our hope, of course, is in the Lord, but our ultimate hope is not in this life at all - it is eternity with Jesus! It appears, to this point, that God is directing us to get the best medical help we can to deal with this current crisis. Our trust is ultimately in Him. Thank you so much for praying!