November 25, 2007

Well here we go again. Some new developments have come to light. About a week ago I was starting to have problems with reading. I was reading scriptures to Barbara and it became hard to formulate words and thoughts. There was a component of needing reading glasses.

However, there was also a component where my brain wasn’t processing words properly. It was getting worse and more frustrating. I was working on our accounting books and numbers were even more bizarre than words. For example, this update is taking a long time to compose, write and spellcheck. If something is grammatically incorrect, I’ve been trying really hard.

Last Wednesday OHSU gave me an eye exam. The results showed that I am developing premature cataracts. The cataracts are most likely due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. With proper glasses and bright lighting, cataract surgery will be about 1 year away.

I couldn’t imagine the whole problem was eyesight so we went to the urgency clinic on Saturday to get a medical doctor’s opinion. An MRI was performed and revealed 3 masses in my brain. The masses are placing some pressure that is probably causing my brain to exhibit erratic thought processing.

I was immediately admitted into Kaiser Sunnyside. They have done a lot of additional testing. Beside the 3 masses in my brain there is an additional mass in one of my lungs. Finding the mass in the lung will allow doing a biopsy in the lung and not in my brain. Brain biopsies are certainly more troublesome than lung biopsies.

The most likely cause of the masses is an infection, probable a fungal infection. The theory is that during my last chemotherapy I did have a bout with fungal pneumonia. All of the most potent meds were used to fight off the infection. Nothing seemed to work until my natural immune system started coming back. As soon as my immune system kicked in, my lungs cleared right out. There is some discussion that the infection in the lungs has been hanging around at a low level. The infection could have spread to the brain.

While an infection is the most likely causes of the masses, there are a couple of other possibilities. The masses could be a totally different type of cancer. My body has been through a lot of trauma and more chemicals than you can ever imagine. If it is a new type of cancer, then it will be treated not as CML.

Another possibility for the masses is that leukemia cells can congregate in the brain. The chemotherapy treatment is partially blocked in the brain as a defense mechanism. This would seem unlikely since my treatment is molecular, not chemical.

As you can imagine, Barbara and I are reeling from the news. The next couple of days will greatly clarify things. We, of course, solicit your prayers. Pray for clarity of God’s will and that we listen to only His.

Thanks for your support and allowing us to share life with all of you.