Thank you, thank you for all your prayers as I start this battle against cancer! I have had so many messages from so many people that it really boosts my spirits and helps me in my battle When others pray for me and stay in touch, it's like another layer of armor against this horrible disease! I feel so much stronger than I did when I first heard the dreaded news.
I have an update for you all. I haven't written anything before this because I really didn't have much to share but now I do. I had my CT scan on Monday, September 30, and they were supposed to send the results to my doctor that same day. I made an issue of making sure they would do that but, alas, I waited and waited on Tuesday to hear the results. I finally called them about 3:00 in the afternoon and they told me they hadn't gotten the results from the imaging place. I was not happy. They told me they would contact them in the morning, have the doctor go over them and then call me. They did this morning and I finally know what's going on...sort of. The CT scan showed no cancer in the organs but they saw some spots on my lungs. However, as the doctor said, I live in Arizona and we have a lot of lung issues here, including something called Valley Fever. This primarily happens in Phoenix and Tucson and the hotter areas of the state but we have lung issues where I live, too, because of the dry dust that is always blowing here. I have bronchitis or pneumonia every year and I also have seasonal allergy asthma. So because of that, I'm very hopeful these are just lesions on my lungs from that. I am also hopeful because there is no cancer in the liver and I would think if it were in the lungs, it would be in the liver.
So, now we have a Pet Scan. I have to agree with my son and ask why we didn't do a Pet Scan in the first place. He felt that's what I should have had but, of course, the insurance companies are always going to go for the least costly thing instead of the test that will give the best results first. The doctor wants to have it done on Friday so we're ready for my surgery on Wednesday, October 9th.
Here's where I want to tell you something. If you are going through any medical issues, you have to be your own advocate! I spent 6 hours on the phone Friday morning talking with the doctor's office, the imaging place, and my insurance company to make sure I got this CT scan done in a timely manner. The doctor's office was supposed to schedule my scan, but when I could see it wasn't going to get done anytime soon, I took the bull by the horns and got it done myself. I called and re-called the imaging place to get them to move it from an appointment they wanted to do today to one for last Monday. Those 2 extra days make a huge difference.
So tomorrow, I will do the same thing. Once I know the insurance company has approved this, I will get the approval number and I will call the imaging company and fight for an appointment on Friday. I am never rude, and always polite, but firm in telling them how important it is to get the stat order done.
God showed Himself today by orchestrating so many things for me. I had to get an EKG for the surgery and I was miraculously able to get an appointment for today after being told it would be impossible this week. I also was able to get into my pain management doctor to get things set up for my surgery, pain wise,, and so felt so thankful for God's help in all this.
So, here's my prayer request, my friends.
1. That these spots in my lung are not cancer.
2. That we get the PT scan done this week
3. That my surgery goes forward next Wednesday and that there's no cancer in the lymph nodes.
I have been praying that God will keep this cancer in my uterus not allow it to move outside of those boundaries. God can do it and I have faith that He will. The battle is His!
Thank you so much for your friendship and prayers! They sustain me!
Blessings - Julie
I never knew of the lung issues in Arizona Julie. I am praying for you! I hope you have success in getting the Pet scan for Friday.
ReplyDeletePraise God forevermore! I just believe this cancer is NOT anywhere else in your body, and you are going to be healed, in Jesus' name! Each request you have mentioned is just the way I believe God is going to work. Thank you so much for the update. Continuing to pray and lift you, sweet friend!
ReplyDeleteYou're in my daily prayers, Julie. May God bless you and your family with strength and courage to meet every day, and may He bless your health and the efforts being made on your behalf.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, praying in agreement, Julie, and believing that with God nothing shall be impossible as Scripture tells us. He is a God of miracles and healing!
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