C. R. & I  met with my melanoma oncologist yesterday, so we have a plan.  The biopsy results from my right groin lymph nodes confirmed that we are definitely dealing with melanoma, at least in those nodes.

Dr. G is a most professional, knowledgable and personable doctor and we are very blessed that I am under his care, and will continue to be under his care once I move to the other hospital network.  He explained many details and answered all of our questions and more.  

He recommends I begin another year of immunotherapy using the “twin brother with a different haircut” (his words) drug to the one I got before.  Pembrolizumab (pronounced pem broe LIZ ue mab) is almost identical to Nivolumab (what I received in 2017-2018) except I will receive it every 6 weeks instead of every 4. 

The plan is to continue with immunotherapy every 6 weeks for a year like before since I tolerated it so well and it was effective. They will scan after 3 months and at that time, if they feel like the cancer isn't responding as well, there is another immunotherapy drug they can add if needed.  

He also said some interesting things about the link between gut health and boosting the body’s immune system (see this article for more information). Apparently, there is a clinical trial he wanted me to join at Huntsman where I would have received the same immunotherapy treatment but they would also monitor and balance my gut bacteria. Since I can’t stay at Huntsman permanently I can’t join the trial, but he still gave us references and said he would be happy to provide any information that would help.

He does want me to get a biopsy of the largest node in my chest area to be 100% sure it’s melanoma.  Apparently there are some chronic conditions people can have that they don’t ever notice, but can show up on a PET scan as "lighting up".  He wants to know exactly what he is dealing with moving forward, which I understand.  So, I get another day of fasting and a sedated biopsy.  😒 I am glad he wants to leave no stone unturned and trust this timing was orchestrated by God, so I'm not too uptight about it. This will not delay beginning my immunotherapy.  They are getting the ball rolling to schedule both the biopsy and the first infusion as soon as they can work things out with our insurance company.

Praise God for:

• Excellent care at Huntsman
• A treatment plan

Pray for:

• The upcoming biopsy.
• God's continued peace.
• Wisdom for my oncologist.
• Quick response and cooperation from the insurance company so Huntsman can schedule my biopsy and first infusion.
• If it's God's will, that God would eradicate every cancer cell.
• That God would be glorified in everything that is going on.

These verses were an encouragement for me this week.  I love it when God reminds me exactly what I need to hear at the perfect time!

"For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."

~2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (New Living Translation)