Take a deep breath...

Let me start off by repeating again how much Amy and I appreciate all of your prayers and assistance. We will still need them. Though we weren't blessed to be cancer free, we do have treatments available and a possibility of getting onto a clinical trial. I'll save the technical details for the end of the post. Let it suffice to say that we are going on a journey with many unknowns. The first year of a combined radiation/chemo will be a lot of work, but Amy has always been a champion in all things, so with our support, I know she will be able to endure treatment and progress as much as the cancer allows. We won't start treatments for about 3 weeks, while a test for an experimental drug is conducted on parts of the tumor sent to Switzerland. This will actually tell us if the tumor has an enzyme in it that would prohibit the chemo from being as effective.

Some positives:

• A little history of brain tumors, just over 5 years ago there was no "standard of care" to treat them. People diagnosed, had an average of a year to live. Treatments like the radiation and chemo can keep the tumor from spreading and growing. With the size and location it is now, Amy has what appears to be full functionality or what we have been saying is the "whole Amy".
• Amy's tumor may not have grown very quickly, since her first "episode" of dizzy and nauseousness was in May of 2009.
• Amy's hasn't had any seizures to date, and this speaks volumes as to the "earliness" of the detection.
• And Amy has a history of quick recovery from all previous illness and medical procedures.

We are going to try to keep things as normal as possible and appreciate ALL offers of help. I will be doing something similar to the previous post to try and chart out things as we need them. Amy could still use your prayers for comfort and strength as well as the kids. Since the treatment may suppress the growth, we are anticipating being in this for the long haul and will try to allow all those who desire the opportunity to help in the way they can the best.

Thank you all again for all the prayers and assistance on our behalf. I want to leave you all with our thoughts that we know that our Heavenly Father lives and loves us. The hardships we all experience in life are NOT a punishment. As spirits we chose to come to earth, receive a body, live our lives choosing to follow his teachings, given to us by Jesus Christ, in order to return to him.  We chose to come, regardless of the hardships.

I hope that it is a long time before any of us need to worry about that. But it does offer some comfort to those that know and believe.

Again, thanks and we love you all,

Rich

Now the technicals.  (only for the brave of heart!)
Amy's cancer type is Glioblastoma.  It's not good.  With current treatment, there is no recorded remission.

The remaining tumor exists on the cavity wall from where the large mass was extracted, and a sliver smaller than a dime in diameter between (what appears to be) her nasal and optical organs (inoperable without damage).

The chemotherapy available may be ineffective if the tumor's DNA repair gene (MGMT) is active , hence the test mentioned above.

The clinical trial is for a new drug (Cilengitide) that can inactivate the gene and help the chemo be effective.  If Amy's is able to participate in the trial, she still may only be a control group participant (random selection) and not receive the drug.

There is tons of information for us to still go through and we were encouraged to do our own research, but stay away from "snake oil or shark cartilage" treatments!