The New Plan

Missy had her appointment at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, MD this past Friday and unfortunately things did not go as planned. The doctors informed her that there has been new growth from the tumor in her brain. This new growth is located in the region between the left and right lobes of her brain. The neuro-surgeon Missy spoke with at the NCI believes he can remove 90 to 95% of this tumor. As far as I have heard, the radiation treatment worked well, but the area that was not radiated is where the new growth has occurred. The purpose of the chemotherapy Missy was taking on a daily basis during her radiation treatment to prevent this was ineffective.

Nobody in our family expected this news. I think we were all expecting the doctors to say the treatment went well and Missy will begin her chemotherapy maintenance as soon as possible. We thought the follow-up's main purpose was to set a new baseline and from now on we would be comparing new cancer growth with each new MRI. We assumed she was basically finished with treatments, but instead we find ourselves starting over from the beginning. Preparing for brain surgery...again. Still, she feels extremely blessed. We know we can't take this cancer away, but she's in amazingly capable hands. At least the tumor is operable. After the surgeon removes this tumor, hopefully with a new chemotherapy treatment in place she will be on the road to recovery. We will continue to fight from this point forward. Each new piece of information is vital to this fight, so we take this information, embrace it, and use it against this horrible disease.

We know more than we knew last week, and in it's own way that is a blessing. We know why Missy has been feeling worse and not better over the last few weeks. We know why her headaches are back, why her emotions have been all over the place, and why she has been so nauseous. We know that this new growth is here, and although disappointing, that knowledge is so important. You can't fight what you don't know.

Surgery is scheduled for Friday morning in Bethesda, MD. Mom and Missy will be flying up on Wednesday. Dad, Boo and I will be making our way to DC on Thursday. Please pray for good weather and easy travel for us. A storm is heading for the Bethesda/DC area right in that time frame, and we do not want to be delayed. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. Your donations have helped allow Missy to take this time off work without the stress of how to get her bills paid. She is able to focus on fighting, and that is the most important thing. Your support has meant the world to us and we just wanted to continue to say thank you.