Round One is Over!

Hello, Friends,

Last Thursday night was my last night of taking the first round of Sutent. I am on a 14 day break now! It's amazing how good that feels mentally and physically. I've slowly seen the side effects go away-no more hot, hard spots of pain on the balls of my feet, the sores in my mouth and throat are gone, my blood pressure is back to a more normal rate, and every little scratch or sore on my hands is not bright red. I also have a lot more energy first thing in the morning and throughout the day. The only thing I am still feeling is the sensitivity on the surface of my tongue.

I saw my family doctor today, as I have a cold and the impulse now and then to cough (so will use the inhaler as needed), and he reviewed the blood test I had last week. Everything is back within normal ranges excepting my platelets which are slightly low. He was pleased with how healthy I look.

I will start the next round of Sutent on the 19th, for 28 days, then have a CT scan following that to see if there is any improvement on the spots in my lungs. (Matt and I will also go to UCSF on the 22nd to meet with a specialist in the Urologic Oncology Dept.) One of the hardest things, I'm sure for any person in my situation, is taking this medication knowing what it might do to me physically, but not knowing if it will do what we ultimately are praying for. Just one more instance of trust.

I know it is past Thanksgiving, but I was asked to share what I am thankful for at our church's Thanksgiving morning service, and I wanted to leave you with what I shared. I've thanked all of you for consistent and fervent prayers, told you about my nurses and doctors, and now need to share about my family. Words cannot completely suffice, but this is what came from my heart that morning:

I’ve always had what I consider a blessed life, but when cancer became a part of my life I decided it was time to count those blessings.

I am blessed to be married to a man who has stuck with me for 21 years through the good, the not-so-good, and the unknown, who tells me daily that he loves me-and means it, and who loves Jesus as much as I do.

I am blessed with three children that touch my heart daily, that have helped me grow into the mom I am, and who I hope know that as much as I love them, Jesus loves them even more.

I am blessed with a mom and a dad who show me in so many ways the depth of their love for me, who have always lived in a way that honors their Lord, who love my family, and who have created a place where our family looks forward to gathering.

I am blessed with a mother and father-in-law who have shown me through the years that they love me as their daughter.

I am blessed with two brothers and their families who I really like being with, who I deeply respect and admire, and who have always, but especially of late, considered it a privilege to pray for me.

I am blessed with friends-new and old-who call, write, email, and stop by to check on me, to encourage me, and to pray for whatever the need might be for that day.

But I am most blessed that Jesus loved me so much that He went to the cross instead of me; that He not only died for my sins, but that He crushed evil on that cross so that I could be assured that while a thing like kidney cancer might be a part of my life, it will never have power over it; and most of all that I have hope for the future that can only come through my relationship with Him.

I am, among all people, most blessed.

Love to all of you, Danene
December 10, 2008