Bumps in the road

This has been a bumpy week, hearing results that we weren't expecting and processing new information. Unfortunately, the Pet scan did show a small(1cm) metastatic spot on my Dad's right lung. This does not mean that he now has lung cancer as well, it means that there is a cell from the original kidney tumor that has materialized in the lung. Encouragingly, this is the only place that "lit up" on the scan, and there are high hopes that treatment with Stereotactic Body Radiosurgery (same type of radiation used this summer) will bring about good results. This type of radiation uses precise, pinpoint radiation beams to converge on the cancerous tumor from many different angles. Because it is so accurate, it minimizes the chance of damage to the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. Large doses of radiation are delivered to the tumor over a period of one to five days, which is better than the older standard of weeks of daily radiation. There is about a 90 percent success rate associated with this method of treatment. Kidney cancer is so persistent that this will probably become routine, i.e, find a spot, zap it, wait, find another spot, zap it, wait again etc etc. This was mentioned to us at some point, but I think we all stuck that somewhere in the back of our minds, thinking it really wouldn't happen in "our case". As we know realize, we haven't been spared this exercise and we are wrapping our minds around yet another new normal way of life. We remain ever thankful that there are treatment plans available, and that over all my Dad feels ok. The diabetes is under better control, and his blood pressure is good. So at the end of a long week, we have two new tumors identified and two new treatment plans in place, and as it seems to be our mantra - we press on. The Gamma Knife surgery on Monday morning is the next event on the schedule, and we'll let you all know how that goes next week.
I just wanted to take a quick moment to address the many expressions of gratitude that have been made about the blog - its so overwhelming to us to have so many people on this journey with us to even have the need for a blog, that really the gratitude is ours extended to each of you reading this. Thanks for caring about us, loving us and praying for us ~ The Daniel Family