Hello everyone!!
Sorry for the delay in the updates here lately- we have been so busy!! I feel like I hardly have time to check emails much less post anything on my blog.
But- let me bring you up to speed...
George is tolerating his chemo treatments very well- much better than expected, I think. I wasn't sure what to expect, so of course I always imagine the worst.
He has lost some hair- as you can see his thick head of hair has thinned considerably- BUT it's not all gone, and we look forward to its return when he is finished with treatment.
He had a port implanted last week to make his labs and treatments go easier. The picture here is just after getting the port put in, and then wheeled down to chemo to give it its first go-round.
Look how cheerful he is in spite of it all! George's attitude is great. The medications he is on are making him a bit moodier than usual, which can be challenging, but overall he is enjoying life and thankful for every day of it. I am thankful for him- and that he is still with me.
The good news is that his numbers have dropped by nearly half since starting the treatment!!, so that is very encouraging. Please keep him in your prayers for continued improvement.

We had a super special treat over Labor Day weekend- George's sister and her husband visited us, and we were able to treat them to a riverboat cruise and then enjoy the fireworks later that evening on board.














We have been working on our house a lot, too- that has kept us both busy, and good therapy for George. It's important to him to continue to do the things to our old house that we both have wanted to do. It brings him so much joy!
Now we are planning our Christmas trip- I will be finished with school and he will be finished with his treatments and we will be very ready to celebrate!! We are looking at taking a cruise someplace sunny and warm. We can't wait!!
Thank you again, everyone, for praying and keeping up with us- I will try to do better at updates from now on.
Much love~ George & Gina

George had his first chemo treatment on Monday.
He seems to be tolerating it fairly well so far. Some fatigue, a bit of a sore throat, some bone pain... but no nausea- and we're hoping that stays away!!
His attitude is good- he is able to keep up a fairly good pace, but is resting as needed. By the end of most days, he's pretty worn out. Between the residual from the radiation, and then the chemo, it's no wonder.
But- so far so good! I will keep everyone updated as time goes by.
His next treatment is August 30th.
Thank you for your prayers!!

Hello everyone! Sorry it has taken a while for another update.

Life has been busy! George has completed his radiation treatments to his chest, and has noticed a significant reduction in pain, so that's great news!

We also learned that the spot on his spine has been determined to be an arthritic spur, NOT cancer, so that's one less spot to worry about!! hooray!! We'll take whatever we can get....!

On this Monday, August 9th, George will have his first chemotherapy treatment.
Please pray for many things regarding this:

• minimal side effects
• his hair won't fall out
• he'll tolerate it well
• it won't disrupt his daily routine much
• and most of all, that it will do what it's supposed to do!!

His treatments will probably go until December. I will continue with regular updates to let you know how he is doing.

Thank you all sooo much for all your thoughts and prayers!!!

UPDATE

Hello Everyone! Sorry it has taken me nearly a week to get an update on here- it's been a busy week!!!
Well... we don't always get exactly what we ask for, do we?? But somehow we still have to trust that God has our lives in His hands in spite of it all.
George's scans came back not so great after all. He has multiple new "occurrences" ranging from his skull to his lower spine.
So, that was a bit disheartening... but let me tell you about our trip.


We drove to Cleveland on Sunday after church, stopping at Columbus on the way up to enjoy a lovely downtown lunch. Here is George at La Fogata Grill (highly recommend the Fajita Salad!!). We enjoyed a couple shops- one of which is a lovely little Turkish shop with all sorts of beautiful things to tickle your fancy! I got a pashmina and a necklace.




Once we got to Cleveland, we checked in at the Cleveland Clinic Guest House- right across the street from where all his appointments would be happening.
After getting settled in our room, we decided to drive down to Lake Erie to watch the sun set.
There is downtown Cleveland in the background.










George hanging out on the rocks.












After sunset we got a couple soft serves and walked out on the pier. A nice man offered to take our picture for us.





So after a lovely evening enjoying the beauty of Lake Erie, we got a good night's rest, and George headed over to the Clinic first thing Monday morning. He had scans from 9-2. It was a full day- complete with lovely things such as Barium. UGH.
After his scans came back, we met with the doctor, and he highly recommended that now is the time for George to consider chemotherapy. He took the time to "debunk" some common myths people have about chemo, which was very helpful in giving us more peace of mind about opting to go this route.
So, at the end of this month, George will begin a series of chemo treatments, once every 3 weeks, for about 6 months. He is starting a round of radiation next week in order to treat an area on his sternum that is causing pain, as well as the spot on his spine.
Keep him in your prayers as we chart these new waters- pray especially that he tolerates the chemo well- that he has minimal side effects- and most of all, that it is effective.
Thank you all so much for your prayers regarding his scans. We just have to keep trusting that God is taking care of George- and He is. We know He is. After all- 10 years later, I still have him!!!












This is us at a hot air balloon show we went to last night with his oldest daughter and her family.











George with his oldest daughter, Tessa.

Scans are on July 12th. Pray for GREAT scans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another Year!

Yay! Yet another year to attend the National Cancer Survivor's Day Riverboat Cruise on the Ohio River. We had another great day with our good friends who are also survivors.
Here are some pictures for you to enjoy of our day.







































A quick little update- George is feeling pretty good after radiation. Still experiencing some fatigue, but the pain has pretty well subsided. He is on a low-dose pain patch, so that helps.
We have been to Cleveland Clinic again- there was a possibility of getting George on the latest breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment- Provenge. However, we're not sure he's entirely considered a "candidate"- but it's not being completely ruled out. There are other things the doctor there (who is actually the Head of the Prostate Cancer department) would rather see him doing. There is a possible clinical trial- if not that, then a possible secondary hormone treatment, depending on scans being stable. If scans are not stable, then the word chemo has come up.
PRAY FOR STABLE SCANS!!! Oh, heck- pray for GREAT scans!!!!! why limit God?!?!?!
We are sort of in a wait mode right now because we haven't gotten a call back from the doctor yet. WHY doctors do this to you, I will never know. But once he is scheduled for scans, and those are reviewed, then we will know what steps are going to be up for consideration.
So, like I said- PRAY FOR GREAT SCANS!!!
Thank you all for your support and prayers!!

Hello Everyone!

Well- quick update.... George is currently undergoing radiation therapy for his hip area again. The most recent bone scan did show a good bit of progression and after a couple MRI's it was determined he would need to do some radiation. He also started getting some increased pain, so he was quite anxious to get started.

He is on week 2 of a 3-4 week course. He goes in once a day to get "zapped". We are actually pretty happy about the form of radiation treatment he is getting this time- it is called tomotherapy. It is supposed to be the cutting edge of radiation- it is very precise, and can be used to retreat areas (which is what his situation called for).

After this treatment, he will also do a round for his leg- there is a spot on his femur that needs attention.

Overall, however- he feels pretty good! He is noticing less discomfort since starting the radiation, so that is encouraging.

All you can do is just keep trucking along, dealing with things as they pop up, and just hope for the best!! His attitude is great!!

Keep him in your prayers- and me, too.

HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
GEORGE!!!

An overdue thank you-
a very special friend of ours' who is SO sweet to George gave us a beautiful bit of Christmas Cheer! She made for us the very pretty wreath you see hanging on our house.
Thank you, Debbie!! We love it!!

We had an interesting turn of events today! George went to his first visit with the Orthopedic Oncologist this morning. After x-raying his leg and hip, and discussing symptoms, the doctor decided that George doesn't need to do anything right now! The one possible problem is that the doctor did not receive copies of the recent scans (even though we were told they had been sent- and received!) so he didn't have that information to help his decision. George is going to get those put on a CD on Friday and send them to the doctor, and then we'll find out if he still feels the same. If so, then George doesn't have to do any treatment right now- which would be FANTASTIC!!
This could mean that the bone scan was showing other activity- such as remineralization of the bone caused by the Zometa infusion he gets monthly- and not necessarily new tumor sites.
Pray the verdict remains the same! That would be a GREAT start to 2010!!