Howard's Big Adventure-the latest

We have learned that I will go to Kirklin Clinic at UAB on January 2 for consultation concerning my chemo treatment. The next day I will be admitted at 6:30 am for the procedure. I will stay overnight for observation and home on the 4th. The procedure will consist of running a catheter through an artery located in my hip area. The catheter will go all the way to the tumor where they will release the chemo directly into/on the tumor. This treatment is highly successful. Because it is placed directly at the location of the tumor and does not go throughout my body as traditional chemo would, I will have minimal side effects. At the most, there will be flu-like symptoms for a few days. It is anticipated that this will be done twice with about a 30 day interval. Radiation is likely to follow. There is a chance that the tumor will be completely killed with the first treatment but it is not likely. So many of you have been so kind in offers of help and the promise of prayer. There are individuals and churches from Texas to Indiana to the East Coast who are praying. It is good to have friends in these times. Jana and I are deeply grateful. We pray God’s good gifts of grace and peace to each of you. Howard

Howard's Big Adventure

On Wednesday, December 5, Jana and I went to Kirklin Clinic in Birmingham for what we thought was preliminary work for an eventual liver transplant 4 or 5 years away. You may not know, I was diagnosed with cirrhosis about two years ago. The disease is genetic meaning that my parents carried the defective gene and passed it on to me. When I was born, my genetics set off a timer that would result in my acquiring cirrhosis in my mid-fifties thus the eventual need for a transplant. After my blood work and CT scan, I met with the doctor who would head the transplant team. He gave me the news that I had a cancerous tumor on my liver that was 6.6 centimeters in size. Of course this was devastating. I went numb and at the same time into business mode asking question after question. We learned that there is a treatment available that has had good success in shrinking the tumor. That is important. In order for me to be considered for a transplant at this point, the tumor must be reduced to 5 centimeters or less. It must then remain stable for six months. The doctor also indicated that the CT scan seemed to indicate that the tumor had not invaded the liver. That was great news. If it had, options for treatment would be limited and there would never be a transplant. I asked the doctor, given all he knows, what was his feeling about there being a good outcome, that is, a transplant and thus a 100% cure. He confidently said that he was very optimistic. He threw out some percentages that would make a gambler in Vegas salivate. We were pleased. The doctor took the initiative of arranging an unscheduled meeting with the surgeon that same day. The surgeon believed that the tumor had invaded the liver so our roller coaster took a plummeting fall. He explained that my case would go before the tumor board the following Friday, December 7, and they would decide if I was a candidate for the preferred treatment. Friday came with a phone call and good/bad news. There was consensus that the tumor had not invaded the liver and the preferred treatment was available. However, the nurse indicated that we would not be considered for a transplant because the tumor was 6.6 in size and the upper limit was 6.5! We were dumb founded. How can that be possible? We wondered if our transplant doctor had not had accurate information. Fortunately Jana had taken detailed notes. The doctor had said it was 6.6 and yet was very optimistic of our success. Then we remembered that he had spent a great deal of time talking about my young age, my overall health, my healthy diet and general care for myself. He said that would weigh heavily in my favor. We believe he is going to extend the boundaries for me because of those factors. I am still on track for an eventual transplant. We think chemo and radiation will begin in a couple of weeks. We are waiting for another phone call with that information. The chemo’s side effects will be minimal with only flu-like symptoms for a few days. I will have two treatments, return in 30 days to check the size, hoping it has reduced significantly. That is what we know as of today. I will try and stay current with information at this site. I will post on Facebook when there are updates. I hope you will refer to this as your source as there has already been some misstatements by well intentioned folks. This will also help ease the stress of telling my story over and over. I hope you understand. Jana and I appreciate your many encouraging words and prayers.