Columbus and the Valley

NED Again, Thanks Be to God!

If you read my blog, you have heard my declarations of how damn good it is to be able to get great cancer treatment here at home. You’ve heard me say how much I appreciate the John B. Amos Cancer Center, all the people who work there, and most specially Dr. Andy Pippas and his right hand, Cindy Ivey.

Here’s another story that illustrates just how incredible the care I’ve received here has played out: You all know how important the MRI scan that I received on Tuesday was. It has been five months since my third back surgery (the one Dr. Marc Goldman did that stopped the chronic pain and essentially kept me out of a wheel chair), and about 7 months since Dr. Mike Gorum and Dr. John Cabelka  (and a host of other physicists, technicians and support staff) attempted to kill the renal cell cancer tumor in my spine. This MRI was huge! This is probably the most anxious I’ve been, because a good report would mean I might have a chance at significant, disease-free survival. On the flip, a bad report would signal the beginning of some negatively life changing other procedures or nasty drug side effects and a likely significant shortening of my potential life span.

This is how much I love the care I’m receiving here at the hands of medical professionals who also happen to be my friends. Mike Gorum has a vested interest in my life. He has performed (along with Dr. Mac Molnar) a huge spinal operation on me that culminated in the rebuilding of the vertebral body at L-2. He has watched me suffer with crippling pain and slowly begin to regain my strength and vitality.

Mike was finished with his work on Tuesday, fairly early in the day after a very early start, but he came back to the hospital to be in the room in which the technicians were administering my MRI. He literally watched the scans while they were happening. He sent me a text, “MRI clean.” That evening, Mike and his wife, Tammy, met me at Ride On Bikes and they rode with me for my first bike ride in over a year. I tried to tell them how much it meant to me to have such care and concern at a time when I may have most needed it in my life.

That is what getting treatment at home looks like. These medical professionals are our friends. They live here. They rear their children here. We see them around town at plays, restaurants and music events. If you are asked to support local medical charities, please dig deep. We need a medical school here, we need a new women’s and children’s center like the one being planned at Columbus Regional Healthcare System, we need expanded facilities at St. Francis hospital.

We have taken advantage of seeking second and third opinions (with the urging and blessings of Dr. Pippas), but if at all possible I want to be here for treatments.

I’ll get off my soap box now and tell you what I just read in my MRI report. My spine is in perfect alignment, held in place with two titanium plates and four screws, for which my insurance paid $43,000, if you can believe that! There is no evidence of metastatic disease! There are no soft tissue abnormalities present near my spine! In short, it appears the stereotactic radiosurgery that they didn’t get right at Emory, was administered perfectly here. The tumor in my spine appears to be dead and new bone is growing, thanks in part to the monthly injections of Xgeva, (http://www.xgeva.com/WT.mc_id=GooglePaidSearchBrandXgevaURL&WT.srch=1) a drug that should strengthen my bones and make it more difficult for the establishment of another renal cell metastasis.

Here is a snapshot of the history  with Renal Cell Carcinoma:

Mike Venable

59 years of age

• June 11, 2009 radical left nephrectomy + 12 lymph nodes (1 positive for RCC)

• August, 2009 ASSURE clinical trial (Sutent/Nexavar/Placebo) Ultimately completed trial.

• September, 2010 discovered 2 cm tumor in spine at L-2 and unblinded from trial (Placebo arm, thank God, but I knew that all along)

• October 21, 2010 Biopsy of spine determined the lesion is a metastatic RCC.

• December 2, 2010 Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) at Emory Atlanta (went for for CT simulation on 11/17/2010)

• March, 2010: oncologist says that I’m NED.

• August, 2011: Oncologist says the tumor at L-2 wasn’t completely killed and it is growing again.

• August 19, 2011: Lumbar fusion surgery and fixation with pedicle screws and fusion with bone morphogenic protein at L 1-3.

• Three weeks post surgery, developed severe #10 back pain. Treated with time-release morphine and dilaudid for breakthrough pain.

• Awake at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 8, 2011 and squatted down to remove power plug from wall socket. Complete loss of strength on right side caused me to fall over to my right.

Got to bed and called my neurosurgeon early Saturday morning. He instructed me to get to emergency department immediately. His partner, Dr. Marc Goldman met me and we went immediately to surgery, where he performed a lumbar laminectomy (bilateral inferior L1, complete bilateral L2 and bilateral superior L3). Pain was immediately gone and according to physical therapist, strength can be regained in legs with therapy, which I’m doing now.

• On Monday, October 10, I was moved by ambulance to the John B. Amos Cancer Center, where I was simulated for stereotactic radiosurgery to attempt to kill the tumor in my back. Got food poisoning from bad hotdog on Monday evening, so we delayed SRS until Thursday, October 20. 16-greys of radiation in a single one-hour treatment.

• Scans in December, 2011 show NED. Got second opinion on December 30, 2011 from Dr. Janice Dutcher at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, NY. She advised to stay course, but would administer HDIL-2, if we wanted to try it.

• Got third opinion from Dr. Dan George at Duke University Hospital on January 11, 2012. He recommended to stay the course and said he was “guardedly optimistic” about my long-term disease-free survival.

• Scans in March, 2012 show NED.

Thank you for all your continued prayers for me and my family. I am a walking, breathing, living example of the power of prayer, good medical treatment and great attitude. Sorry for the length of this post, but I know you want to know about my latest scans.

Peace…

 

Comments

  8. Jennifer Joyner says

    This is awesome news, Mike! So happy for you and Jill. I bet you’ll get one of the best nights of sleep tonight that you’ve had in months! Answered prayers, indeed!

    Reply

  11. Dianne Henry says

    Wonderful news!!!
    I have been waiting for this since Jill said please pray for clean scans!
    Love and Blessings,
    D & J

    Reply

  15. Kate Nerone says

    Time for the Victory Cry: I’M CANCER FREE, BITCHES!!! We are raising up the cheer in the Sharp/Nerone household. So, so happy to read this news, Mike. Love you like a hurricane. xoxo

    Reply

  16. ginny says

    i am weeping with joy and praising the God we serve and love! Congratulations…LIVE BIG! Love to you and Jill! <3

    Reply

  19. LInda Willoughby says

    Miracles are still happening in Columbus, GA. I am thrilled for you and for Jill. This has been quite a journey for you and your family.

    Reply

  20. Donna Brown says

    Great news Mike! You have been in my thoughts and prayers for a long time. Miracles happen every day. May God continue to bless you and Jill!

    Reply

  23. Maridonna says

    Oh Mike!!
    It’s so very good to read this news. Glad, glad glad!! Bless God for this gift! I’m looking forward to seeing you on the bike trails.
    Love,
    Maridonna

    Reply

  27. Jan Venable Davenport says

    That’s such wonderful news….so happy !!! I seriously pray for you and Eric every night.
    Give Jill my love…
    Jan:)

    Reply

  31. Jessica says

    Fantastic news! It is so wonderful to know 2 miracles – you and Bill Barrick. Keep the faith and hope alive!!!

    Reply

  32. Eddie and Nancy Reid says

    I wish you really could know how grateful and thankful to God we are for the wonderful news that you have been given. This is the most exciting posts that you have shared with us! We are so happy for you and Jill.
    Prayers will continue as always.

    Reply

  34. Julie Harris says

    What great news! So happy for you and Jill. It’s been a rough few years for you guys, but you have discovered what I have…you can get through anything with the help and care of good friends. Love you!

    Reply

  35. Laurel Blackwell says

    Mike and Jill,
    What splendid news! I loved reading the timeline, Mike. Thanks for sharing that with all of us. What a journey you two have been on… We are so very relieved by the results you just received.
    Let’s just say “Thanks be to God!”

    Reply

  38. Cathy Weaver says

    Mike,
    I have been following your blog for many months now. You have been in my prayers.
    Our dear friend, Phil Harding, was a victim of kidney
    cancer in January 2000. RCC took from this world an outstanding educator, faithful friend, amazing husband and loving father. In memory of Phil, I have been rooting and praying hard that you conquer this monster. Thank the Lord for this wonderful news!!

    “Fear not, for I am with you”. Isaiah 41:10

    Reply

  42. Carter Seaton says

    Dear Mike and Jill,

    My eyes filled as I read your blog. What great news! I’m so happy for both of you. Keep on having the time of your life. Bike the trails and enjoy that new whitewater course. Hope to see you both in the near future.

    Reply

  46. Mark Venable says

    Mike, I rejoice at this wonderful news! God may not always come when we want him to, but he’s always right on time.

    Reply

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