The news
I have reached out to many of my friends and family with the news, but to tell everyone while processing difficult news has been hard. The bottom line is that I have been diagnosed with locally advanced liver cancer, and I am starting chemotherapy and immunotherapy this week. I expect to go through about 12-24 weeks of treatment in the hope to shrink the 7cm tumor on my liver, and either eliminate it or have surgery to remove it.
How we got here
In late July, I began to feel an uncomfortable pressure on my right side but though it might be a pulled muscle from karate practice. But it would not go away. During a routine visit with my primary care doctor, he scheduled an ultrasound on 8/4 to investigate. This confirmed the presence tumor, which was again confirmed with a CT scan on 8/11. After a referral from Dr. O’Neil to Oncologist Dr. Miriovsky, I had a biopsy on 8/17 and full body PET Scan on 8/23, with a few blood tests in-between.
The bad news was a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma in my liver and adjacent lymph node. The good news: liver function is acting normal, blood work looks good, and the PET scan shows that it has not spread anywhere else in my body so far. I am not losing weight, and I am not experiencing extra fatigue. I do get some discomfort in my side, usually just some pressure, but occasionally mild pain. In fact, after a year of eating better and practicing Karate, I am in better shape then I have been in 20 years, and my doctor even took me off my cholesterol meds! Except for, well, cancer.
Next Steps
So, here we go. I had a port installed last week. I did have a bad moment after the port install where I ended up in the ER for a few hours to get some pain under control, but my body is adjusting, and I feel much better than I did last Saturday night. I started chemotherapy and immunotherapy as of today (9/6/23).
Therapy sessions will be once a week, for two weeks in a row, then one week off. I really don’t know what to expect – The doctor has said that most people feel off for 24-48 hours, then resume most normal activities. It really depends on the person, so we just will have to walk into it. Our doctor was also encouraging a balanced approach to adding holistic care, so I am taking some supplements and making balanced diet choices – mostly fruits, vegies, and some chaga mushrooms! I am staying active and still exercising as I can.
How we are doing
This has been very hard on us all – My kids all know that this is serious, and we have a road to walk, and each have been dealing with it in their own honest way. I am getting more hugs than usual, and tears have been shed, but we are all checking in with each other, being honest, and keeping us on the path together. Karly has been extraordinary – supportive, thoughtful, and just the partner I need to keep me honest while working to keep the fears at bay. We are stretching to love and comfort one another each day. We have a local close group of friends we have been in touch with for support and help as needed, and Karly’s mom and sister have been here as well to help us prepare for the next steps.
I am asking all my friends and family for prayer: Pray for healing, pray for courage, pray for Karly and the kids. Pray for wise medical choices and financial resources as needed. So far, I have good insurance, but it’s not unlimited, and it’s a source of unreasonable anxiety for me. Pray that I can continue to work through the treatment phase. Please just pray.
What other things can be done? I am not sure right now. We have all the home bases covered by close family and friends. The freezer is full of meals. If you drop me a line of encouragement, please know that I will read it, even if I don’t respond right away. I sincerely appreciate the prayers and good thoughts coming my way, but it’s sometimes hard to respond to every contact.
More information will be posted in the coming days here on BaileyLife.org. I have had this site for years and have not done much with it, but now it can work as a central place for updates.
God is Good
Finally – God is good. I have believed that for nearly 30 years, and this diagnosis doesn’t change that for me. Do I have space to be angry, fearful, frustrated, sad and hopeful as I live in this moment? Absolutely, and I have felt all that. What I can do, for as long as I can do it has always been up to God in my view. I just have more work to do here as a husband, father, and man, so I am going to do the work of living, healing and thriving, until God says no more. Maybe that’s in 6 months, 6 years, or another 30 years. I just want to do the right thing, the right way, right now, all the way.
I hope that’s an encouragement to you.
