Sorry we have left all of you hanging and wondering what's going on with John and the 'procedure'. Well, it went thru the Appeals process and final decision is that it was denided due to it not being FDA approved for pancreatic cancer. It 'is' approved for liver cancer but because the tumor on John's liver originated with his pancreas it is still considered pancreatic cancer on the liver. Isn't symantics great? So John still received his IV-chemo of Gemzar last week and continued his daily oral chemo of Tarceva. Dr. Toma was concerned because of the length of time to get the ruling, so she ordered another CT-scan ran last Thursday and asked to see him today. The CT-scan showed that the liver tumor is increasing in size (about pingpong ball size). Also, seems the Gemzar/Tarceva chemos he 'has' been taking has quit working. The main tumor on the pancreas has grown back to it original size.The Gemzar/Tarceva is the "top of the line" in chemos for pancreatic cancer. So the procedure on the liver tumor will not be performed and Gemzar/Tarceva treatments have been stopped. John was given the only other option of receiving another chemo named 5Fu which is a really old med. 5FU though has not ever been successful in knocking down pancreatic cancer and makes the patient really, really sick. And could have worst side-effects than no treatment. John has chosen not to take the 5FU. He wants to be able to 'live' the best he can for whatever time is left without being out-of-his-mind sick and bedridden. This leaves you wondering, "what will happen now?". We don't really have an answer, except that the tumors will continue to grow. At what rate? There isn't an answer for that either. Pancreatic Cancer is just not really understood well enough yet. Now, Dr. Toma will treat John symptomatically. Pain management, immunity, and diabetic diet being the main areas. At best the doctor has said 6-8 months. By God's grace it will be longer. John is hoping to see another Lent here on earth.
I ask that each of you please continue to pray that God will make this time beautiful and as happy as can be for John. Don't dwell on the ugliness of cancer but on the beauty of God's will.
His Handmaiden, Nila
9 years ago
28 comments:
Hi Nila and John,
Thank you for the update. I am sorry for the treatment has failed, but I applaud your choice.
I have heard it said "You can spend the rest of your life living or you can spend the rest of your life dieing". John you are one of the bravest men I have ever known. You choose to live.
God Bless,
Michael "Elias" Buzan
Hi Sweetheart ~
I pray God's abundant grace continues to surround your family ~
I pray you and John feel the security, support and Divine comfort of His arms around you ~
I pray all the love and prayers of your family and friends envelope and carry you and your family safely through the days ahead ~
Lord have mercy on us all ~ His will be done in all our lives
Remember I love you both,
Joanna Wison
You can bet that we are praying harder than ever, day and night. God bless you all always. Our love to you
Neena and Phil Haddad
Dear Subdn. John & Nila,
I will be praying for you and your family. May the Lord envelope you in His love, and confirm His providence in you.
Let me know if you need anything.
Fr Jeremy
I can't believe the loop holes!!! This will be a very special request! You are always in my prayers. You are so faithful and an inspiration to all. May God continue to bless you and put his healing hand on John.
My love to you and your family
Susan Harroz
I particularly love a prayer in the Episcopalian 1928 Book of Common Prayer which states something like this: “We thank you, Lord, for your continued loving care and tender mercies, known and unknown, seen and unseen, to us and our loved ones. We pray that we might live in an attitude of prayerful thanksgiving, remembering that You do more and better things for us than we can desire or pray for.”
It seems particularly appropriate that we remember He “,,,does more and better things for us than we can desire or pray for.”
Our Lord is doing what is best for John, although it’s impossible to understand and difficult to believe. In ten years we may better understand the blessings of today and be truly thankful.
Fervent prayers continue for all the Dutcher family.
xoxoxooxox Juanita Krause
Mom, Dad,
We love you.
Munchkin, ARon, Jaymeister and Monster
Nila and John -
My thoughts are with you. May you enjoy all of the moments you continue to share with your family and friends.
Love,
Amanda
Nila, I think about you and your family everyday. I applaud John's decision to live to the fullest the time he has left, he is the bravest of the brave. I wish I could hug you right now but just know how much you are valued by those whose life you touch every day.
Love,
Ruby
Sbdn. John and Nila,
Please know you are not walking this journey alone. You are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, each praying for you.
FDE and Kathy
Nila and John,
Sharon and I enjoyed you and your family at the Dutcher/Ward picnic.
John, you and your beautiful family are an inspiration to us. We are richer for having all of you as relatives and friends.
Bill Ward
Hi Gorgeous, sad to hear that John can not get the treatment for both the liver and pancreas It is a sad day when you think your insurance will cover all your ailments, but like you said, semantics we will continue our special prayers for John and hope/pray that He will answer them. We love you both.
Handsome
Thanks John for showing the rest of us guys how to be a strong, spiritual, and courageous father. You and your family continue to be in my prayers.
- David S.
Dear Sbdn John and Nila,
My family is privileged to be able to take our place in this great circle of prayer, interceding for your healing.
You know, not one of us is guaranteed to see tomorrow. So, your fight for life is a good reminder to all that we cannot take life, nor one another for granted.
I thank God for your courage and willingness to "fight the good fight of faith." We're with you all the way!
Fr. Mark & Susan
If you are ever going to love me,
Love me now, while I can know
The sweet and tender feelings
Which from true affection flow.
Love me now
While I am living.
Do not wait until I’m gone
And then have it chiseled in marble,
Sweet words on ice-cold stone.
If you have tender thoughts of me,
Please tell me now.
If you wait until I am sleeping,
Never to awaken,
There will be death between us,
And I won’t hear you then.
So, if you love me, even a little bit,
Let me know it while I am living
So I can treasure it.
May this comfort both of you. Diane
Nila and John,
May you see the love and beauty in your life in the days to come. We wish you peace!
You are an inspiration to all of us.
Love,
Donna and Herb
John and Nila-
The Labus and Waguespack families are thinking about you and praying for you every single day! We love you so much and are here for you. We know that God's plan is never fully understood when it means that our loved ones hurt, or suffer. We are praying that your courageous decision leads away from the path of hurt and toward a beautiful direction of happy times through the rough days. We love you- God Bless You!
Laura Labus
Dear Sweet Dutcher Family,
I am sorry you have to go through this trial. God is your strength and you are witnessing to us all. I am continuing healing and peace prayers for all of you. I am going to quote a couple of my favorite scriptures when things seem out of my control. Wishing you FAITH, HOPE AND LOTS OF LOVE!
For we walk by FAITH, not by sight or apprearance. II Cor. 5:7
May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Be joyful in HOPE, patient in afflication faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12
All things work together for good for those who LOVE the Lord.
Romans 8:28
Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's...
2 Chron. 20:15-17
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, noth now & forever. Psalm 121:8
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Phil. 4:6,7
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Joni Allison
John: You are constantly in my prayers. Your faith blesses others including me. Thank you for the reminder of what is importatnt in life.
Thank you, Nila, for the updates.
Rick Dixon
Nila, we love you and John. Teese and Mike
Hey John & Nila,
I am so sorry the treatment has failed. I, too, applaud your choice.
John, you, Nila and the girls are in my prayers and thoughts daily. Enjoy each other and live your lives to the fullest!
Mary Tierney
You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
Carol Comp
John and Nila, We are so saddened to hear this news. Its been awhile since I have been in touch with anyone and Kelly is now keeping me updated. You are all in my prayers and I am not at all surprised at your strong faith. What an inspiration to us all. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jimmy and Joni Rackley
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU JOHN AND YOUR FAMILY.CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, AND REMEMBER GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR EVERY OBSTACLE WE FACE.YOUR AN INSPIRATION AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU.
KEVIN PYRON
HARPER MAINT. SERVICE
John,
I pray all is well. You are in my prayers every night. May Christ bless you with health and happiness.
You are one of a kind, a jack of all trades, and can cook a mean kufta sandwich at the bake sale.
God bless+
Phil Nasr
John & Nila, Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Your friends @ Harper
Maintenance Service
John and Nina,
The insurance fighting you on this just really gets me going. I do not know either of you - I'm involved with a bile duct cancer community, and I get Google alerts whenever something new on the web is posted with "bile duct cancer" in the text. Your recent post popped up on my alert, which brought me to your blog.
The bile ducts run inside and outside the liver, and the tumors can occur anywhere inside the bile ducts. There is one type, intrahepatic bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), which is when the tumor is in the portion of the bile ducts inside the liver. This type is considered primary liver cancer. The reason I'm going through a background on this is because bile duct cancer, and in particular the inside the liver type, is because it has no standard of care. Oncologists routinely provide pancreatic cancer treatment to this inside the liver type of bile duct cancer because it behaves and responds very similarly to pancreatic cancer. So, here you have a primary liver cancer, that in medical circles is thought of as behaving and responding the same as pancreatic cancer.
Have you tried contacting a PALS associate at www.pancan.org? They are a wonderful resource, and no doubt they can help you navigate the waters of the insurance company.
All my best to you and your family.
- Sara
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