tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65212819625220536892024-03-13T22:09:50.379-04:00Nate's Road To RecoveryThis blog is dedicated to providing progress of Nate's battle with stage IV metastatic melanoma cancer (liver and lung metastasis) diagnosed on 7-Dec-2007. Deb and I appreciate all of the prayer and loving support so many have provided for our family, please continue to keep us in your prayers and thoughts.Natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-52131324566684555832009-12-17T21:11:00.004-05:002009-12-17T21:42:18.025-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_frGJOiuwmxA/Syrn_5tJ5pI/AAAAAAAAABQ/ihpWD2jb-X0/s1600-h/CCI08292009_00009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 315px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_frGJOiuwmxA/Syrn_5tJ5pI/AAAAAAAAABQ/ihpWD2jb-X0/s320/CCI08292009_00009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416396586874431122" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">December 18, 1999<br /><br />It's hard to believe it would have been ten years since that wonderful day. I miss Nate more and more with each passing hour. <br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_frGJOiuwmxA/Syro6uIl4iI/AAAAAAAAABY/9eECV7GmeCQ/s1600-h/morgan+and+landon+09.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_frGJOiuwmxA/Syro6uIl4iI/AAAAAAAAABY/9eECV7GmeCQ/s320/morgan+and+landon+09.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416397597380567586" border="0" /></a>Morgan and Landon are doing so great. They are what keeps me going.<br /><br /><br />I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. Don't take for granted those closest to you.<br />Love,<br />DebDebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12900931368587420145noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-73107773453151065282009-09-01T23:03:00.006-04:002009-09-04T11:11:41.043-04:00Nate's Obituary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4PrFi6hGqg/Sp-8wFpF9qI/AAAAAAAAAGA/dH5gLm0MUmY/s1600-h/obit_photo.php.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4PrFi6hGqg/Sp-8wFpF9qI/AAAAAAAAAGA/dH5gLm0MUmY/s400/obit_photo.php.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377224014437938850" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;">Nathaniel R. “<span class="SpellE">Nate</span>” <span class="SpellE">Trask</span>, 33 of </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Dearborn, died at home Sunday, August 30, 2009 after a courageous fight with <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_0">melanoma</span> cancer.<span style=""> </span>He was born to Robert and Margaret <span class="SpellE">Trask</span> on February 22, 1976 in Newburyport, MA. </span><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;">On </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Dec. 18, 1999, <span class="SpellE">Nate</span> married Deborah R. <span class="SpellE">Cremer</span> in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_1">Willow Creek Church</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_2">Barrington, IL</span>.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Nate attended the <span class="SpellE">McCook</span>, Nebraska schools, and graduated from <span class="SpellE">McCook</span> <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_3">High School</span> in 1994 where he lettered in basketball and helped lead his team to the Nebraska State Basketball <span class="SpellE"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_4">Tournament</span></span> two consecutive years.<span class="SpellE"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:12;"> Nate</span></span></span> received his BS degree from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_5">Wheaton College</span>, a <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_6">degree in mechanical engineering</span> from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_7">Illinois</span> <span class="SpellE">Instutute</span> of Technology, and a Master's from <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_8">University of Michigan</span>. <span style=""></span>He worked as a research engineer for <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_9">Ford Motor Co</span>. for nearly 10 years.<span style=""> </span>While there, <span class="SpellE">Nate</span> and his fellow engineers were recognized for receiving several patents in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_10">advanced engine technologies</span>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="SpellE"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:12;">Nate</span></span></span> was a passionate member of the Genesis Church in Royal Oak. He was a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.<span style=""> </span>As a member of the DCSCC and AROC car clubs, he enjoyed racing his 1994 <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_11">Mazda <span class="SpellE">Miata</span></span> in autocross races and was a top performer in his class.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;">Along with some of his fellow engineers, <span class="SpellE">Nate</span> was the drummer in the “Inline5” band.<span style=""> </span>He played recreational softball and participated in several area triathlons and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_12">road races</span>.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Most of all, he loved being with his wife, Deb, and their two children, Morgan and Landon.<span style=""> </span>As a family, they enjoyed playing video games, reading stories, singing songs, and drawing pictures.<span style=""> </span>He was a generous, kind, and caring person.<span style=""> </span>In the midst of his illness, <span class="SpellE">Nate</span> shared his faith through his <span class="SpellE">blog</span>, “<span class="SpellE">Nate’s</span> <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_13">Road to Recovery</span>.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="SpellE"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:12;">Nate</span></span></span> is survived by his wife, Deborah <span class="SpellE">Trask</span>; his two children, Morgan and Landon <span class="SpellE">Trask</span>; his parents, The Rev. Robert and Margaret <span class="SpellE">Trask</span> of <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_14">Fort Gratiot, MI</span>; his grandmother, Hazel <span class="SpellE">Trask</span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_15"> of Annapolis, MD</span>; his grandparents, Charles and Margaret <span class="SpellE">Schoenherr</span> of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_16">Wheaton, IL</span>; his siblings, Margaret “Meg” <span class="SpellE">Trask</span> of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_17">Chicago, IL</span>, Charles (Melissa) <span class="SpellE">Trask</span> of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_18">Charlotte, NC</span>, Emily <span class="SpellE">Trask</span> of Fort Gratiot, and <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_19">Stephen <span class="SpellE">Trask</span></span> of Wheaton, IL; his father-in-law, Cal <span class="SpellE">Cremer</span> of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_20">Muskegon, MI</span>; his mother-in-law, Marge (Jim) <span class="SpellE">Bogdalek</span> of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_21">Naperville, IL</span>; and two brothers-in-law, John (Sally) and Ben (Nancy) <span class="SpellE">Cremer</span>.<span style=""> </span>He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Robert P. <span class="SpellE">Trask</span> Jr.</span> of </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;">Visitation will be on </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_22">on Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m</span>. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in L.J. Griffin Funeral Home, 7707 <span class="SpellE">Middlebelt</span> Rd., <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_23">Westland, MI</span>.<span style=""> </span>The funeral service will be at <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_24">11:00 a.m. Saturday</span> in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_25">Christ Episcopal Church</span>, <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_26">120 N. Military, Dearborn</span> preceded by one hour of visitation. <span style=""></span>Burial will follow in <span class="SpellE">Parkview</span></span> Cemetery in Livonia.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;">Contributions may be made in <span class="SpellE">Nate’s</span> memory to </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Genesis Church or <a href="http://www.melanoma.org/memorialdonation.aspx">Melanoma Research Foundation</a>.<span style=""> </span>To send condolences, please visit <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.natesroadtorecovery.blogspot.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1251860669_27">www.natesroadtorecovery.blogspot.com</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="file:///C:/Users/Margaret/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /></p>cdthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00908469607510438686noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-32463296875204676572009-08-31T19:33:00.005-04:002009-08-31T21:16:43.969-04:00ArrangementsThis afternoon arrangements were made for Nate's visitation and funeral service. The visitation will take place at <a href="http://www.griffinfuneralhome.com/">L.J Griffin Funeral Home</a> in Westland, 7707 Middlebelt Rd. (at Ann Arbor Trail)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Visitation</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday 6-9 p.m.<br />Friday 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Funeral</span><br />Saturday 11 a.m.<br />The funeral service will be at Christ Episcopal Church in Dearborn, 120 N. Military (at Cherry Hill). There will be one hour of visitation from 10-11 a.m. with the service starting at 11 a.m.<br /><br />Flowers may be sent to the funeral home. Memorial gifts can be made to Genesis Church, 309 N. Main St., Royal Oak, MI 48067 or <a href="http://www.melanoma.org/memorialdonation.aspx">Melanoma Research Foundation</a>.cdthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00908469607510438686noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-3900042735569187552009-08-30T22:42:00.004-04:002009-08-31T10:26:14.800-04:00Nate is at Peace<div style="text-align: center;">Sunday evening at 9:45, God called one of his precious children Nathaniel Robert Trask.<br /></div><br />By God's grace Nate did not feel any pain the last few days and peacefully returned to his Creator.<br /><br />Nate was, and will continue to be, an inspiration to more people than he ever knew on earth. Touching the lives of family, friends, communities, children, and strangers, he showed us what true faith looks like. No matter the circumstance God is with us and loves us.<br /><br />Nate will be greatly missed, but his spirit, courage, faith, laughter, joy, wisdom, and love will remain with us forever.<br /><br />Thank you to all who have lifted Nate and this family in prayer.<br /><br />Charley and Bob Traskcdthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00908469607510438686noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-19777201835729876292009-08-24T12:29:00.012-04:002009-08-24T18:56:03.340-04:00August UpdateIn the past few weeks Nate's physical condition has degenerated since the last blog. Due to tumor growth in his abdomen area, an activity like sitting is very difficult. While standing and walking are no longer possible. It is most comfortable now to lay on his back. At this point all focus is on comfort. <br /><br />Hospice has become more involved in the process to provide medication before the symptoms develop. All nurses continue to work together and demonstrate great compassion by ensuring Nate there is a comfort for any discomfort. Nate has surely won the hearts of his nurses by his good spirits and sense of humor regardless of his circumstance. <br /><br />Nate's doctors have also been very proactive with medication, giving Nate a variety of options. Today the nurses started a IV line in Nate's arm so Deb can push two different types of pain medication to provide additional pain relief and help with sleeping. <br /><br />Nate and Deb have had a real sense of peace in this stage of their journey, and are totally relying on the grace of God to get them through each day.<br /><br />Charley Traskcdthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00908469607510438686noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-68750459024913226182009-07-27T16:32:00.002-04:002009-07-27T17:49:34.035-04:00HospiceIt has been quite some time since I last updated my blog. Time seems to move quickly even when you are restricted by a terminal illness in what you can do and where you can go. <br /><br />Shortly after Father's day, I was admitted back to Karmanos with severe abdominal pain and nausea which mysteriously resolved itself after a couple days in the hospital. After I returned home, my pain control doctor finally found the right combination of pain medication for handling my abdomen pain, which was a great relief. Although my level of pain had decreased, I was having a more difficult time with mobility and sitting/standing. Trips to the clinic were becoming more difficult each time, draining my energy for up to 24 hours afterward.<br /><br />I met with my clinical trial oncologist to discuss options for future treatment and we were informed that, due to my reduced physical capabilities, I would not be eligible for additional phase I treatment at this time. Deb and I had anticipated this beforehand and had agreed that it was time for me think more about handling the side effects of my cancer rather than treating it systemically. As you can imagine, this was not a decision that we took lightly, but we came to the conclusion that hospice care made the most sense for me.<br /><br />I didn't know much about hospice before a representative from a local provider met with Deb and me in my home. Hospice essentially takes over my medical care (with a few rare exceptions). I have a doctor, physicians assistant, nurse, and social worker assigned to me. Thus far they have been very responsive to my medical and other needs. Fortunately I was able to keep my wonderful pain team from Karmanos who has been so proactive in addressing my pain. Hospice has provided me medical equipment such as an adjustable hospital bed and wheelchair that make life more comfortable for me. <br /><br />I haven't had a re-occurrence of the headaches that led to my brain surgery a couple months ago. Hospice has proactively put me back on steroids (which I was on during my stay in Karmanos before and after surgery) to reduce the chance that the headaches will return. I haven't had a MRI since my surgery, so we don't know if the tumor above my left eye has increased in size. We had originally planned to do radiation on this site, but since I have gone on hospice this is no longer in the plan. In doesn't really matter since radiation will not treat my disease systemically. One of the positive effects of the steroids has been an increase in my appetite. This has been nice, especially after dealing with the recent bouts of nausea.<br /><br />Deb and the kids are handling this whole situation so well; they amaze me every day. Morgan and Landon obviously don't understand my illness but, like so many of you out there, they pray for "daddy to get better." Deb and I are so thankful for all of the cards, letters, emails, etc. that have been such an encouragement to both of us. We are thankful for each and every day we have together.<br /><br />God Bless,<br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-49275181489823310912009-06-21T16:13:00.006-04:002009-06-21T17:41:15.988-04:00Happy Father's DayIt has been a few weeks since I returned home from the hospital and it feels like I may be slowly improving. Unfortunately I had caught another viral infection (most likely in the hospital) that caused fevers and resulted in liver and chest pain for about a 8 day period. Once the fever subsided the pain became more manageable. The epidural isn't providing the relief that I had hoped for. Although the pain near my sternum is now controlled, I have pain along my spine that makes walking more than a few minutes incredible hard. My doctors are adjusting my epidural medication and dosage to give me more relief. Please pray that they will find a combination for me that is effective. Thankfully my headaches have subsided and I haven't noticed any pressure above my left eye (where my other brain tumor is located). The next MRI is scheduled after the July 4th holiday.<br /><br />I've had a great Father's Day and hope all the other dads out there had the same. Deb and the kids surprised me with a 14 week old kitten who spent most of the day cuddling with me on the couch.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/Sj6lvua7NGI/AAAAAAAAALY/Rk8HofFMdmI/s1600-h/IMGP4759.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/Sj6lvua7NGI/AAAAAAAAALY/Rk8HofFMdmI/s320/IMGP4759.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349895646696125538" /></a><br />My mom gave me the same cane that Dr. House uses on the popular Fox show, to make walking (in style!) a bit easier.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/Sj6lbBvmaYI/AAAAAAAAALQ/TEYir-vQGpc/s1600-h/House+Cane.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 218px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/Sj6lbBvmaYI/AAAAAAAAALQ/TEYir-vQGpc/s320/House+Cane.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349895291105864066" /></a><br />It was also great to have my brothers here on Father's Day. Deb and I had a number of house projects that needed to be done and they graciously offered to do them for us.<br /><br />Thankful for every day,<br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-72979198597214634282009-06-06T08:58:00.002-04:002009-06-06T11:43:01.890-04:00Up and Down WeekAfter returning home on Saturday I felt comfortable until the early morning on Monday. I then experienced a multiple day fever (with flu like symptoms) that was eerily similar to one I had after my first pain blocker surgery a few months previous. Fortunately most of the swelling from my brain surgery had subsided by Tuesday night so my headaches where mostly gone. The fever broke by Wednesday, but by late evening I started getting a sharp pain in my abdomen, just to left of the sternum. By Thursday noontime I could no longer control this pain with my medication so I had to be re-admitted to Karmanos for another pain block procedure called a tunnel epidural.<br /><br />Aside from the nerve block surgeries I've had up to now, most of my home pain control has been through oral medication and pain "patches" that stick to my skin. These are effective for most forms of pain but deliver the medication to my entire body, instead of just the areas where I need it. At the hospital they usually administer my pain medication through an IV, which quickly delivers it through the whole body via my bloodstream. An issue arises when you need a lot of pain relief in one part of your body the oral and IV methods deliver too much pain medication to your brain, which can make you loopy/sleep or even nauseous. <br /><br />The tunneled epidural procedure places a semi-permanent catheter tube directly in the spinal cord fluid near the center of pain. Pain medication is administered through the catheter and only affects the spinal nerves to about 4 inches from the entry point. The procedure went flawless on Friday morning and had given me immediate relief after waking from surgery. I stayed Friday night at Karmanos just to make sure that things were okay before I returned home. Everything seems to be fine with my abdomen pain control and headaches so it looks like I'll be heading back home as soon as I get my "at-home" epidural pump (connects to the catheter tube to administer the pain medication). I've been told that this should reduce or completely eliminate the oral/patch pain medication I've been taking up to now, which will be great.<br /><br />I've become cautiously optimistic when returning home from the hospital; you can imagine my disappointment having to return this week after going through the whole neurosurgery experience just days previous. Please pray that the tunneled epidural stays effective as I return home and that there are no complications (i.e. headaches/swelling/tumor regrowth) during the recovery from brain surgery.<br /><br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-20467453436174435952009-05-31T09:59:00.003-04:002009-05-31T21:11:52.034-04:00Back at HomeI was discharged from Karmanos yesterday at 2pm and am now resting/recovering in the comfort of our home. Thankfully I was able to get some good sleep last night and I've had a great appetite. Deb, my brothers Chuck and Steve, my sister Meg, and I enjoyed Chinese take-out from a favorite restaurant of mine. I don't think I could have handled any more hospital food trays.<br /><br />The twins greeted me with hugs and kisses when we pulled into the driveway, which was just amazing. Landon held my hand while walking me up to the front door. They both thought that my head dressing was hilarious (think massive white turban). I showed them the stitches on my head and Landon exclaimed "why does your head look like a baseball?" Funny, but true (I'll put some photos up later). I have swelling around the incision site which should go away within a week. The stitches will come out on June 9th.<br /><br />The follow up MRI showed the surgery site to been clean of cancer. My surgeon couldn't see any evidence of disease in the scans. There is a small spot above my left eye (<0.5cm) that the radiation team will look at but it will not require a surgical procedure. It would be a few weeks before any radiation treatment occurs (if it is necessary at all).<br /><br />I feel blessed that the surgery went well and the recovery has been better than I expected. Hopefully this will give me relief over the next weeks/months to enjoy life as full as I can.<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone for your love and support.<br /><br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-48141475029635339222009-05-30T08:45:00.003-04:002009-05-30T10:55:06.801-04:00When you hear of someone having brain surgery you would think because of the seriousness of it, recovery would take a long time, but we are finding that is not the case. Nate was in the ICU for the first night after the surgery and woke up hungry and wanting to watch SportsCenter. By 4 in the afternoon he was transferred back to Karmanos and we were told we would most likely be sent home in the next 24 hours! We were shocked to hear this and excited at the same time. A doctor just came in and took off Nate's head bandage, which revealed a scar starting at the front of his ear, goes up the side of his head, then curves back down forming a question mark shape. Nate is feeling well and hopes to return home today. Thank you for your continued prayers and words of encouragement.Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12900931368587420145noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-50591383050041068302009-05-28T16:59:00.002-04:002009-05-28T17:28:57.075-04:00Surgery CompleteNate's surgery was completed by about 4pm. The doctors said it went as expected and they removed a large portion of the tumor. Nate is going to spend the night in the ICU here at Detroit Receiving and will most likely complete his recovery on the 5th floor of Karmanos where we have spent the last 6 days. When they took me back to see him he was awake and breathing on his own. His head is wrapped with a thick white bandage that covers his ears so I have to speak loudly for him to hear me. He was able to speak shortly after coming out of surgery, but it took a lot of effort. He feels pressure where the surgery was performed, but no pain other than a sore and swollen throat left from the ventilator tube.Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12900931368587420145noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-15404802083943304252009-05-27T23:30:00.001-04:002009-05-28T02:55:17.523-04:00We have elected to do surgeryTo all of my dear friends supporting us in their thoughts and prayers-<br /><br />After weighing all of the pros and cons of each of my options regarding treatment of the brain metastasis discovered last weekend, we have elected to have the tumor surgically removed. We had hoped to have this procedure done by now, but due to the holiday weekend we were not able to schedule this until Thursday (28-May) at 8am. Please ask the Lord to guide the surgeon's hands in this delicate procedure that in total will last between 4 and 6 hours. Deb will take the reigns of updating everyone, hopefully just until I have regained the strength to share after my recovery.<br /><br />We have received such over-whelming support from so many friends and family to help us navigate this difficult time. I firmly believe that prayers lifted for wisdom, grace, mercy, and hope have guided Deb and I to this decision. Of course there are very dangerous risks associated with this surgery, but we trust in God's love and I have comfort knowing that on the other side of this procedure I'll either see those I hold near and dear here on earth or I'll be in Christ's kingdom re-united with the Lord and loved ones who have gone before me.<br /><br />I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your caring support. I have trouble finding adequate words to explain how many of your blog comments and personal emails have lifted our spirits.<br /><br />In His Love,<br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-81098117067773291382009-05-24T10:06:00.001-04:002009-05-25T23:21:01.771-04:00The cancer has metasticised to my brainOver the past week Nate has had headaches during sleeping hours that would subside soon after waking up. On Friday his headache worsened as the day progressed so we paged our oncologist who recommended an immediate MRI (brain scan), which required us to go to the Karmanos ER. We arrived at the ER around 2:30pm and Nate was treated with a steroid to reduce the swelling in the brain. Fortunately his headache subsided about one half hour after getting the steroid drug (Decadron) and he finally was taken for the MRI at 10pm. The scan showed a large tumor (4x4x5cm)behind his right eye near the back of his skull, sitting on top of the right hemisphere of his brain. He was admitted to Karmanos and was taken up to a room at 2am.<br /><br />On Saturday we met with a team of neurosurgeons who showed us the scans and gave us information on various options to treat the brain tumor.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_frGJOiuwmxA/ShlHw71YeJI/AAAAAAAAAAM/TXGc9LV3360/s1600-h/Brain+Tumor++22-May-09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_frGJOiuwmxA/ShlHw71YeJI/AAAAAAAAAAM/TXGc9LV3360/s320/Brain+Tumor++22-May-09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339377739245320338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />1) I can have the tumor surgically removed which will required a sizable hole drilled through my skull. This method will enable the neurosurgeons to remove approximately 90% of my brain tumor b/c the last 10% would potentially damage healthy brain mass and critical blood vessels for proper blood flow to my brain. Unfortunately leaving this amount of cancer will likely result in the tumor continuing to grow. Unfortunately tumor growth in the brain tends to be fairly rapid for Melanoma cancer. The recovery time for this surgery would be 2-3 days in the hospital.<br />2) Following surgery I would have the option of high dose targeted radiation (gamma knife) to kill off remaining cancerous material. More frequent subsequent MRI scans would determine if additional radiation is necessary. The tumor size must be small for the gamma knife technology. None of my other tumors are eligible for surgery or radiation treatments for various reasons. The risk of high dose radiation is that healthy cells in my brain utilized for motor function and healthy blood flow could also be damaged which could cause numerous health issues<br />3) My final option would be to use medication like steroids and pain killers to manage the headaches and brain swelling, but this would not reduce the size or slow the growth of the brain tumor. The neurosurgeon's best guess would be 1 to 3 months before I would drop into a coma from the pressure on my brain stem if I went this route.<br /><br />The latest CT scans (neck to abdomen) from 2 weeks ago showed that the mets in my liver and lungs are still growing, so I am no longer taking the phase 1 clinical drug. At this point there really aren't many systemic (i.e. root cause) options for the treatment of my cancer. I have tried multiple conventional and alternative therapies each of which offered approximately a 10% chance of effectiveness.<br /><br />We obviously have a difficult choice to make regarding how to treat this new tumor in my brain, since we most likely won't be treating my cancer systemically it is likely that the tumors in my liver, lungs, and brain will continue to grow. Please pray for us to have wisdom in our decision and that which ever route we choose that the best possible treatment will be delivered by the medical team. We will likely make our decision in the next few days, once things settle after the holiday weekend.<br /><br />Thanks to all who continue to let us know how loved and cared for we are. I wish I had the energy to answer all of your thoughtful messages individually, but please know that each and every one of your notes and responses to my blog lift our spirits and touch our hearts.<br /><br />God bless,<br />Nate and DebDebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12900931368587420145noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-85423761064088020472009-05-11T22:54:00.009-04:002009-05-11T23:24:10.472-04:00Relay For Life May 16-17Hi! I will be participating in Relay For Life again this year and wanted to see if you might be interested in coming along side me in this fight against cancer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C03aPFBw04g/SgjowEQ_SkI/AAAAAAAAAAM/YjIWFkiI0VU/s1600-h/IMGP3746.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C03aPFBw04g/SgjowEQ_SkI/AAAAAAAAAAM/YjIWFkiI0VU/s320/IMGP3746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334769671096715842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Last year with the support of family and friends I raised $1500! I hope to equal that this year.<br /><br />Relay For Life is a wonderful community event that raises money to combat this disease and to spread awareness about how we can protect ourselves from cancer. It is a fun-filled event that brings together people of all ages to camp-out and take turns walking around a track for 24 hours to signify that cancer never sleeps. It's a time of celebrating those who have battled the disease, remembering those who have died and a chance to fight back against a disease that takes too much from too many.<br /><br />Together, we will celebrate, remember, and fight back!<br />Thanks,<br />Deb <p> <a href="http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GL?px=5241864&pg=personal&fr_id=14455&fl=en_US&et=CkEqObm_8vUodjZ56kUoyA..&s_tafId=260098" target="_blank">Click here to visit my personal page.</a><br /><span>If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:<br /><a href="http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GL?px=5241864&pg=personal&fr_id=14455&fl=en_US&et=CkEqObm_8vUodjZ56kUoyA..&s_tafId=260098" target="_blank">http://main.acsevents.org/<wbr>site/TR/RelayForLife/<wbr>RFLFY09GL?px=5241864&pg=<wbr>personal&fr_id=14455&fl=en_US&<wbr>et=CkEqObm_8vUodjZ56kUoyA..&s_<wbr>tafId=260098</a></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C03aPFBw04g/Sgjo_P8YtxI/AAAAAAAAAAU/84pbGwd7qKo/s1600-h/IMGP3742.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C03aPFBw04g/Sgjo_P8YtxI/AAAAAAAAAAU/84pbGwd7qKo/s320/IMGP3742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334769931929564946" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-76063510919505659792009-05-01T16:30:00.001-04:002009-05-01T16:39:03.058-04:00How cancer has influenced my faithCancer is not only a physical battle but also an emotional and spiritual journey. Commonly, at diagnosis, cancer patients will ponder why this has happened to them. Many who believe in God will wonder why He would allow such a terrible thing to occur. This often either leads to a resentment of God or spiritual growth in trying to connect closer to Him.<br /><br />Of course cancer isn't the only cause of pain and suffering that leads to these type of questions and responses. It could be the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship with someone close to you, or maybe a financial hardship.<br /><br />One of the leaders in my church asked me to share how my experience had influenced my relationship with God. A link to my video interview is below.<br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4235045&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=c7000a&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4235045&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=c7000a&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="800" height="450"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/4235045">Nate Trask Interview</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1493633">John Miller</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br />Love to you all,<br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-82953023260520421812009-04-19T18:09:00.003-04:002009-04-19T19:29:18.808-04:00The past monthThe last four weeks of my battle with cancer has been exceptionally difficult. After receiving the third IV injection of my clinical trial drug, I elected to get a permanent pain block procedure on my back near the bottom of my left ribs. This surgery was on 25-Mar. The evening upon returning home from surgery I felt significant pain in my left lung area, ran a 102+ fever, and had uncontrolled sweating. When I went in for my fourth IV injection on 27-Mar I was in so much pain that Deb had to slow to a near stop over every bump and pot-hole on the road (which was quite frequent in mid-town Detroit). <br /><br />The doctors were concerned about my pain, so a full array of tests were ordered. Deb and I were really anxious when the physicians assistant thought she heard a "gallop" in my heartbeat, so we went to another part of the hospital to get a heart echo. This test looked at the efficiency of my heart and thankfully it showed that my heart was still in great shape. A wonderful technician did this test and to pass the time we talked about faith and the wonder of life, uplifting my spirits on my difficult day. Chest x-rays were clear. The blood tests came back negative for a bacterial infection but due to a specific liver enzyme (and my pain), it was decided that I would not receive my scheduled treatment.<br /><br />That weekend at home I was just miserable. I prayed constantly to the Lord for mercy (the pain medication wasn't doing anything). When I went in for treatment the week of 30-Mar my liver enzymes were still to elevated to receive treatment and my oncologist determined that I had picked up a nasty virus that was overworking my liver. Thankfully, it looked like the enzyme numbers were coming down and I was experiencing less pain, fevers, and sweats. We agreed that I would resume treatment on 13-Apr and fortunately the pharmaceutical company allowed me to stay in the trial (even though my results could not be used in the analysis of the drug).<br /><br />We went up to Port Huron for Easter weekend (11,12-Apr) to spend time with my folks, my sisters Meg and Emily, and my brother Steve. My brother Charley and his wife Melissa had spent the first part of the week with us in Dearborn. Deb's mom also came out for a few days this week to help us during the kids Easter break week.<br />It was great to be able to spend time with family, especially since we are so spread out. <br /><br />I went in for treatment on 13-Apr and felt relatively well. My spirits were high and my liver enzymes were low. I received my IV injection and went home. On Wednesday I began to feel a new source of sharp pain in my left side. When I went in for treatment on 16-Apr the doctors found that my hemoglobin (red blood cells) had fallen again. Unfortunately this may mean that I am bleeding internally, which is fairly common with Metastatic Melanoma tumors. I am going back in for treatment on Monday (20-Apr) and will also get a blood transfusion (two units). It will be a 10 hour day for us a Karmanos.<br /><br />Deb and I appreciate all of the wonderful people that have prayed for and encouraged us through this journey. My primary prayer need right now is pain relief, so I can interact more with Deb, Morgan, and Landon. We don't know how much time I have left and every moment I can spend with my family is more valuable to me than gold.<br /><br />God Bless you all.<br /><br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-78731085337990897512009-03-15T08:25:00.002-04:002009-03-15T08:55:33.061-04:00Next Trial SelectedMy oncologist team at Karmanos has recommended another phase 1 clinical trial that I will start next week. This experimental treatment is a drug designed to unbind a specific protein common in cancerous cells. In theory this would prevent cancerous cells from replicating. The drug will be administered by IV twice a week, which will require me to be at Karmanos for approximately 3 hours. There isn't much existing data on this drug for melanoma patients, so we really don't know what to expect from this treatment. Please pray that this treatment will be effective against my cancer.<br /><br />When my oncologist was determining my eligibility for this trial she found that my hemoglobin was too low (but not dangerously low). Therefore I had to get my first blood transfusion. I received 2 units of blood, which took approximately 5 hours to administer. One thing I noticed after the transfusion was my energy level had increased.<br /><br />I have been struggling more with physical pain, especially in my left lung (tumor location) and left shoulder (non-tumor location). I had a couple days early in the week that my pain medication was largely ineffective. I have shared this with my doctors so they scheduled me for a pain clinic. I have never participated in one of these clinics, but from what I understand there are a number of temporary and permanent solutions available. I will see a pain specialist on Monday, who will hopefully help alleviate my pain. After over a year of pain in my left lung, I am ready for relief. <br /><br />Deb will be taking a medical leave starting tomorrow to provide care for me at home. It will be nice to have her with me during the day. The kids will remain in pre-school. Morgan and Landon have finished their swim lessons and are now trying soccer at the YMCA.<br /><br />Thanks to all for your continued prayers and support for my healing and family well being.<br /><br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-75516444196657649902009-02-11T20:27:00.002-05:002009-02-15T21:00:06.943-05:00First Clinical Trial IneffectiveDeb and I met with my oncologist to discuss the progress of my first phase 1 clinical trial (Pazopanib). The CT scans taken on January 30th showed that the tumors in my left lung and next to my spine increased significantly in size. Interestingly the large tumor in my liver didn't appear to increase in dimension. Unfortunately this clinical trial wasn't effective, so my oncologist will investigate other open clinical trials for me to select from. I have to wait 3 weeks before I can start another trial, in order to ensure that the drug has been removed from my system.<br /><br />We had hoped that the results were going to be positive, particularly since I have been feeling better the last month or so. I still get fatigued easily and have had problems keeping my weight on (I'm down to 175lbs now), but I've been able to manage my pain with medication. I've also been able to avoid catching a cold or the flu this year, which is amazing since our kids constantly bring bugs home with them from pre-school.<br /><br />I didn't have any significant negative side-effects from the Pazopanib drug, which made it a nice alternative to the previous chemo and biotherapy treatments. One interesting side-effect of the drug was that the hair on my head, beard, and chest turned blondish-white. My dad and I have even more in common (which mom gets a kick out of). I expect the color will turn darker once the drug gets out of my system.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/SZjBw829NkI/AAAAAAAAAKk/g6DVGY294JI/s1600-h/IMGP4614.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/SZjBw829NkI/AAAAAAAAAKk/g6DVGY294JI/s400/IMGP4614.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303201607943272002" /></a><br /><br />Our thanks goes out to all who continue to pray, love, and provide for us. We continue to hope that we will find an effective treatment for my cancer.<br /><br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-62555695016720594582009-01-01T22:00:00.003-05:002009-01-03T21:53:25.789-05:00Happy New Year!My experience with the clinical trial drug has been positive thus far. I really haven't had any negative side effects to speak of. I have finished the first phase of the trial, requiring me to spend a full day at Karmanos every other week. Now I am taking the drug orally at home every day, which is much more convenient. I won't find out how well this drug is working against the cancer until I get my next set of scans in early February.<br /><br />A portion of my strength and energy has returned, but I still struggle to get myself moving in the morning. I thank the Lord that He has taken me to where am I now, compared to where I was just 2 months ago. We pray that the scans will reflect this also.<br /><br />We went up to Port Huron to spend Christmas with my family. We were fortunate to have everyone there. Morgan and Landon were absolutely joyful when they saw the stack of presents under the tree! I was so glad to be able to spend another Christmas with my family, as this really wasn't expected. We always talk about the true value of Christmas. These past two Christmas seasons have given me a new perspective of celebrating the joy of our Savior's birth.<br /><br />Happy New Year everyone, we wish all of you the best in 2009!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/SWAd539NKSI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/s6IPC7I6ZQo/s1600-h/IMGP4554-1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/SWAd539NKSI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/s6IPC7I6ZQo/s400/IMGP4554-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287258842643376418" /></a>Natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-17066312441601954152008-12-07T17:18:00.003-05:002008-12-07T17:49:44.480-05:00One Year SurvivorIt's been exactly one year since I received my cancer diagnosis. I remember that day in Oakwood hospital like it was yesterday. My prognosis at diagnosis was a 50% chance of survival at one year. The past year has certainly been a roller coaster both physically and emotionally. Although I've endured some very difficult cancer therapies, the joy experienced with Deb and the twins has far outweighed them. <br /><br />God is our anchor and we fully accept His plan for us.<br /><br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-44374328953507634292008-12-05T18:00:00.001-05:002008-12-05T18:16:53.315-05:00The Next StepAfter weighing a number of clinical trial (i.e. experimental drugs) and radiation options, I elected to participate in a phase I trial for the drug Pazopanib (produced by the GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical company). This drug isn't brand new, as this trial opened in July of 2007. I am one of the last patients to enroll in this trial of approximately 40 people.<br /><br />This drug is designed to stop the growth of blood vessels. Cancer cells require new blood vessels to supply the energy required to grow. The intention of this treatment is to prevent the tumors from growing by taking away their food supply. In addition, the blood vessels produced by cancer cells are much weaker than normal blood vessels and can break down. I primarily selected this treatment because all 8 melanoma patients enrolled in this study responded positively to Pazopanib. In addition the side effects are considered to be quite low. The trial lasts about 10 weeks, but if I get a positive response I can stay on the drug as long as I like.<br /><br />I had my first treatment on Tuesday (12/2), which required a full day at Karmanos. Everything went well aside from having to spend 12 hours in a hospital bed. The oncologists are careful to monitor how patients respond to phase I drugs, which required repeated blood tests. It has been a few days since getting my first treatment and thus far I have not had any negative side effects.<br /><br />Overall I feel like my condition is improving slightly. My cough has decreased significantly. However, I am still very fatigued and cannot spend more than a few minutes walking and/or standing at a time. I spend about 75% of the day in my comfortable chair.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/STmxtZtVmDI/AAAAAAAAAJI/SdAWKtIgZhU/s1600-h/chair.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/STmxtZtVmDI/AAAAAAAAAJI/SdAWKtIgZhU/s200/chair.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276443831994521650" /></a><br /><br />Thanks for the continued prayer support. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as the next couple of months will be pivotal in my battle with cancer.<br /><br />BTW... It has been great to run into old friends from high school on facebook. Thanks for the words of encouragement and support.<br /><br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-895142353122545112008-11-05T11:26:00.000-05:002008-11-19T12:13:25.588-05:00Facing the BeastI've had 6 CT scans over the past year to track the growth of my cancer. Although I've received the summary reports for each of these scans, none of my doctors had shown me the actual images from the CT scanner. When we met with the radiation oncologists from U of M Hospital they took us through the latest CT scan of my largest tumor in my liver. It was overwhelming to see how large this mass had become. The image below is a cross section of my torso at the stomach (I've labeled things to make it easier to orient the image).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/SSRDZ6Dl_SI/AAAAAAAAAJA/qlakBFkOSGI/s1600-h/tumor_labeled_10-Oct-08.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/SSRDZ6Dl_SI/AAAAAAAAAJA/qlakBFkOSGI/s400/tumor_labeled_10-Oct-08.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270411576290442530" /></a><br />The cancerous mass in my liver is not currently blocking any of the ducts of the liver that effect liver function, but the size of the tumor is putting pressure on other organs like my pancreas and stomach. Hopefully the next round of treatment will reduce the size of this mass.<br /><br />Thank you so much for your continued encouragement, thoughts, and prayers. <br /><br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-32354058746464177422008-10-31T12:35:00.003-04:002008-10-31T13:06:38.359-04:00Rough Last 2 WeeksI caught some kind of upper respiratory infection a few weeks ago. Since then I have had a persistent cough that has culminated in severe back pain. I had to go back on medical leave and the past few days I have spent mostly in bed. I have medication that relieves the pain. Deb and my parents have been with me this week, helping me during the day.<br /><br />We are not certain what path of treatment is next for me. I have a clinical trial consultation on Nov 3rd at Karmanos. We have also investigated targeted radiation therapy at U of M and will be meeting their doctors on Nov 4th.<br /><br />Today is Halloween... Landon's costume is a Transformer (robots in disguise) while Morgan is dressing up as a ballerina.<br /><br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-86857596178484874992008-10-14T15:10:00.002-04:002008-10-14T15:13:59.439-04:00Scan Results after Biotherapy TreatmentDeb and I had our follow up visit with Dr. Flaherty this morning to discuss the results of my MRI (brain) and CT (abdomen) scans. The good news is that there is no evidence of metastatic tumors in my brain. <br /><br />Unfortunately we didn't get the positive news we had hoped from the CT scan. The tumor in my liver remains ~ 9cm in diameter, which is slightly smaller than a grapefruit. The official analysis of the scan states the liver tumor is larger than my last scan (July 11), but the reported measurements are nearly identical. I suppose it really doesn't matter if it is slightly larger or not, since I still have to deal with it regardless. The pre-existing tumor in my lung remained the same size as before ~ 3.5cm in diameter, which is slightly smaller than a ping pong ball. However, an additional tumor in my lung was detected in this scan, also measuring 3.5cm in diameter.<br /><br />The bottom line is IL-2 biotherapy was ineffective in treating my Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma. We are now going to look at my experimental drug options (known as Phase 1 trials). Deb and I will be meeting with doctors from Karmanos who specialize in selecting specific drugs for cancer patients who haven't responded to existing therapies. This meeting will be in the next 2 weeks and treatment will start soon after. If I decide not to enroll in a Phase 1 trial or if I have to wait for a trial to open, there are chemotherapy drugs that are available, but these would only be for slowing the progression of the cancer.<br /><br />As you may imagine, Deb and I returned home with heavy hearts this afternoon. We had felt that my recent improvements in health would be reflective of my internal battle with cancer. <br /><br />HOPE STILL REMAINS<br />- I have a very small risk of near-term organ failure<br />- I have a number of options in my next "at-bat" against cancer.<br /><br />Please keep us in your prayers as we have difficult decisions to make in the next few weeks.<br /><br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6521281962522053689.post-55893408933043448572008-10-04T07:54:00.003-04:002008-10-04T08:26:18.012-04:00Pushing Scans and Results Back a WeekEver since I returned home from my second stay in the hospital for IL-2 treatments Deb and I have had in our minds that my follow up scans were on Friday October 3rd. When I was getting all of my paperwork together on the evening of October 2nd, I noticed that my scans were actually scheduled for 7am that morning! Deb and I couldn't believe that we missed this. I guess we just got on with our life during this period of time and didn't think too much about these tests.<br /><br />My MRI and CT scans have been re-scheduled to next week. We will be reviewing the results of the scans on October 14th with Dr. Flaherty. Basically everything has been moved back 1 week.<br /><br />I am feeling the healthiest I have been since my diagnosis last December. Nearly all of the residual pain in my left lung has vanished. My strength and stamina grows every day. Last weekend our family spent time at a cottage on Lake Michigan. I bounced on a trampoline with the twins, took them on a kayak ride in the great lake, and we all climbed up / ran down a sand dune together. I thank God for giving me the strength to make such joyful memories.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/SOdgzCZD4qI/AAAAAAAAAH4/C3_p1xmE-w4/s1600-h/IMGA0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ev773pAHgn8/SOdgzCZD4qI/AAAAAAAAAH4/C3_p1xmE-w4/s400/IMGA0007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253273920282550946" /></a><br /><br />Thanks to all for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Please pray specifically that the scan results will be unbelievably positive.<br /><br />NateNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173183632144605437noreply@blogger.com9