Good day to all readers:
It has only been a few days ago that we produced our latest blog. However, some developments have taken place and this is a very nice method of passing on news to those who have a keen interest in it.
This past Thursday we visited the BC Cancer Clinic in Vancouver; specifically we spent an hour with Dr. C. Kollmannsberger, Medical Oncologist. From several people we have heard that he specializes in Renal Cell Cancer (Kidney Cancer). Our visit was very pleasant. We covered all past items as well as new ones. We noted that all conventional treatment had been exhausted and that there are still about four options available.
1) To use a Sunitinib type of medicine which has not yet been approved by BC Medicare. It would cost us $5000 per month
2) Go back to Sunitinib itself, but now that would be treated as a third line of defence, not covered and would also cost $ 5000 per month
3) Do nothing and let the disease take its course. He explained that this would entail continued tiredness, nausea, etc., until my system would just close down.
4) To participate in a clinical trial. There is presently a trial being sponsored by a pharmaceuticla company and would cost us nothing but we would have to qualify. This medication has already passed stage 1 and stage 2, meaning that it is an active and useful medicine, but that it must still be fine-tuned in stage three. In order to qualify I must obtain a blood transfusion to increase my hemagloban and a byopsy must be done to ensuure the pharmaceutical company that I do indeed have the type of Renal Cell Cancer that they are treating.
The transfusion has been scheduled for Wednesday of next week at 7:30am. The rest will be scheduled shortly. We hope and pray that no untoward signs show up during these procedures. We also hope that once we are on the new medication that the effects will set in quickly. We hope and request your prayers for the intervening time as well as for the effect of the new medication. We are convinced that the Lord has heard your prayers and has given positive response in the past and we continue to seek the same for the future.
We look forward to the Lord's loving care now and each day as we go forward. Praise Him from whom all blessings flow.
Have a restful and edifying Sunday (Lord's Day)
Pieter de Boer
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
September 20, 2011
Good day to all of you:
It is only two weeks ago that I sent my last blog. Unhappily there is more news to pass on and the best way appears to be via a blogspot.
Last Friday was the regular appointment with Dr. Murphy, my Fraser Valley Cancer Society doctor.Upon entering the consultation room he announced that I was not feeling very well. He explained that the second cancer pill, Everolimus, was not working and that my calcium had risen too high, and that both my potassium and hemogloben were too low. The consequences of this prognosis was two fold. I had to go immediately to the emergency ward of a local hospital and I had to stop taking the Everolimus right away. In conclusion he noted that he did not have any more bullets he could try.
All of this news was rather unsettling for us. We had to go to the local emergency ward to do as much of a quick fix as they could and there was nothing positive that we could look forward to in the long term.
Now with our world and life view that is an incorrect statement. Both short and long term, our life is in our heavenly Father's hands. And while being in our Father's hand it is surely possible that He would lead us to a short stay on this earth and call us home to His eternal glory in short order. But only after a short stay of about 25 hours we got the word from the resident doctor at Peace Arch Hospital that I was ready to go home, that all the readings that were out of order had fallen back into place with the application of corrective medecine.
Also a number of weeks ago a customer of mine at ITB sent me an email with a note stating that her daughter works at the cancer research center in Vancouver and that she had discussed my circumstances with the head of that center who had said that I should come in for consultation. Given the setbacks I had received from Dr. Murphy I discussed this new development with him. He recommended this course of action heartily. So after some quick phone calls Rita and I have an appointment with a Dr. C. K. Berger at the Vancouver Cancer Clinic at around noon on Thursday of this week.
Of course this does not alter the fact that I suffer from a terminal cancer, but it provides hope that it is still possible that a drug exists that will fight the cancer and bring some temporary relief.
We continue to pray for God's comfort in our situation. We know, and have experienced that He can send healing according to His will. We believe we are in His hands in all circumstances and that He will decide when we are born and when we shall leave this life. Yesterday we experienced that when we buried our still born grandson, son of our daughter Belinda and her husband, Kent Dykstra. Barend Jan Dykstra was born approximately 20 weeks premature without life in him. Our heavenly Father had already taken Barend's soul to heaven some weeks before. Rev. T. Lodder appropriately noted that Barend was already in heaven with his Lord and Saviour yesterday at the grave side. What a great comfort that was to all of us.
Throughout the last year and a half many of you and others have contacted us by visits, cards, phone calls, facebook and other means. We really appreciate these methods of showing your care. We also know that so many of you pray to God for us. We know that your prayers have an effect before God's throne. They do not go unanswered. The Bible teaches us that the prayers of the righteous avail much. We are convinced that your prayers have been heard by our heavenly Father and so we covet your prayers now as well.
We are convinced that His Kingdom will come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Pieter de Boer
It is only two weeks ago that I sent my last blog. Unhappily there is more news to pass on and the best way appears to be via a blogspot.
Last Friday was the regular appointment with Dr. Murphy, my Fraser Valley Cancer Society doctor.Upon entering the consultation room he announced that I was not feeling very well. He explained that the second cancer pill, Everolimus, was not working and that my calcium had risen too high, and that both my potassium and hemogloben were too low. The consequences of this prognosis was two fold. I had to go immediately to the emergency ward of a local hospital and I had to stop taking the Everolimus right away. In conclusion he noted that he did not have any more bullets he could try.
All of this news was rather unsettling for us. We had to go to the local emergency ward to do as much of a quick fix as they could and there was nothing positive that we could look forward to in the long term.
Now with our world and life view that is an incorrect statement. Both short and long term, our life is in our heavenly Father's hands. And while being in our Father's hand it is surely possible that He would lead us to a short stay on this earth and call us home to His eternal glory in short order. But only after a short stay of about 25 hours we got the word from the resident doctor at Peace Arch Hospital that I was ready to go home, that all the readings that were out of order had fallen back into place with the application of corrective medecine.
Also a number of weeks ago a customer of mine at ITB sent me an email with a note stating that her daughter works at the cancer research center in Vancouver and that she had discussed my circumstances with the head of that center who had said that I should come in for consultation. Given the setbacks I had received from Dr. Murphy I discussed this new development with him. He recommended this course of action heartily. So after some quick phone calls Rita and I have an appointment with a Dr. C. K. Berger at the Vancouver Cancer Clinic at around noon on Thursday of this week.
Of course this does not alter the fact that I suffer from a terminal cancer, but it provides hope that it is still possible that a drug exists that will fight the cancer and bring some temporary relief.
We continue to pray for God's comfort in our situation. We know, and have experienced that He can send healing according to His will. We believe we are in His hands in all circumstances and that He will decide when we are born and when we shall leave this life. Yesterday we experienced that when we buried our still born grandson, son of our daughter Belinda and her husband, Kent Dykstra. Barend Jan Dykstra was born approximately 20 weeks premature without life in him. Our heavenly Father had already taken Barend's soul to heaven some weeks before. Rev. T. Lodder appropriately noted that Barend was already in heaven with his Lord and Saviour yesterday at the grave side. What a great comfort that was to all of us.
Throughout the last year and a half many of you and others have contacted us by visits, cards, phone calls, facebook and other means. We really appreciate these methods of showing your care. We also know that so many of you pray to God for us. We know that your prayers have an effect before God's throne. They do not go unanswered. The Bible teaches us that the prayers of the righteous avail much. We are convinced that your prayers have been heard by our heavenly Father and so we covet your prayers now as well.
We are convinced that His Kingdom will come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Pieter de Boer
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
September 6, 2011
September 6, 2011
Greetings to everyone!
Many are asking for an update on my blog, and they are right, it has been a long time.
Most of the time this means that there has been little news to report, but even that would be of interest for many. So here we go.....
To many who ask I answer that emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, etc I am doing rather well, one could even say very well. Physically I can not give a very accurate response, I usually end up saying, I don't know.
About two months ago the cancer doctor advised me that the sunitinib was no longer working and that the cancer was once again spreading. At the same time he explained that there is a newer drug that they could try. Well, as disappointing as it was, there was still hope, humanly speaking.
During the transition from one pill to another I did notice that the pain in the pelvic bone, left hip had returned.
On the other hand the side effects of sore feet and dryness of mouth and skin had gone away, but they were equally disabling replaced with tiredness and mild nausea in the stomach area. The new side effects have continued on. I am more restricted in doing things because of the tiredness. It varies from day to day, but continues to have affect every day. For the last number of weeks I have the definite impression that the new drug, Everolimus, is working. The pain in the left side, pelvic bone has completely gone away again. I do still suffer from some ache in the right side and do not know its origin. As to the tiredness the doctor thinks it may be due to an under active thyroid and has given a small pill to counter that. However the smallness of that pill corresponds to the effect it is having. The tiredness, in general, continues and has reduced my effectiveness in getting things done. Let the fact that this blog is at last appearing be evidence that there is some improvement though.
As I have said somewhere above, this is all from the human perspective. God has given us many good gifts in the field of medicine and we may use them with thankfulness. But at the same time we must always remember that He is in control of life and death, and that for believers death is the opening of the door to eternal life. This knowledge and comfort is with us always. He has been gracious to us in strengening our faith ongoinly.
We pray that He will continue to do so and not leave us to our own resources because they are too weak to depend upon. He has promised to remain faithful and He will do so. In conclusion we will depend on Him alone and He will remain true to His Word and promises.
Throughout my illness and especially more so lately again we confirmed in the fact that many of our brothers and sisters continue to pray for us. We covet those prays, knowing firmly that our Father hears the prayers of so many of His saints
Rita and I would also like to use this medium to thank those many of you have offered condolences at the time of the passing on of her mother and my mother in law, Mrs, Oma, Mom Wendt/Berends. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
Pieter de Boer
Greetings to everyone!
Many are asking for an update on my blog, and they are right, it has been a long time.
Most of the time this means that there has been little news to report, but even that would be of interest for many. So here we go.....
To many who ask I answer that emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, etc I am doing rather well, one could even say very well. Physically I can not give a very accurate response, I usually end up saying, I don't know.
About two months ago the cancer doctor advised me that the sunitinib was no longer working and that the cancer was once again spreading. At the same time he explained that there is a newer drug that they could try. Well, as disappointing as it was, there was still hope, humanly speaking.
During the transition from one pill to another I did notice that the pain in the pelvic bone, left hip had returned.
On the other hand the side effects of sore feet and dryness of mouth and skin had gone away, but they were equally disabling replaced with tiredness and mild nausea in the stomach area. The new side effects have continued on. I am more restricted in doing things because of the tiredness. It varies from day to day, but continues to have affect every day. For the last number of weeks I have the definite impression that the new drug, Everolimus, is working. The pain in the left side, pelvic bone has completely gone away again. I do still suffer from some ache in the right side and do not know its origin. As to the tiredness the doctor thinks it may be due to an under active thyroid and has given a small pill to counter that. However the smallness of that pill corresponds to the effect it is having. The tiredness, in general, continues and has reduced my effectiveness in getting things done. Let the fact that this blog is at last appearing be evidence that there is some improvement though.
As I have said somewhere above, this is all from the human perspective. God has given us many good gifts in the field of medicine and we may use them with thankfulness. But at the same time we must always remember that He is in control of life and death, and that for believers death is the opening of the door to eternal life. This knowledge and comfort is with us always. He has been gracious to us in strengening our faith ongoinly.
We pray that He will continue to do so and not leave us to our own resources because they are too weak to depend upon. He has promised to remain faithful and He will do so. In conclusion we will depend on Him alone and He will remain true to His Word and promises.
Throughout my illness and especially more so lately again we confirmed in the fact that many of our brothers and sisters continue to pray for us. We covet those prays, knowing firmly that our Father hears the prayers of so many of His saints
Rita and I would also like to use this medium to thank those many of you have offered condolences at the time of the passing on of her mother and my mother in law, Mrs, Oma, Mom Wendt/Berends. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
Pieter de Boer
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