Cheese Moved – Again – Well, Maybe Not Very Far

I hate my cheese being moved. After a year of relatively good health for both of us, 2013 has begun with some serious issues for Vern – which, of course, entails ‘my’ cheese being moved.

Nine years ago in March a very large (size of a small football) Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor was removed from Vern’s abdomen along with a section of colon. At that point we felt very blessed – no chemo, no radiation, just CT scans every 3 months, then every 6 months, then annually for five years. We have taken each additional year as a gift.

Last fall the gastro-intestinal discomfort became a little more intense than usual, but antacids seemed to keep him somewhat comfortable. A January physical showed anemia – that is what was so bad 9 years ago that triggered a colonoscopy and then a CT scan that eventually revealed the tumor. Immediately after the physical the family doctor scheduled a CT scan which showed ‘several’ tumors this time resembling the GIST from 9 years ago. A visit to the surgeon in Omaha who did the operation 9 years ago was disappointing – ‘surgery is not an option this time, my friend’. The main tumor in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen was already larger than the one that was removed 9 years ago. At that point a treatment plan was outlined – a CT-guided needle biopsy to confirm the GIST and an appointment with an oncologist at the St Francis clinic in Hastings to get treatment started.

The treatment will now consist of a pill a day chemo regimen. The drug is Gleevec. We are told that GISTs respond fairly well to the drug and the tumors do shrink. Therefore we have added this wonder drug to the rest of Vern’s medications.

OK…my cheese didn’t get moved very far. I thought we would be facing surgery in Omaha (no apartment there this time as Vern has retired), and a lot of travel and time off from work. We feel truly blessed – again. Treatment can be done here in Hastings for now. Tests can be done locally. Insurance will cover most of the expenses. The drugs are not cheap – I nearly choked when I saw the co-pay, let along the actual price of the drug. I do not know how anyone without insurance can handle this type of expense. I guess that is why so many people have to file bankruptcy after serious illnesses.

We will take one day at a time. We will try not to whine about the moved cheese. We will be thankful for the gift of each new day and hopefully celebrate the major milestones/anniversaries that 2013 will bring. We will pray that the medication gives Vern some comfort and that the tumors begin to shrink.

With a thankful heart that we can still see some humor and blessings in the ‘moved cheese’!

(Next ‘moved cheese’ – having to move work office – AGAIN – temporarily – for building remodel.)