I was supposed to be on a business trip today and so this was going to be Karen’s solo trip to the oncologist to review last Friday’s MRI results. My brother Steve, however, is always the dutiful and doting brother, and was kind enough to accompany Karen to the appointment. This appointment turned out to be one of the most encouraging to date.

Karen’s radiation oncologist normally sees people who are dying and and so the news he often has to deliver is done so in somber tones. Today, however, her appointment ended with him hugging her . . . and not letting her go for quite some time. If all the chipper hugging wasn’t enough to clearly communicate good news,what he actually told Karen did the trick.

Here’s the synopsis:

• There continues to be no sign of Cancer in Karen’s brain
• The upper spine has not shown any signs of growth
• The tumors on her lower spine continue to shrink
• We may continue to see shrinkage as her body flushes the dead cells out of her system
  

Interestingly the radiation oncologist said that he would have expected the cancer to start showing signs of growth by now if it was going to start at all. I would like the nuero-oncologist to confirm this assessment but we are nevertheless very thankful for the wonderfully encouraging meeting today.

On the hair-front it turns out that Karen’s “reverse Mohawk” is perfectly explainable, and though the nurses today assured her that her hair will not be like it was before radiation, the stripe itself should go away.

The next MRI will be in about 2.5 months. Until the next post we thank you for continuing to present Karen before our Heavenly Father in prayer.