;)
Bad news from the PET scan
Monday, March 28, 2016 at 5:59PM This is a hard entry to write, so I'm going to keep it pretty short.
Melissa and I met with my oncologist this afternoon to discuss the results of my PET scan. The PET scan shows increased metabolic activity in the body that is often caused by cancer.
As expected, the tumor in my stomach, and many lymph nodes in my abdominal cavity, and some beyond, showed extremely high levels of metabolic activity, indicative of cancer that has spread from the stomach tumor to the lymph nodes.
More concerningly is an area of heightened metabolic activity in my left sinus cavity. The doctor admitted that this could be caused by infection or a number of other processes, but it is possibly another malignant tumor.
My oncologist suggested that if the cancer has spread this far, that likely a surgical resection of the tumor and lymph nodes in my abdomen will not be possible. Chemotherapy may be used, but only as a means of slowing the cancer - no cure will be possible.
PLEASE join us in praying fervently that the spots in my sinus cavities are not cancer and that something can be done to treat the stomach and lymph cancer that exists in my abdomen.
Through a wonderful friend from grad school. I was able to get an appointment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for tomorrow. I will likely be in Houston for 3-5 days for follow-up tests and to receive a concrete diagnosis and treatment plan. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors, for peace for Melissa, and for healing from the One who Heals.
Reader Comments (52)
Praying through the tears. Jesus continues to know what is happening. Hugs. Love you. Suzie
Praying through the tears. Jesus continues to know what is happening. Hugs. Love you. Suzie
Rob, I am fervently praying for you and your sweet wife and kids, and I will share your story with First United Methodist of McKinney, and you will have the prayers of 100's and 100's of our church family. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you - plans to give you a future and a hope." Jer. 29:11. Love and peace, friend .
Prayers from North Dakota!
I am so sorry! This is the first Ive heard of any of this. I will share this with my church and put you on our prayer chain. It will I'm sure if it hasn't already hit the town of Ferndale and the prayers will be coming in strong! Praying for you both and for the doctors.
Praying for you Rob, Melissa and family...am going to share this on my page and prayer for church
Rob and Melissa: we are praying for all of you and asking God to intervene
In this process. I have added all of you to prayer lists here in ohio. Love to you all.
Shared this in tears tonight with my husband. We will be praying for you daily, old friend. My parents will also. My dad actually "randomly" asked about you the day before you first posted this news on Facebook. May you and Melissa find your strength in our Almighty God. "The Lord will fight for you, you only need be still." -Exodus 14:14
Rob, I am praying for you, your family, and the doctors, and I will share your prayer request with my church.
Sending Melissa and you our prayers and love from Ohio!
Rob, I am so sorry to hear all of this. Our thoughts and prayers for you and Melissa and the Doctors at MD Anderson that they can find another treatment to aid in your healing.
Rob, I am so sorry to hear you are going through this. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Let Julie know what you need from us. We are willing to help how we can. Food. Childcare. Just ask.
Rob, I am so sorry to hear you are going through this. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Let Julie know what you need from us. We are willing to help how we can. Food. Childcare. Sincerely, Sally
Rob,
Got you on prayer lists at UD and at St. FRANCIS in Grapevine. I am here for you and your family. God bless.
So sad to hear this news but will be joining you guys in prayer!
Fervently praying for you all. Thank you for the update.
Dear Rob,
So saddened to hear this news. You are one of the most giving faculty at UD and someone I admire greatly. I am praying for your health and for good news for you and your family. Please let me know if there's ever a way that I can be of help.
Marcy
Love you, friend. We are praying. You have been constantly in our thoughts and prayers since we heard. Another good friend of mine who fought a hard battle with cancer kept a great sense of humor through it all and constantly cracked jokes and made the doctors and nurses laugh. At one point, a nurse took her blood pressure and it was high, so she said, "Tell me a joke." They started laughing and she took it again and it was amazingly much lower. I am praying for your full and complete healing and I am also praying that God will strengthen you so that you can laugh in the face of cancer and keep your amazing sense of humor through all this mess. Perhaps you should pull out the old mashed potatoes on the ice cream cone trick in the hospital cafeteria! Every millisecond is going to be used, none of this will be wasted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUPz6_TciY
On my knees...
Dr. Yale, stay strong and never lose hope. Prayer, faith, love, and happiness through the sorrow. Remember that God never gives a cross that he knows you cannot carry. He knows that you and your family are very strong and can carry this cross the whole way. He also gave you friends and family to lighten your load. Please let me know what I can do to help, till then accept the outpouring of prayers I send to you. Love
Samantha
Praying for you brother.
- COM114 student, Purdue - Fall 2007
Praying for you, Melissa, and the kids.
Prayers for you and your family. Hoping for good news from Houston.
My daughter, one of your students, Jaime Birzer, shared this with me. I have you and your family in my prayers. You have many people on your "prayer team", so hope that helps to give you all strength to get through this very challenging process. You will be in good hands at MD Anderson.
Try this motto I use often; "Let go and let GOD!"
Rob, I am thinking of you and praying for you and your family.
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”