Effective Chemo or an Awesome God (12/2/2006)

Hello!

We returned to Houston on Thursday for tests and met with the oncologist yesterday morning to review the results. We are encouraged that the test results again showed significant progress.

• The largest tumor in her liver shrunk another 50% since the middle of October.
• Many of the smaller tumors there are no longer visible.
• The total number of tumors has gone from dozens and dozens to about a dozen.
• The cancer in her bones remains stable. (MRI's can't really show a decrease, so stable is good news.)
• There is no evidence that the cancer has spread since the chemo has started.
  

The doctor continues to be pleased with Ann's tolerance of the chemo. Patients often have to quit this regimen because the side effects make the "quality of life" too unbearable.

The new plan is to go for the maximum of eight rounds - if Ann continues to hold up. Even if the cancer would appear to be gone after six rounds, prudence would dictate that we continue for eight.

Is God answering prayer or is the chemo effectively treating the cancer?

Philip Yancey, in his new book on prayer, writes words these words:

"In the normal course of providence, God works through and in creation, not despite it. For this reason, most answers to prayer are difficult to prove with any certainty."

Ann might just be really tough like Lance Armstrong. The chemo might be killing the cancer just as designed.

Yancey continues,

"We believe a prayer has been answered not because of any scientific criteria proving cause and effect, but because we have faith. Trusting in God's character, we can see in the relation between our prayer and an event more than a coincidence."

Prayer Requests:
Please join us in making the following items more than a coincidence:

• That Ann could focus on enjoying family and friends this month without contemplating what next year will bring.
• That Ann will hold onto hope, even when her body is tired and her emotions are spent.
• That Ann would continue to tolerate the chemo so that she can make it through eight rounds.
• That God would heal Ann in his time and in his way so that she can know our grandkids.
  

Psalms 33:18-20:
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.

Thanks for praying and caring for us,
Howard & Ann