Preparation for chemotherapy...

The port surgery was successful on Thursday 4/21/11.  Here's a photo.  The Xcela Power Injectable Port was surgically implanted under the skin completely, and has a line that runs from the port (under the skin) to the right internal jugular (RIJ) vein and then down to the heart.  I got to see the actual image when they finished, it looked just like this.  As I understand it, they will inject a needle through the skin to this port and have complete access to draw blood and infuse the chemo mixture.  Other than a slight discomfort and a funny looking lump under my skin, I’m doing great.  PS – my muscles are bigger than this guy’s!

Since I haven't started chemo yet, I'm being considered as a prime candidate for a new clinical trial by Eli Lilly (the drug manufacturer for Gemcitabine, the primary chemo treatment drug for pancreatic cancer).  I'll still get Gemcitabine, but in combination with this new study drug ("H8KMCJZAK" - it doesn't have a name yet).  I'll meet with the oncology team on Tuesday in Denver to go through an interview and sign a ton of paperwork.  At this point, chemotherapy will likely begin the week of May 2-6.

I decided to start this blog rather than go through email blasts to everyone, and send out an initial email and facebook post to all those who may be interested in tracking my progress.

Today's Easter message at church was such a refreshing reminder about the importance of the resurrection. What happened as a result of the resurrection of Jesus is unprecedented in human history. Jesus conquered death by rising from the grave, and verified His resurrection by appearing to many of His followers before He ascended to heaven.  That small group of seemingly insignificant believers succeeded in turning the entire world upside down because they believed, like their master Jesus, that they would one day rise from the grave in glorified, resurrected bodies. Jesus actually predicted this too - "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." (the words of Jesus in the book of John chapter 5).  The more I study the resurrection, and what it means to believers in Christ, the less foreboding death seems to be. It will be our first step into the resplendent kingdom of our resurrected Lord.  Happy Easter! - Bob