After the news article comes out each week usually on Saturday we will post the current update for you on my web site. You can read all the articles since I was diagnosed with cancer almost 3 months ago or you can just go to the site for updates. Those articles are at www.jerryfowler.com, then look on the left side near the top on the menu bar and click on “Jerry’s Medical Update”. You can go to week one and once you read that article there is a link at the bottom of the page says next page. This will take you to the next article. If you only want the current update then click on the latest post.

           This week has been the best yet regarding good news. I visited Dr. Babcock on Tuesday 5-15-2007 for the CAT scan and blood work. The blood work came back with no abnormalities. To a cancer patient this is great news because one of the constant battles is low white cells that makes one more vulnerable to sickness or low red cells that will make you even more tired.

            However the most important event this day was the CAT scan. A CAT scan shows the exact situation with the cancer. The medical personnel takes you in a room and puts an IV in your arm. This is used to inject a dye in your body when they are ready to run one of the passes of the CAT scan. Prior to lying down on the table they have you drink a white milky really bad tasting fluid. I am sure this is to aid in the way a CAT scan sees your body. They then put you on a bed with a giant machine which scans your body. In my case they scanned the chest and the stomach. The procedure only takes about 8 minutes of actual scanning. They ask you to inhale and hold your breath as the machine makes its passes.

            After this was over I went back to Dr. Babcock’s office to await the results and his examination. Dr. Babcock listened to my lungs and said the lungs are even clearer than the last time. However I was more interested in the results of the CAT scan so after the examination Dr. Babcock stepped back out and told me he would be back shortly with the results.

            This seemed like an eternity but shortly he returned with the biggest smile I have seen. He told me that the left lung was completely clear and the tumor in the right lung was reduced by one third. The chemo was working he said and then he told me that he had never had a patient like me and he was sure that prayer played a huge part in what is happening. Most doctors do not give prayer credit, however Dr. Babcock did. He is a wonderful doctor and a very positive man.

            As I have said many times the winning combination to beat cancer is prayer, and I thank all of you who have me on your prayer list. Another ingredient is Positive thinking. One must train their mind to think positive and to expect good things to happen. This is called the law of attraction. Whatever you think about is attracted in your life. I choose to think about positive results rather than think about the bad things that could and will happen if your mind goes into the gutter. The final ingredient is faith and belief that you will be healed. Add to that good doctors and good treatments and you have that winning combination to beat any adverse situation.

            This upcoming week 5-23-2007 I will have the fourth Chemotherapy treatment. I know that as we move forward the after effects of the treatments usually get worst. However when you see results it is worth the after effects because you know the cancer is fading away. I expect not to have any side effects.

            My mother will be operated on this Wednesday for breast cancer so please remember her in your prayers. She will then be faced with Chemotherapy as well. She is very positive that things will be OK and I believe her. She is 79 years old and a pillow in her community.

            Please remember people going through this disease are really devastated and need your help, compassion and understanding. Do not treat them as if they have a disease but that they will have the attitude to get through this huge challenge. Be compassionate in the fact that they are weak and will not have the stamina of the past. Do not tell them about your friend that died of cancer. They do not need to hear those stories. Send those loved ones cards and emails and call to see how they are doing. This is music to their ears and aids in feeding their positive attitude.

            If you need my help I am willing to talk to them as well. Sometimes just hearing from someone going through the same situation and how they handled the situation can be the best medicine for them.

            As an example when one receives Chemotherapy your body goes through shock. After all you are putting very strong chemicals in your body. These chemicals kill the cancer however they also kill normal cells. It is not unusual to experience balance problems. You get up in the morning and stumble into your bed or try to walk to the bathroom and run into the wall. You think you are having other problems. Another side effect right after your treatment is a very sore throat or shaking hands. I can’t begin to tell you how bad even water taste. All food has no taste or a bad taste so all this is normal. It helps when someone tells them this is not something that is unique to their situation and it is normal. So remember email me if you would like me to communicate with them. My email again is jerry@jerryfowler.com.

            And remember all updates will appear on my web site under Jerry’s Medical Updates at www.jerryfowler.com