Liver Specialist

Eric and I met with Dr. Bilchick, the liver specialist, in Santa Monica. I prayed beforehand that we would feel at peace with what advice we’d be given and know how to proceed – and boy, were we ever assured. After reviewing the scans and my records, he met with us and expressed his amazement at how well my body is responding to treatment. He said that he looked at my first scans and thought, “Whoa. This is scary.” He was worried for me since the entire liver was cancer infected and because of that, surgery wasn’t a possibility. Then to look at my recent scans, he thought he could have been looking at a completely different patient. He went on to explain how chemotherapy doesn’t guarantee to fully rid the body of cancer, just shrinks it. Surgery, however, can get rid of it. So to be the most aggressive, he wants to sandwich a surgery between chemo treatments.

One of the medicines in my FOLFOX treatment is called Avastin, which cuts off blood supply to the tumors so they can’t grow. It also cuts off blood supply so that it would prevent the liver from regenerating, so that particular medicine will not be administered in my next couple chemo sessions. It needs to be out of my system completely before surgery, so we're waiting until the first week of April to operate, then continue chemo afterwards as well (hopefully just as preventative care).

The extra superb news is that he plans to fly to Miami, FL this weekend to meet with the top four liver specialists in the world! He said that these men are the ones who created liver treatments and wrote the books on the procedures that doctors use. Dr. Bilchick is so intrigued by my case that he asked if he could hold onto my scans to present as a case study with the other top specialists. Of course!! To have the input of the most brilliant minds in liver treatments is amazing. He said the timing of my visit couldn’t have been better. I am so lucky! With all the cancer patients in and out of their offices, I imagine it’s hard to surprise the doctors, which makes me feel so great to see big smiles on their faces. Even they are intrigued and amazed at my progress. If only I could convince them of the truthfulness of the gospel and a wonderful thing called priesthood power!

As for my stomach pains, Dr. Bilchick is almost certain it is scar tissue and nerve regeneration. One my chemo medications (Oxalyplatin) makes my nerves extra sensitive, which could be adding to my hypersensitivity. He suggested I do what I can in way of pain meds until surgery. Then he would cut into the top of my incision, remove as much scar tissue as possible, and cut over to the right to work on my liver. We filled a prescription for lidocaine patches to be put at the sight of pain for 12-24 hours at a time. They’re supposed to act as local anesthetics, but so far today they haven’t helped so I took an oxycodone pill as well. I’m feeling much better now. Those pills are scary strong, but get the job done in the way of offering relief.

From the beginning of my cancer diagnosis, I’ve felt that my mission on earth is not complete. I was scared, not knowing what pain and suffering I might have to endure, but I’ve never given up hope that this trial will pass. I believe that now, more than ever. I don’t know who, what, where my life’s mission is meant to affect the most, but my character is developing in ways it wouldn’t have as quickly as it has if it weren’t for this experience. I’ve learned a great deal about love, service, faith, and sacrifice – and know I have much more to learn. Like the rubber band principle that explains that when a rubber band is laying on a table by itself in the exact size and shape it was made, it serves no purpose. But when it’s stretched and pulled, it suddenly becomes of value. I’m being stretched and hopefully being pulled to become valuable to someone somewhere, whether it be my family or elsewhere.