The Life and Times of Joe Suttle

Well, things have certainly changed on this journey.

In March, I had a full-body PET scan, and the Oncologist and the Radiologist saw the tumor in my colon, but also saw “something” in my neck. While I continued my course of Infusion and oral chemo, they finally were able to do a CT scan and yes, “there is something there lit up – one of your lymph nodes.”

Chemo was 14 days oral, and on day 15 came the infusion. I had three rounds of Infusion. and am continuing the course(s) of oral. Thankful that through all that chemo, there was no nausea, and we couldn’t have told if I lost any hair or not. The tumor in my colon was shrinking, but another CT scan did not show any changes to the “thing” in my neck.

Met with the Surgeon who was ready to get on with it. First a sigmoidoscopy, and then schedule the big surgery to remove the tumor, and maybe parts of the Pancreas and Spleen AFTER he finds out when the Oncologist is stopping chemo. She wanted to know what that thing was in my neck. Finally got to Interventional Radiology, and with two doctors and one technician finding the lymph node on a screen, they were able to get a sample for pathology. They were going to try to get another specimen, but because of the location, they decided to call in a third doctor, who looked at the screen and said “I wouldn’t try another sample. It’s too close to the carotid artery.”

Then the waiting (11 days) for the results, and wouldn’t you know it, it turned out to be cancer. Had a meeting with the Oncologist and she recommended that if possible I find an Oncologist closer to home who could administer a more aggressive course of infusion chemo. She said that with the new chemo, it would be on a two week cycle, with labs then infusion and a pump attached for a liquid version of what I have been taking orally, then come back 46 – yes, specifically 46 hours later to have pump removed, then a week off and repeat. That cycle would be hard it we did the labs, chemo and pump removal at UC Davis in Sacramento, since that is about an hour and fifteen minute trip each way

This all moved very fast (because God’s got this handled). Met with the Surgeon on 6/16; Oncologist on 6/17 who was waiting for pathology report. She finally got pathology report on 6/25 and we had vidoeo appointment; I messaged my PCP on the 25th and he put through an “Urgent Referral” to Laurie’s Oncologist; got a call from NorthBay Cancer Center Scheduler on 26th who said “First open appointment we have is July 30 or 31st, but will talk to the team and see what we can work out.” Monday (6/29) at 1:29 pm, got a call from Scheduler who “was trying to work something out”; at 1:43 she called back and said “We have an appointment for you at 11:30 on Wednesday (7/1)”; at 3:20 on 7/1, the Scheduler called to give me my tentative dates and times for infusion and pump. Looks like we solved the “who can take over and do the chemo.” Pending approval by “Insurance”, my first new session will be on July 20. And, since my treatments will be at NorthBay, I can go to NorthBay Primary Care right here in town and get my labs done on Mondays, travel to Vacaville for treatment on Wednesdays and back to Vacaville on Fridays to have the pump removed. BTW, the NB Cancer Center is 35 minutes from our house.

Right now, they don’t know how long the treatments will last, but I will be monitored very closely; and probably have lots of CT scans to see what’s happening in my body.

Until I know how my body will react to the chemo, I’ll have to take a break from serving on the Worship Team. Thankfully nothing is happening until after Vacation Bible School.

Last Sunday, the Worship Team introduced “Every Praise” to the congregation after I gave them an update. I can truly say that He is my Savior, my Healer and My Deliverer. To Him be all the praise, glory and honor.