Thank you Father for the gift of another day! His mercies are new EVERY morning!
Billy had the Gallium 68 scan yesterday morning to see if there were anymore Neuroendocrine Tumors. We had an appointment with Dr. Liu in the afternoon to discuss the results and the specifics of Billy's case.
We took our time getting to Denver. We wanted to enjoy the journey instead of just being focused on the destination. We camped on several beautiful lakes along the way. We visited gorgeous parks and enjoyed breathtaking scenery painted by God Himself. We drove around the area and reminisced about old times when we lived in Colorado. We were also able to see friends and family while we were in the area.
It has been a wonderful time of just enjoying each other, the beauty of creation, and reconnecting with people we love and haven't seen in far too long. The days have been long and we have both been exhausted. Being worn out was a blessing because I really hadn't thought much about the possibility of the scan actually showing other tumors. We just wanted it done for our peace of mind.
On the way to Dr. Liu's office yesterday afternoon, it hit me all at once that he could tell us something that I just didn't want to hear. That familiar fear took over in those moments. I just kept praying and God reminded me that He had provided for us every step of the way and that no matter the scan showed, He would continue to give us everything we need to deal with it. By the time we got there, I felt better. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about the results, but I did have peace and faith in God to take care of us no matter what the tests showed. I was also comforted by knowing that so many people were praying for us.
The first thing Dr. Liu said when we walked into his office was that the scan was completely clear and showed no signs of NETs anywhere! Thank you God for your mercy and love!! There is no relief quite like hearing those words. It felt like we had just won the lottery. We did... the Life Lottery! Victory! Of course, no matter what happens here, we already have Victory through Jesus and will spend eternity with Him after the trials of this life are over. However, we are still so thankful to God for giving us more time to live, love, and serve Him together on Earth! We give ALL of the glory to God! There is no mountain too high for Him to move!!
For those who want details about what we learned, I will try to summarize it. Dr. Liu said that his official diagnosis is Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumors secondary to Autoimmune Atrophic Gastritis. It is basically what I thought and posted a few weeks ago after researching it and considering all of Billy's lab and test results. He has type 1 gastric carcinoids. They are the most benign and least aggressive type. ALL carcinoids (neuroendocrine tumors) have malignant potential and require follow up and monitoring. Dr. Liu said that because of Billy being diagnosed with the Autoimmune Atrophic Gastritis, has low stomach acid, and high gastrin levels, it makes conditions favorable for NETs to grow in his stomach. However, he said that when they are type 1 and caused from the autoimmune issues they tend to be really small and very rarely spread or cause any issues at all. I looked online at the National Institute of Health's website and it said that in the case of carcinoids from Autoimmune Atrophic Gastritis, the occurrence of metastasis is probably less than 5%.
Dr. Liu said that he recommends that Billy continue to have an endoscopy every 6-12 months to locate and remove any polyps they find. He assured us that this type of carcinoid is highly unlikely to spread. He said usually in cases like this, IF they do spread, it is not very far and with the regular monitoring they can be removed and not be a problem. He also has a friend who is a Doctor at the VA in Nashville. He said he doesn't see patients in a clinic setting, but he is highly skilled in advanced endoscopic procedures and he is familiar with NETs. Dr. Liu called him and gave him our information. We are hoping that we will be able to schedule with him to do the ongoing endoscopies since Dr. Liu trusts him and feels he would be the best choice since he knows about NETs and would know what to look for and how to handle whatever he finds.
I asked what the chances were of Billy getting more NETs in another area. He said the type 1 caused from the Autoimmune Gastritis will only be in his stomach. He didn't think that it would be likely for them to show up somewhere else. IF he does have more in the future that are not in the stomach area or if he has other ones in his stomach that are large, we would probably need to go back to see Dr. Liu because the situation would be completely different.
The Autoimmune Atrophic Gastritis is considered a precancerous condition and increases his risk of stomach cancer. So, the regular follow ups and endoscopy will be a great way to be proactive and watch for early signs of other cancers or stomach problems in the future.
We are SO grateful to everyone who has walked with us, encouraged us, and prayed us through this! Nobody knows what tomorrow may bring, but we can all celebrate the gift of today!
