A heartfelt firsthand account of navigating cancer recurrence and the realities of modern treatments.
Editor’s Note: Pray for Mellve as he goes through a recurrence of cancer.He will be publicly sharing his cancer recurrence journey as a learning tool for others to understand the importance of follow-up. Below, is another chapter in the recurrence.
In February’s Survivors Newsletter, he shared Part 1 of his experience inside the 3T MRI machine, or 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine. In the March newsletter, he writes about Part 2 of the journey – the biopsy process. The journey continues below. PART 3 Radiation & Hormone Therapy
The four most disturbing words in the English language are, “Your cancer has returned”.
These are words I never wanted to hear again after years of celebrating a life free of this disease. The very sound of these words seems to still resonate in my head as I can hear them echoing out of the mouth of my doctor when I was first diagnosed. These words reap terror and fear in the hearts and minds of millions of Americans especially when this cancerous demon returns to the scene of the crime.
Now, 18 years later, this demon, which was once in remission, has decided to stick its ugly head up and reappear in my body. I, along with my doctors, have established an advanced cancer treatment plan to combat the return of this demon.
This demon from within is never satisfied leaving the lives of cancer survivors at peace. It wants to disturb the soul, the spirit and challenge the well-being of those free of cancer treatments and pain. This disease has now decided to have a confrontation with a cancer victim who for years has been a staunch advocate and enemy fighting against it.
But my faith in God is much stronger and tenacious than the demon seeking revenge on my advocacy as it tries to curtail my story. There’s a quote that says, “There’s always room in every story for a better ending”, as the narrative appears to be concluded and final. This reoccurrence is not the end of my story nor is it the end of my courageous battle as I prepare for the radiation and the hormone drug that are now entering my body.
This new hormone drug is by far a reminder of the beginning of my cancer journey as Lupron hormone shots were injected into my rear end every three months for two years to lower the amount of testosterone which helps slow the growth of cancer cells. This new hormone pill brings back the same sensations from hot flashes and fatigue that I felt years ago. Research has shown that hormone drug effectiveness complements the radiation treatments that I must endure for the next (5) weeks. Consequently, a new fan by my bed at night is a must.
I’m also amazed with the well-equipped and uniquely designed Lunar Accelerator Radiation Machine (LINAC) which reminds me of the spacecraft ourastronauts used to complete their mission in outer space. My mission and assignment are to board this radiation machine and blast off 5 days a week for my daily cancer treatments with soft music playing in the background. But no mission is successful or complete without a professional staff of workers to administer it.
Thank you to the Siteman Cancer Center, BJC St. Peters Hospital Oncology Radiation staff for the care given to me. Your love and kindness is appreciated. Touch down is soon to come!
Below is the Lunar Accelerator Machine, which is part of his radiation and hormone therapy sessions. Mellve describes the machine as “The Spaceship.”
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