Prayers NEEDED ! Brian's Passing

I prayed that I'd never have type this post . But life is not fair.. and it often makes you question your faith.

About two years ago, I posted a health alert, for everyone to go see a dermotologist, get your skin looked at, and have your wife or significant other keep an eye on moles etc..
This was the result of my very good friend Brian, being diagnosed with metastic Melanoma, at the young age of 42..
He had Lymph nodes removed, a year of chemo, and appeared to be in remission, for about a year. No issues or apparent cancer.
Then, he developed a few tumors, and was put on a more agressive chemo program, and that seemed to stop the growth of the tumors, for about 6 months.

Then he was allowed to join a experimental drug program, but he drew one of the 'short straws'. he got the 'control' chemo therapy, not the experimental one..
After 3 months on the 'control' drugs, his CT scans showed that the existing tumors had grown and several more had appeared..
He was taken off the 'control drug, and was being approved to go to the much better performing 'experimental' drug..

Then a setback, one week after being on no drugs, he started feeling lousy, went to the emergency room and was immediately admitted to the hospital.
One of the existing tumors, in one week had grown from about a golfball to a tennis ball size. This tumor is in his spleen, and it ruptured the spleen.
Luckly, and thanks to modern medicine, the surgeons were able to access the spleen and the tumor through blood vessels, and using robotic surgery tools and techniques, cut off the blood supply to the tumor, and stop the bleeding of the ruptured spleen. The spleen was saved..
Brian was on morphine for a week or ten days, and gradually felt better.

He was put on the expermental drug last fall, and at the 3 month CT scan and checkup, the tumors had all shrunk, some more than others but it appeared that the experimental drug was doing the job..
The second week of January Brian had the second CT scan with the new drugs, and the tumors had continued to shrink, Brian felt good, and was working 3 days a week at a part time job.. We were all estatic.

Then last week, Brian called me on the way to his job, said he was feeling a bit strange.. I suggested a call to his doc, he said he didn't feel that bad, and had a normal checkup appointment on Tuesday anyway..
But he felt worse that day, and late last Thursday, he wrote an email to his doctor, and the doc set up an office visit on Friday morning, from there Brian was imediately sent to the hosipital.

It seems that in only a month one of the tumors in his liver has gone into super-aggressive growth, it has gone from about a ripe olive size, around 1" diameter to almost softball size,,

So Brian is in serious danger, he's home now, again on morphine, for the pain in the swollen liver and pressure on the surrounding organs and tissues.
He is scheduled to start a new drug tomorrow, it will be 4 doses, several weeks apart..

This is the tough part, the doc told him that if this drug doesn't arrest the growth of the tumor in the liver, he has about 2 month to live.
[that was DIFFICULT to type]

So Brian could use all the help and prayers you can provide..

More on this as I learn more.

Greg L

Wow. I just said a prayer for him. I am so sorry.

Sorry to hear this.
I will remember him and family/friends in my prayers.

I will pray for him also..

Prayers from here also!!

Cancer is so unfair. Certainly my thoughts and prayers will aim for cure and comfort for Brian. May God walk with him while science cures him.

I will have my wife read this post, and we both will pray for him.

Consider it done Greg. I went through a research study group @ Upstate Hospital about 8 yrs ago for liver cancer & came out well to date. My best to your friend.

He's in my prayers as well, it's comforting to know that he also has a friend like you.

peace....and love.

Brian DID get the new Drug yesterday, I haven't heard how well he tollerated it, it's supposed to be one of the drugs that is harsh enough that his hair will fall out, lots of Nausea etc.. He's a big hunting and fishing fan, so I think if his hair does fall out, I'll find him a humorous hunting or fishing hat to wear.

I'll update as soon as I have more info

Thans for your prayers for Brian

Greg L

I am praying for his recovery!

Hope Brian gets well soon and I also prayed for an early Spring so he can get back to fishing for trout in a few weeks.

All the best Brian. It's never easy.

You've helped alot of people....I'm not much of a kneeler,Churches seem to smolder as I draw near....Soooo I will "ThinkPray" as I blow through my day. Maybe the "Old Man Upstairs" could see fit to cut your Pal a break....Take Care,my Friend,and be as kind to yourself as you can....!

Well said Bob - my line of thinking as well.

Damn cancer. Bad *censored*. Lost my best friend, both my paternal & maternal grandfathers, next door neighbors, & my best friend's mom (and both their neighbors).If my buddy was wealthy, he'd probably still be here. Didn't have the cash for health insurance, so he put off seeing a doctor until he was stage 4. At that point, having gone through all this at age 12, he just told everyone to let him die. Like his ol' man said: If I die half the man he did, I'll be doing damn good. Unbelievable suffering, but never once asked "why me"?

With all the advances in modern medicine today, it almost seems as if they are deliberately holding back on the cure. Makes you wonder. We have phones that can unlock the doors of your truck ... but we can't cure cancer??? Something is seriously wrong here.

I wish your buddy well, Greg. A "thinkpray" from me as well.