From Good to Better

"But He knows the way that I take; and when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." - Job 23:10.

Monday, January 11, I had a battery of tests at Mayo Clinic. These checked for both my freedom from cancer, and my recovery from the effects of treating it. Once again, as for the past year and a half, there was no cancer detectable in my body. By now, that good news is old news.

The great new news is that measurements of my health are moving upward. My determined program is working! This includes my five times per week exercises, designed and guided by a personal trainer. I feel solid and energetic.

Then my eating minimizes the kinds of food that promote cancer, like high fructose corn syrup, white flour, and foods with Omega-6 overbalancing Omega-3 oils. One tasty, convenient dish I have discovered is "Amy's Bowls" organic brown rice, black-eyed peas, and vegetables. I find it in the organic frozen foods section at both Whole Foods, and my nearest supermarket. And I major in foods that fight cancer and build my immune system, like the trio of soy, green tea, and curcumin, along with Omega-3 fish oils.

These principles are well set forth in the book I have mentioned before: Anticancer: a new way of life. It was written by a French medical doctor and brain researcher, who got brain cancer - fifteen years ago. He presents material about what makes cancer thrive, and what inhibits its growth. We can thwart the emergence of full-blown cancer from the cancer cells that always live in our bodies, below the level at which we can detect them. Cancer as a non-disease! I am reading this excellently organized book for the fourth time.

What I have described above helps me to understand how much my healing is my job, and how much is God's job. The Apostle Paul nailed it with this balance: "Continue to work out your own salvation with reverence and awe, for it is God who is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." Thank you for pulling with me.

Dennis Gibson, Ph.D.

Thirteen Months & 500 Steps

Last Tuesday my scans at Mayo Clinic still could detect no cancer in my body. That's called "complete remission" for a year and a month. Praise God! They told me that I am one of the longest surviving patients in this Revlimid clinical trial. One other man is two years out.

While there I climbed the stairs from the first to the tenth floor - twice! Total number about 500 steps. I do this most days at home, to build leg strength. One of the side effects of my medication is loss of muscle strength. So, I climb and I walk, and love it especially in this unusually cool, green summer of 2009 we've had.

I am on Facebook and Twitter, at https://twitter.com/TheDrGibson. My idea there is to offer a word of wisdom for the day, rather than just a report on where I am. However, where I plan to be with 100 other guests from early Sunday 9/13 through late Friday 9/18 is at Honey Rock Camp in Three Lakes, WI. For me this represents a return to the place where I was born spiritually as a camper 13 years old. May God refresh me and accept my thanks for His gift of life now and forever.

Dennis L. Gibson, Ph.D.

Good Surgery Report

I ran outside today, without any pain, for the first time since my abdominal surgery two weeks ago today. The surgery was simple, and I recovered quickly. I left Central DuPage Hospital in just four days, instead of the 5 to 7 predicted.

While in the hospital, the best handle I had on how to be a man of God was to show cheer and gratitude to everyone who served me. The result was that I earned the name "The Happy Man."

I am grateful to God, to Dr. David Klem and to the good hospital staff. Dr. Klem explained to me after the surgery that the size of the passage from my small intestine to the large, before he started the surgery, would permit an object the size of a green pea to pass through it. When he finished enlarging it sideways into an expanded oval, he said you could slide a MacDonald's hamburger through it.

Dennis L. Gibson, Ph.D.

Good News Update on Dennis' Health Items

I am not going to have colon resection surgery on May 18 as planned. That has been postponed until late June or early July. I am doing well without much stomach pain or nausea.

The reason for the postponement was that last weekend I came down with bronchitis that put me to bed in a miserable and weakened condition. My pulmonologist gave me a "Z-pack" prescription of the anti-biotic Zithromax, which made a big difference in a few days. On Wednesday I'd have to say that God also lent me an extraordinary boost of energy and mental clarity as I presented my Vitality Therapy counseling training seminar for three hours on my feet, speaking without hoarse voice, to fifty Salvation Army counselors in Chicago. God overruled my illness! I loved that, and am in awe at what came over me. Friday I was back to being so fatigued that I got a transfusion of two units of red blood cells. I feel nearly back to normal energy today, but still like to sleep a lot.

My pulmonologist also discovered that my immunoglobulin levels are low. I will probably get 30 grams of intravenous gamma globulin some day next week. That has helped me get over respiratory infections in the past, but my last one was 1 ½ years ago.

I am scheduled for a day at Mayo Clinic Friday May 24, for my routine exams there. This will include PET/CT scans to see if there are any signs of cancer activity. If clear on that, I will begin Cycle #17 of Revlimid. This may need to be at a lowered dosage, because my bone marrow is showing signs of reduced ability to produce the blood cells I need, This is a disease condition known as "myelodysplasia" that often comes after prolonged lymphoma treatment. When the day comes that they detect cancer, or I get unacceptable side effects from Revlimid, I will be off that treatment and on to something new in the hope that it is more effective against my cancer, and less harmful to my body.

As to colon resection surgery, I would like to avoid it altogether, not just recover well from it. To that end I am probably going to explore some alternative medicine treatments, like acupuncture. I'm looking for something that has the ability to loosen the scar tissue constricting my intestines from the outside in. Please tell me any rumors you hear about in that direction.

Thanks.

Dennis L. Gibson, Ph.D.

Successful Surgery & Three Goodnesses

Last week I returned from successful surgery at Mayo Clinic to newly connect my small and large intestines. In addition I saw "the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." - Ps. 27:13.

1. My generous brother, Howard, drove from Kansas City, to pick me up in Rochester, MN. From there we drove to my home, enjoying one of the easiest, flowing conversations I have ever had with any human being. Next morning he drove from Chicago back to Kansas City.
2. We pulled up to my front door in Glen Ellyn, IL on the dot of 10 pm Wed 2/18/09, to be greeted by an explosion of sunshine that was the stellar personality of my wife, Ruth.
3. The counseling sessions I have conducted since then have been marked by unusual mental clarity, not at all blunted by residual hospital medications or pain.
   

So, the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I didn't have to die and go to heaven to see it!

Dennis L. Gibson, Ph.D.

Two-Fold Dennis Health Update

Ruth and I spent Jan 25-28 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. The routine test for the presence of my cancer again showed no sign. Glory to God, and thanks to Mayo!

The second condition that took me there is going to soon send me back. Tests showed that stomach pains I've had for about a month probably come from a restriction where my small intestine joins my large intestine. Fixing it will require an abdominal incision on Feb. 9, probably a reconstruction of the junction, then a week or more of recovery in the hospital there at Mayo. This time is what it takes for our intestines to wake up again after a shock like surgery. But after that I should be able to eat a wider variety of foods, and not experience any more disabling pain.

As an investment in life after surgery, I have started building a presence on both Facebook and LinkedIn. It's so new that it doesn't show up yet. But It's fun to work on, and perhaps connect with you on it. I hope it will help me take my counseling business to the next level, especially with younger clients.

Thanks for praying and caring.

Dennis L. Gibson, Ph.D.

Clean As A Whistle

I just read the latest positive report from my Mayo Clinic cancer doctor. He said my recent scans were exceptionally clear, and showed no spots where lymphoma tumors had been one year ago. He exclaimed to himself and to me, "clean as a whistle!"

I take this as a huge item for which to thank God. But what about little items? I have learned recently about the name "Providence" which our nation's founders often used to honor God. It means that God is intimately involved in every detail of our lives for our good.

I aim for that view of life to mark my life with gentle gratitude in each day to come. Sincerely, Dennis L. Gibson

Dennis L. Gibson, Ph.D.