My Journey Continues:

by Mark Yorkovich

Today is April 16th, 2008. It has been a little over a year since my diagnosis with Stage 4 Cancer. I shared my story with Mike in October of last year. Many things have changed since that time so I thought would share how God has blessed me during the past 6 months.
 
November, 2007
Based on what I was told by the doctors in March of 2007 when first diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, I should have about a month left on this earth. I am doing everything that I can to stay positive and strong for my wife and son. I have finished the Chemo treatments and my CEA (Tumor Marker) Counts are staying down under 2.5. I am trying to stay healthy and strong for the surgery that I hope to have after the first of the year to remove any tumors that may be left on my Liver. 

December, 2007
Still alive…Feeling better than I expected…stronger that I have in months. Even though we have been battling this terrible disease, this has been the best holiday season that we have ever experienced. It is a wonderful feeling to truly “understand” what Christmas is really about.

January, 2008
Still alive…I have beaten the odds. I am going next week for surgery that is hopefully going to remove the remaining tumors from my liver. It is very complicated so I will not try to act like I can explain everything in specific detail; I will just say that their goal was to “ZAP” the tumors, thus killing them. Well, that did not happen. The Liver Specialist could not find anything on my Liver to “ZAP”!

It could mean one of two things, there were no tumors left, only scar tissue… or the tumors were in such a place that they could not be reached. Needless to say, our hopes were high and the only way to find out for sure if there were still cancerous cells was to go to a Liver Specialist. I was sent to a Specialist at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. The doctor they sent me to is one of the top Liver Specialists in the Country. He scheduled me for a procedure called a PED Scan. It is like a CAT scan only much…much more in depth. It would show any cancerous cells in my body. Well I had the scan and needless to say, I still had 5 tumors on my Liver. He told me that if the cancer was contained to only my Liver, he wanted to implant a Hepatic Infusion Pump into my abdomen. This pump would deliver Chemotherapy directly into the tumors on the Liver. The technology is very old but from what he said, it is the best was to deliver the medicine directly to the tumors and it was my best and really my only option at this time.

February, 2008.
Still alive…Back under the knife. I had the pump put in and was put back on Chemotherapy. I am actually getting 300% more Chemotherapy delivered directly to the tumors than I was last year. The good news is that this is not systemic which means very minimal side effects. The Chemotherapy last year really did a number on me. I was 6’1” and 200lbs when I started chemotherapy, and by the time I was done, I weighed 140lbs. Needless to say, I do not think I could have survived another round of that type of Chemotherapy.

March, 2008
Still alive…The pump is working, my Liver is functioning fine, and I am back at 200lbs again and feel strong. My CEA count is still under 2.5 and the tests show that the cancer has not come back or spread…I know it could at anytime but that type of thinking is pretty negative and I will not let my mind go there…

April, 2008
Still alive…J I feel great. CEA count still below 2.5. The doctors say that my response to this entire ordeal has been amazing… They actually said that the goal now is to beat this thing. A big switch from their original prognosis.

I am truly blessed. I can only say thank you God. Without your grace, I would not be here today. I truly believe that God has kept me on this earth for a reason. Perhaps to help others, I do not know but I do know one thing and I hope that you all allow me to share a little good advice with you all …Do not take advantage of what you have been given. Take care of the body that God has given you and treasure your family and friends…can you think of anything more important?

Mike thanks for visiting me when I was feeling down. You thoughts and prayers made a difference in my life. Gina thanks for being my angel. Blake thanks for making me proud. Jim and Mary Lou…thanks… Russo, Donna and Mary Jo…thanks for everything. I know it has been tough on you also.