Get Busy Living

 Since my last update, I have traveled to California with dear friends.  We visited Lake Tahoe, hiked some of Yosemite, hit some wineries in Napa Valley, went to the Coast, and San Francisco.  This was a bucket list trip for me, and I have great friends that made it happen.  The picture of me is in Yosemite resting on a rock over looking Sentinel Dome. One of the most beautiful places.  It was so peaceful and quite here, I could of sat there for hours soaking in the beauty of the mountains.  

I started new treatment in June after we found out that my current treatment of 4 1/2 years wasn't working any longer.  The new treatment started off fine, then I got the stomach flu, became severely dehydrated and spent a few nights in the hospital.  Ever since that time I hadn't really been able to tolerate my new treatment, it was causing my blood work to be really off, I had zero appetite and just felt crummy.  So we took a break for a few weeks, my blood work went back to normal and we restarted the same treatment on a lower dose.  I have been tolerating that much better, my blood work is back within normal ranges, I have an appetite again and feel better, except for the fact that I have been dealing with kidney stones for the last month.

Monday I had a CT scan to see how the new treatment is working.  We didn't get the news we were hoping for.  We found out that I have two new spots of breast cancer in my lungs.  A new spot in my right lung where the previous breast cancer is and also now a spot in my left lung, along with some increased plural effusion.  Also, imaging picked up that I my kidneys are "chucked full" as the PA put it of kidney stones.  Yesterday I met with urology to discuss the kidney stones, I have one in particular that is stuck, so I will be having surgery to have that removed. (unless I pass it before surgery which is my preference) Once they have the stone they will study it and we will see what we can do to prevent future stones.  Today I met with Dr. Alguire my oncologist to discuss my new progression and options that we have.  So far we have a tentative plan, we are going to start with a biopsy. This will tell us what my new growth is growing from.  In the past my tumors have grown off of estrogen.  If that is still the case, then I will be starting a clinical trial possibly along with another treatment.  If my receptors have changed then we will discuss chemotherapy options.  For the meantime I will be continuing the current treatment I am on.  Since I had to take a break from it, we want to be sure we gave it enough time to work.  So much information, so many things to research.  Cancer is complicated, it is tricky and smart, it finds ways to outsmart treatment and show up in new places.  It is ugly, expensive and exhausting.  

I honestly feel pretty good for a cancer patient.  Of course I have side effects to my treatment that aren't pretty, but I am able to live a fairly normal life still and I am grateful for that..  Life is to short with or without cancer to spend it being sad about my progression.  I will continue to do what I always do, surrendering to the Lord, he has a plan for me and all I can do is chose how I react to it.  I will chose to be happy, continue to love the life I have and Get Busy Living. 

Yesterday we celebrated Bryce's 21st birthday, Monday night we celebrated Brooke's induction to the National Honor Society.  Peyton is still at Cornerstone and is also on the basketball team.  Each week we attend Hope College Football games to watch Bryce and the team play. I am so blessed to be well enough to do these things and I won't take a moment of that time for granted.  

Peace and love,

Chris Stark

No Regrets

 When I was diagnosed with a terminal illness I instantly went into survival mode.  I wanted to live every moment as meaningful as I could.  I made my bucket list and immediately started checking items off of it, jumping out of airplanes or off the top of a building.  Taking my family to watch Michigan play in the Peach Bowl.  I have taken my children places I never thought we would be able to go, I have traveled with lifelong friends to incredible places, I have spent time with college friends I hadn’t seen in years.  I have been able to watch my children grow into young adults.  I have a box for each of my kids, I fill it with things I want them to have when I’m gone.  Family recipes, cards I have written for special occasions I may not be here to enjoy, a journal that I write in for each of them, prayers I say for them.  You see, when you have a terminal illness and you know your life will be cut much shorter than you want, you have time to prepare for these things.  Your able to have tough conversations, you can buy your daughter something blue to have with her on her wedding day. You can mend broken relationships, take care of unfinished business, and plan for the days when your family is here without you.  Of course I pray and strive to be here all of those days, but cancer may not allow that to happen.  When you have a terminal illness, living in the moment becomes very real.  Living with no regrets becomes a priority.  Then sometimes things happen in life, twists and turns and we are reminded yet again we aren’t in control.  The Lord is, he chooses our path.  We get to choose how we react to it.  Three weeks ago our best friend was taken from us unexpectedly.  He was supposed to take care of my family when I was gone.  He was going to be the strong one for them, that was our plan.  Craig didn’t get to prepare to be taken to soon, his parents, siblings, friends none of us got to prepare for him to suddenly be gone. So shouldn’t we all live with no regrets? Each day we should chose the Lord, kindness and love.  All any of us truly have is this moment right now.  As time passes and reality sets in that Craig isn’t going to walk back through our door it becomes more apparent to me than ever to live with no regrets.  

As far as cancer and my health goes, since  I have been on my new treatment plan, I have spent 4 nights in the hospital, had about every side effect my new meds have to offer, kidney stones, another break from treatment as my liver enzymes, potassium, and glucose have all been out of wack and now I’m back on treatment at a lower dose, praying my body tolerates this better.  Well be scanning soon to see if it’s working.  I keep doing all the things I did before and will continue to as long as I can because we should never take our health for granted. 

#getbusyliving 

This is a picture from when we attended the Peach Bowl  one of my favorite memories with some of my favorite people   

Peace and love,

Chris Stark

We knew this day would come.....

     Four and a half years ago when I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer we knew the day would come that my first line treatment would stop working.  I was very blessed to have lived life over cancer for 4 and 1/2 years with minimal side effects.  During a routine scan it was discovered that the breast cancer in the lining of my right lung is growing.  The good news is, it hasn't spread anywhere else!  So what does this mean for us?  It means that I will no longer be taking Ibrance or receive Faslodex.  The cancer has out smarted that line of drugs and its time for something new.  I am working with my oncology team to come up with a new plan.  Right now we are working to determine if the cancer is in an area that can be biopsied.  Breast Cancer over time can change, my original tumor grew off of estrogen, so estrogen blockers were an effective treatment.  A biopsy would be able to tell us what this current tumor is feeding off of and what the best line of treatment would be.  

    The hardest part of all of this is telling my kids.  Bryce (20) is half way through college, still playing football, living on his own, working hard and is such a kind young adult.  It brings me so much joy to watch my kids grow, and become adults and do the things they love.  I don't want them for a second to stop living their life because of me, I don't think they understand the joy it brings a parent to watch them thrive and grow. Peyton (20) is attending Cornerstone University, playing on the basketball team and growing each day into an incredible young man.  Brooke (17) just finishing up her junior year in high school is a thriving student, an athlete who is running in the track state finals, an incredibly hard worker and a pure joy to be around.   My prayer for them is that during these hard and heavy times they turn to the Lord to lift them and help carry their burdens, that they know his plan is bigger than any of ours. 

    We learn so much about ourselves when we face trying times, without a doubt I would be in a dark place if I didn't have Jesus in my life.  I have learned to live for today, this moment make it count.  To be kind, you never know the battle someone else is facing. To do the things that make you happy and bring you joy. Get Busy Living! 

We welcome all prayers, for a good biopsy, strength and healing! 

Love and Peace,

Chris, Jeff, Bryce, Peyton and Brooke

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