Brad's Battle

December of 2013, Brad starting having pain when eating certain foods.  He went to the doctor and they said he had a hiatal hernia with acid reflux.  He did not have any relief with the treatment prescribed so he sought further medical attention.  He was sent for a CT scan.  The CT scan revealed a pancreatic tumor that took up 90% of his pancreas.  He did not receive a good prognosis and with treatment, they thought he could make it a year.  With a tumor marker of 10,500, Brad began chemotherapy immediately.  Brad was unable to work because would receive chemo on Thursdays and have a pump continue the chemo at home until Saturday.  The first few months of chemo resulted in many side effects.  By the end of April, he began to turn a corner.  Treatments were becoming successful!  His tumor marker reached 15!  What a huge change from the beginning of this baytle!  By September, his lab work was within normal range and he was able to return to work after being unable to work since January. After a month of no chemo, a follow up appointment had the results of his post-chemo CT scan.  2 new leasions were discovered on his liver, with 2 lesions noted on a prior scan.  This scan also revealed that his pancreatic tumor had reduced so greatly that the radiologist thought he had the tumor surgically removed, though he hadn't.  The liver lesions were caught early and Brad has begun treatment.  His new tumor marker is at 2,260.  The doctor hoped to complete the new chemo weekly but Brad's platelets are affected by the chemo so he has been receiving treatment bi-wekly but will do weekly if his platelets cooperate.  Though there seems to be more hope with this liver cancer, Brad still as a huge battle ahead of him.  Brad has to be in Sioux Falls every Monday for blood draws and chemo if his numbers are good.  This creates shorter runs on the road, as he is an over the road trucker for Johnson Feed.  Any money collected will go to medical expences, bills, and travel pertaining to medical appointments.  Thank you for helping support Brad and Becky (Brad's wife, who keeps him on track with his treatments)!

Brad, Becky, Keegan, Amy, Blair and Kevin