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My Christian life: James Aderman
“Hi, Jim. This is Heidi. Doctor Girolami asked me to call to share your test results.”
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Because I was having issues swallowing some foods, a gastroenterologist had performed an endoscopy three days before. The week before I had had a barium swallow test and a CT scan.
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I’ve been in remission from prostate cancer for nearly a decade. There was no reason to suspect my swallowing issue had anything to do with cancer returning, but that was the direction my mind raced.
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My chances of another cancer forming, though low, are higher than for the average person. The cure for one cancer can, over time, spawn other cancers. Radiation of the prostate can cause bladder cancer, rectal cancer, small intestine cancer, melanoma, and endocrine tumors. Prostate cancer may also spread the disease to the spine, hips, and ribs.
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Heidi continued, sounding both clinical and caring. “The endoscopy found evidence of some damage to your lower esophagus due to stomach acid. The swallow test did not find anything to be concerned about. The CT scan did not discover any problems with your esophagus, but there are four potential issues. There is a section of the artery that leads to your stomach that is larger than normal. A small amount of plaque is accumulating in your arteries. The scan shows several small nodules are growing in your lungs. And your spine shows signs of arthritis.”
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The arthritis I knew about. Three years before I had been hobbled by lower back pain. My doctor ordered a CT scan to check my spine for bone cancer. No cancer was detected; arthritis was.
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The enlarged artery, plaque, and nodules were new information.
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I rarely consider the chances of cancer returning. However, while waiting for the results of medical tests, thoughts of a second cancer bully their way to the fore. I am grateful for that.
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E-news exclusive photos
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Photos: "The adventure of travel is important to us," notes Jim Aderman. He and his wife, Sharon (pictured), travel often. Jim and Sharon are also pictured with four of their grandchildren.
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In a new series “When Cancer Comes,” James Aderman, David Haag, and Tim Gumm take readers on three remarkable journeys that involve the dreaded word cancer but quickly guide their readers into God’s Word where they prove cancer—and all that . . .
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My wife and I were standing in an empty living room of a new house filled with dust and echoes and not much else until our moving truck arrived. Neither of us actually said it, nor did we need to. One shared look made it clear we were both thinking the same thing . . .
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It’s a common complaint: “Parents today do too much for their kids.” Is it true, though? And what does that even mean? What’s the “right” amount of help to give our kids? Does that really exist? Read perspectives from three parents who are right there in the trenches . . .
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