Mac Overton

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UPDATED October 14, 2009

I finished my round of three days of concentrated radiation October 5—100 days packed into three—and no side effects, except I may glow in the dark!

The chief radiosurgeon said it went "Very, very well," and they think they got it all.

I will have to go back in about three months for a follow-up CAT scan to see if the tumor is indeed dead.

Thanks for continued prayers, and feel free to forward this to anyone interested.

Mac mactheknife350@aol.com

UPDATED September 18, 2009

Here’s the latest …

I went in yesterday and had three golden "markers" put in the tumor in my pancreas, which now measures 33 by 39 mm. Things went okay, except I did not get in for my 1 p.m. appt. until 4:30, which meant Mr. Ellis Stewart, my designated driver, had to drive me home in the dark and rain.

I go back next Wednesday (Sept. 23) for a rehearsal for the CyberKnife surgery. Bad news is I have to be there at 7 a.m. Good news is that I don't have to have a designated driver.

I will have another Cat Scan, and possibly an MRI (which I take to mean there WILL be an MRI—they've discovered I am a cash cow, having reached the 100 percent level for this year under my insurance. They will also make a mold of my back to keep me steady during the radio surgery, which will take place on the afternoons of Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 2.

More details as they develop,

Thanks for continued prayers,

Mac

UPDATED September 11, 2009

Mac Overton asked me to send this health update. Mac's address: mactheknife350@aol.com

"Good news! I have been approved to have CyberKnife surgery and will go in next Wednesday to have markers placed in the tumor. Then noninvasive outpatient surgery will be scheduled. The process should be complete within three to four weeks. More details to follow."

UPDATED August 28, 2009

I'm optimistic after discussing the results of my latest CAT scan with the doctor. He termed it a "good CAT scan, as far as treatment."

The tumor is in the head of the pancreas, which is the worst place to be, but is in "a focused confined area." Dr. Preskitt at Baylor still favors the Whipple Procedure, but offered to share my files with a colleague. Dr.Robert Goldstein, who is a specialist in cyberknife surgery, because radiation is sometimes used on this type of cancer. It will be a few weeks before I can consult with Dr. Goldstein. (I'm beginning to feel like a ping-pong ball--bounced from doctor to doctor.)

Dr. Preskitt said that on the CAT scan, the tumor looks plump and fuzzy. He said most tumor of this type are slow-growing, but "very malignant an very dangerous" when they get out of the area where they are located.

He said I had plenty of time to make my decision--a few weeks. He said that if I waited 4-6 months, "that could be a problem."

Overall, I considered the news good. Feel free to forward

Continued prayers appreciated.

Mac

UPDATED August 24, 2009

I went into Baylor in Dallas on Wednesday and saw Dr. John Preskitt.

He told me three things:

    1. Most pancreatic cancer is incurable
    2. When it is cured, it is by surgery
    3. The long-time (which I think means 5-10 years) survival rate is 30 percent.

He also told me that the doctor that did my endoscopic ultrasound in Longview in March and the one who did it in July at Baylor disagree on where the tumor is located.

The one in Longview said it is the neck of the pancreas; the one in Dallas said it is in the head of the pancreas.

If it is in the neck, a much-less radical surgery, even a cyberknife (5 days of outpatient surgery) would be possible. If it is in the head, and surgery is possible, they would do a Whipple procedure, which basically amounts to gutting a person like a dead fish. 5-6 hours in surgery, 10 to 14 days in the hospital, and one to two months convalescence.

Dr Preskitt has ordered a CAT scan for next Wednesday (Aug. 26). He said the one I had in March is too old to go by.

Continued prayers appreciated.

Mac

UPDATED August 15, 2009

Mac plans to visit a doctor in Dallas Wednesday, Aug. 19, for more discussion and possible tests to determine the recommended course of action after his recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Lee Stolley, who recovered from pancreatic cancer several years ago, plans to go with Mac help ask questions Mac might not think of. Mac appreciates your continued prayers. Mac receives mail at the following address:

mactheknife350@aol.com

July 24, 2009

Here’s a prayer request for one of my best friends in life, Mac Overton:

Fervent prayers are requested for Mac Overton, 58, of Gilmer, Texas, who has just now received a preliminary biopsy report indicating pancreatic cancer. He will get a complete report sometime the first week in August. Mac is a 1975 graduate of Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, and is currently the editor of The Gilmer Mirror.

Thanks!

214 Marshall Street
Gilmer, TX 75644

Scott Moss

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