PET scan Feb 2014...

My husband Jim had a PET scan today. He was told last month that his NSCLC Lung Cancer had returned. This time the cancer is in his right lung. His left pneumonectomy was February 2013. We will not have the results of this PET scan or CT scan until next week. They will check the rate of growth of the "new" cancer; then they will give Jim his options so that Jim can make a new plan of action. Please keep Jim and my family in your thoughts and your prayers. 

Pineapple Upside Down cake...

Every Super Bowl Sunday, I make a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. I have no idea how this tradition began for me. As I recall, I was bored one Sunday and decided to bake a cake. It happened to be on Super Bowl Sunday. I'm estimating the year to be between 1995 and 1999, and the Pineapple Upside Down Cake tradition began. Every game since then I have baked this cake. This cake was baked in the cast iron skillet that my grandma gave to me in the late 1980's. It was one of her favorite skillets, and now it is definitely my favorite cooking vessel. If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, a regular cake pan can be substituted. Back in the day, I had made the cake from scratch, but I've had better success with the boxed cake mix. I have no idea where the recipe originally came from so I cannot give credit to the creator. Enjoy! 

Pineapple Upside-down Cake 

           

Topping:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 (20 oz) can pineapple slices, drained, reserve juice

Maraschino cherries, drained and halved *or whole

Cake:

1 pkg Pineapple Cake Mix (yellow cake mix can be substituted, but not as tasty)

3 large eggs

1  1/3 cup water *see notes

1/3 cup oil

Baking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. For topping, melt butter over low heat in 12-inch cast-iron skillet or skillet with oven-proof handle. (or sub a cake pan.) Sprinkle brown sugar evenly in pan. Arrange pineapple slices on brown sugar. Place maraschino cherry halves, cut side up, in center of pineapple slices. (I use whole cherries; add a few extra's if you like.)

3. For cake, combine cake mix, eggs, water *see notes and oil in large mixing bowl. Beat at low speed  until moistened (about 30 seconds or so). Pour batter (carefully) evenly over fruit in skillet.

4. Bake at 350 ºF for 43-48 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in pan.  Invert onto heat resistant serving plate. 

NOTES: substitute part of the water with pineapple juice.*I sometimes don’t do this because I always forget and just drink the juice!

Cancer has returned...

22Jan14: One year ago, on 22Jan13, I announced on FaceBook that Jim had cancer. Exactly one year later, I was on FaceBook once again to let friends and family know that my husband Jim’s cancer had returned.

Jim had a doctor appointment 22Jan13 and we did not receive the news we had hoped for. Jim’s bone scan was good, as expected. The CT scan showed nothing new in the brain, which is great news. The CT scan showed the previous 6mm mass in the lower right lobe is stable, unchanged, which is good because it has not changed. But, the CT scan did show a new 5mm abnormal mass in the middle lobe of the right lung. This is not good news.

The plan is to repeat the CT scan and blood work in six weeks to see the rate of change. There will also be a PET scan in six weeks because the PET will give more detailed information regarding the status of the 5mm mass in the middle lobe, and search for any other new cancers. Jim and I will meet with the oncologist after these tests to review the results and make a plan.

Jim’s attitude and spirits are both good. Of course, we are still processing the information. I’m sure we will have ups and downs. We are thankful for the good news that we received today. We will accept the bad news and deal with it head on as we explore our options. We still move forward with the phrases “it is what it is” and we will “play the cards that are dealt to us”.

We are thankful for our friends and family that has stood with us through this journey. Your love and support are very important to us.

We are thankful for those of you that follow us and give us moral support, your LIKES and words mean the world to us. This journey has been manageable because of the encouragement we have received from you.

Thank you, you know who you are… and we know who you are not. Yes, sadly, we know who who made their choice not there for Jim.